Local Sounds Presents: Veda
It’s almost as if Regina Spektor attended NYU in 2018, but was from Florida…and brown.
Veda Lakshminarayanan wields the duality of her Indian-American identity and musical background as a double-edged sword. She fuses her classical vocal and piano training with elements of South-Indian Carnatic performance, resulting in what she describes as an organic fusion of Eastern and Western style.
In spite of having no desire to shoulder the burden of an activist artist, Veda said she embraces her “brownness” when she is writing music, because “I can play with either my more American style, or my more Eastern-sounding side.”
As a result, Veda produces art that is quietly political, but overwhelmingly profound. An immensely competent pianist and vocalist, Veda’s repertoire is modest in terms of numbers, but immense in technique. Between her recently released single, “Already,” and her self-produced film, “Lamb Curry,” there is no question of her artistic prowess.
In an interview with Veda, she explained to me the origins of her film “Lamb Curry.” Born out of a moment of frustration with her identity, Veda attempted to reconcile with her emotions through art.
“When I was at the Student Television Network in Atlanta, there was a group of boys who were catcalling me, with racial slurs.” Veda recalled. “They were saying things like, ‘will she make me lamb curry in the morning?’” In addition, they asked her friends: “Is that Arabian girl single?” Later on, Veda revealed the boys had also jokingly requested that she “sacrifice herself to her colonizers, like her ancestors did.”
Although she wished this moment hadn’t affected her as much as it did, this difficult experience sparked something inside her. It instigated a process that she refers to as “musical reincarnation,” which she obtains through the songwriting process. For Veda, songwriting is an inherently selfish process, in that releasing emotions out in the open helps “heal the individual.” Therefore, Veda was able to achieve a sense of “catharsis” from the completion of “Lamb Curry.”
“I wanted to make it a laughable moment but I couldn’t,” Veda said. “So I actually started writing a song for it, which was the song ‘Lamb Curry.’ I was also in a place where I was frustrated with the standards and rules that were set for me as an Indian American. So I used the title ‘Lamb Curry’ to blend those experiences together, to defy that, and express my frustration.”
Beyond her film, Veda recently released her single “Already.” A vulnerable piano ballad, “Already” is relatable in ways her previous project may not have been. With airy vocals and clean-cut piano chords, “Already” is an ode to individuality during difficult relationships. The single sounds similar to how the day before a breakup feels — full of hurt and heartbreak, but with traces of lightness and optimism for the future.
Veda’s vocals are incredibly emotive, and when coupled with her simple instrumentals, result in a soulful single. In spite of it’s undeniably personal origins, Veda appreciates that “some of my music can be up to interpretation, and it can be something a lot of people can experience in a poetic way.”
Similar to “Lamb Curry,” the creative process behind “Already” began first with musicality. While Veda doesn’t have a strict songwriting process, she said she comes up with chord progressions before lyrics. Furthermore, her lyrics come to her incredibly naturally, given her background in poetry and creative writing.
“Whatever is on my mind, the words will just sort of come out,” Veda said. “So it definitely feels like the music starts, and then I start writing the words. Day after day, it all comes together.”
Veda is a firm believer in the self-healing powers of songwriting, as it provides a creative means of gaining control over her world. She gains a primal sense of comfort from being at the piano and making music. Whether it be through unearthing her emotions, exploring ideas and thoughts, or just “falling onto the keys,” Veda has an uncanny ability to translate unspeakable experiences into sound.
Come see Veda and three other incredibly talented musicians at Sunnyvale on Feb. 8. Tickets are $7 in advance, and $10 on the day of. All are welcome!
