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CHOPPA 2023 : Day 4 (Show Day 2 and Bump-out)

29th September

Today was the last day of the show and we began by checking if everything was in order and re-labelling the cables and junction boxes. Next, the sound check began with the last group Natalie, Andy and Christoven. Andy and Natalie were late so the sound check timings got delayed. While waiting for them I introduced myself to Christoven and asked if he wanted to make any changes. Andy and Natalie arrived with their baby who was strapped onto Andy through out the sound check. This was dangerous as the baby kept trying to reach out for the mic and we were concerned that the baby might fall or accidentally hit/drop equipment. While I understand that they might have done this before, seeing the ease that they set up with, I wish they could have had someone take care of the baby. This would prevent any possible disruptions or accidents on set.

There were also more changes to the layout during the sound check. The last set with Christoven, Andy and Natalie was the most elaborate and we made a lot of changes as they asked to remove things that they had initially requested. this was what my stage layout was for them:

And this was after the changes :

We removed everything for Christoven except his monitor and provided him with a chair at his request. Natalie did not require the table nor the mic and Andy wanted to use stereo mons. Following the day before we had not marked anything until the sound check due to these kinds of changes. I was glad we did not, as even the previous day we had to remove and add some labels. This process was not repeated today. I also added extra notes on the layout for today. This was for the change over during the longer half-time break. I did not want to be unclear as fumbling on the stage in between performances was the last thing any of us wanted.

There was one major disappointment during the sound check. A lot of the Year 1s and 2s started to disappear between the changeover during the sound check. This left only me, Wai Qi and Gladys in the Cube to set up and help. I'm thankful for Wai Qi and Gladys as they helped even though it wasn't their job. They both also had to be at the console but they also kept coming down to the stage to help which was not efficient at all. Unfortunately, there were a couple of things to troubleshoot audio-wise for the groups today and Gladys had to come down to help while Wai Qi manned the console alone.

I understand that everyone was tired from the day before but my mindset was the faster we finished the more time we had for a break before the actual show. I could have gone and told them off about lounging around, however, I was also tired and wanted to do an efficient job. I wished that Elliott as the project manager would have kept everyone in check time-wise. Wai Qi eventually went and asked them to come back but there were still some people missing even after. We were quite tired after the soundcheck and had a short break before dinner.

The show itself went smoothly with no problems. There were no hiccups like yesterday and we were able to sit back and enjoy the performances. My parents and sister had also come to watch and they said it was very well put together!

Bump-Out

Bump-out went by fast as everyone was very tired and wanted to finish up quickly. No one left halfway and everyone was coiling and packing away efficiently. We followed Wai Qi's instructions on equipment count and put everything away the best we could.

Overall, Choppa 2023 was a good experience and a great success! The turnout for both days was good as it went further than what we expected. Everyone in Year 3 did their respective roles and also helped around when required. To be honest I was a bit nervous about my CHOPPA experience after observing and participating in the previous years as the amount of work seemed overwhelming! However, we had good teamwork which was the most important aspect of why the show was a success.

I think I had, and learned more about, good communication and collaboration through this huge project. I also realized that I need to be more prepared for changes and learn to adapt quickly. I could embraced more of the leadership role and told off people when they were slacking, however, I felt that people need to realize that on their own. However, I still had a great time with my friends and peers and I wish the next year good luck!

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CHOPPA 2023 : Day 3 (Show Day 1)

28th September

The day began with coffee and a reversed sound check and each group for the day came in. I made sure to introduce myself clearly to each group and told them that if they needed any changes to their layout they could ask me. Expectedly, every band made changes to the original layout to their preferences. I was pleased with the decision of not labelling the equipment yet and hence started making changes to the printed layout.

The main changes were changes in Brian, Dirk and Yandsen's set. Initially, Dirk wanted to trigger lights using his instruments so we brought up extra mic stands as per his request for the lights to be hung on. He decided he was not going to use them anymore and would just require his personal set-up. This was fine because we did not set up the stands as we weren't sure where he might need them. However, I learned that clear communication and decision making is important in tech riders as it could cost time and create misunderstandings. There were other minor changes like Brian wanting to move his monitor as he wanted to face a different way and not requiring the table. He also suggested that we use flight cases instead of tables and I thought it would be a good idea for the following day. I amended the copies of the layout and we taped down the labels for the changed layout after the set.

In the final act, Kenny and Patrick also needed changes as they had brought in a projector. We had provided them with a piano bench for it however what they didn't inform us was that they had a third person who would do the visuals for them live. He decided to just sit on the floor next to the piano bench for the projector and his laptop. I felt that the arrangement could have been better as we could have provided a proper table and chair if they had informed us of this.

During the show

There were two main problems during the show. The first one was during the first set. Wai Qi informed me that the group's output signal was distorted because it was clipping from their own sub-mixer. I was then given the task of sneaking around from behind the curtains and bringing the level down on their sub mixer. I was a bit skeptical but I did not want the recording to be damaged further. While I was extremely scared I would trip over important wires in the dark I completed the task.

The second problem was during the second set as George had not informed us that he wanted to move around during his performance. During the sound check, he only played a part in his performance and did not move. I wish he could have communicated this with us as we would have been better equipped for his requests and maybe changed the layout so he had more space to move around.

Overall, I learned that I need to be extremely adaptable and know how to work around problems quickly. While I was prepared for the stage to not be set in stone I felt like I could have thought more creatively. I also wished that the artists had communicated some of their specific requests earlier so that we would be better equipped to accommodate them. All in all, we were all very pleased by the turnout and it was a good first day.

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CHOPPA 2023 : Bump-in Day 2

27 September

Today was the second day of bumping in. Wai Qi and Gladys had some issues with the sound system. Seeing as the stage was pretty much set up for Gyoza to sound check the stage crew helped them to check for the problem. We spent a lot of time trying to identify the problem, however seeing as we were on track, it was something we could afford.

On the first day, I had printed out the layout for myself, however as we had to sound check later on, I decided to print more copies for everyone else to refer to as well. After Gyoza did their sound check, I made sure that they were okay with the monitor and table placements. Then we proceeded to tape the labels on the floor for table and monitor position for their act.

This day was good as everyone was more accustomed to their roles. As the camera crew didn't have to set up just yet, they also helped as stage crew on both days. I really appreciated everyone picking up when something was lacking and it resulted in a smooth bump-in.

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CHOPPA 2023 : Bump-in Day 1

25 September

The time that we had decided on meeting at the storeroom was 10 am and more than half the people were late. It was a bit disappointing that it was just the three of us, Gladys, Wai Qi and I, who were on time. This was despite the fact that we sent out reminders leading up to the day about the timetable and punctuality. We did not want to waste time and started to check out equipment while the others came in a bit later.

The next step was to set up the speakers and organize the stage. Our initial role as stage crew was to follow Wai Qi and Gladys's instructions to organize and set up the junction boxes. We decided to label everything right at the beginning so there was no confusion. This had caused disorganization in the previous years and we had learned from that experience and di not want to repeat it.

While everyone had helped to bring all the equipment downstairs, the Year 1's had left early for class and weren't able to help set up the stage. We later remarked on how it would have been helpful for them to observe and help so that when they had to plan CHOPPA it would be smoother. However, we were left with a smaller team to help set up which arguably made the communication and management easier and better. Everyone was able to split into teams kind of seamlessly which was great to see as everyone knew what their responsibilities were. It was new for me as this was my first leadership role and I had to be observant to help people. I made sure that I was present on the stage at all time as we were missing a lot of people.

When organizing the cables for the speakers, monitors and power trays Wai Qi suggested that we do some cable management and organize along the perimeter of the stage to prevent tripping hazards and to make it look neater. I was very disappointed in myself that I had not thought of it before given my role as stage manager, however, Wai Qi has more experience with organizing shows and I made sure to thank her for the solution. She assured me that if I had any questions I could ask and she would be happy to help. I was very thankful that my peers were considerate and communicated their ideas well. It was one of our collective qualities that helped smoothen the overall process of producing this show.

Since we were right on schedule, I decided that the stage crew should roughly set up for the soundcheck day. We set up the tables and monitors for the first act, Gyoza and started to organize the XLR cables in the same way as the power cables. I was very thankful to one of the TOs, Herman, who gave me a roll of fluorescent tape so that we could see the labels on the floor better. Initially, we wanted to tape down labels on the floor for the equipment for each act for better organization, but I wasn't sure exactly what each artist would want for the placements. As the stage layout was bound to change a little based on the artist's preferences we did not set anything in stone.

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CHOPPA 2023 : Preparation - Week 6

18 - 22 September

I started on the stage layouts for the show early in the week. I decided to colour code and label the common equipment on stage and created a legend on the pages for reference. I felt this would be easy to refer to. Initially, I had made a different stage layout for each act, without taking into account the change over time. This was a mistake as I only realized later on that there would only be a half-time break through the show on each day.

Day 1: Set 1 and 2 in the initial layout:

I had presented this to the TOs in the final meeting which was just to update them and show them our finalized plans. After, I realized there wouldn't be enough time to move the equipment with the way I had designed the stage layout. This was also because it completely slipped my mind that the artists would not be tearing down after their set and that their instruments and equipment would stay on stage. This can be seen in the example shown above, Goerge Chua cannot set up as Gyoza's equipment will be on Tables 1 and 3. Wai Qi and Gladys helped me and gave me suggestions on how I could re-do the layout. I also double-confirmed the break times with Elliott to guide me further.

Here is an example (Day 1: Set 1 and 2) that was the layout that I finally sent out to my peers who would help as the stage crew with me:

I accounted for the mistakes I made and changed the layout so the changeover would be as short as possible. This had to be done for all the acts over both days but it made me more vigilant about what would be the most efficient way to move between acts. We did not have a change over layout the previous year and it created a delay and confusion. I did not want to repeat it and hence was more observant. I also reconfirmed with Wai Qi and Gladys as well as my peers who would help as stage crew.

The meeting went well as everyone had done the work they needed to present to the TOs. I was still a bit nervous around the TOs, however, one of them, Sayuthi, told me that he could ask me anything regarding the stage if I needed help and it gave me some reassurance. I was happy that everyone was being responsible and it was great that we worked well as a team!

I realized that a lot of these layouts cannot be set in stone as well. Since we had made assumptions about some of the equipment for some artists, the layout could change while they sound-checked. I also realized I needed to adapt to changes quickly and be prepared to make quick decisions as the stage manager leading up to the show.

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CHOPPA 2023 : Production Meeting #1

24 August

We had an introductory meeting with the TOs. We started by discussing the schedule for the bump-in and the overall week leading up to the festival. We discussed the possible layout of the Cube as Wai Qi and Gladys wanted the console on the first floor of the Cube. Brian and the TO's also had a short discussion about the budget. This led to us deciding that the lighting will be done by the Year 1's and 2's.

I didn't speak up a lot as I was a bit nervous about asking the TOs questions. After the meeting, we all started to work on the tasks that we discussed during the meeting. Wai Qi and Gladys were planning the sound system, Zasha was going to follow up with the artists for their tech riders and electronic press kits, Yong En and G started to brainstorm for social media and Elliott started to create the schedule for the week of the festival.

I decided to discuss with Wai Qi and Gladys about their stage set-up so I could plan the stage layout with it. They sent me the files of the Cube layout that they had edited with their plans.

This gave me a sense of where to begin the planning and how much space of the Cube I could use as the stage.

It was a good atmosphere to work in. We were all in the EM room doing our tasks and asking each other for opinions and input. This made planning an event like this a bit easier as I was reassured that I was not alone and everyone was comfortable communicating directly.

Following the meeting

The one main issue we had was the back-and-forth with the artists. While Zasha had been following up we still did not get some tech riders back until two weeks before the show. This made us a bit nervous as Gladys and Wai Qi had to compile an equipment check-out list and then I had to make the stage layout. We had to present these to the TOs as well.

Some artists also had requests which we did not have the equipment or the manpower for such as raised and extra monitors. However, we still wanted to make sure we were able to give the artists what they required. Some artists were not clear in what they required and we had to move forward based on assumptions which still did not clarify what we needed on the list or the layout. Hence we had to add extra equipment just in case the artist required an alternative for their tech rider.

This frustrated me as there was too much back and forth and too many artists who didn't reply until the last moment. I realized how important communication is if you are an artist and realized that I will need to be more proactive in this area when I perform in the future.

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CHOPPA 2023 : First Meeting

15 August

We had the first meeting about the festival with Brian. He gave us basic information about the performance days and the artists that have been confirmed so far. In my experience with previous CHOPPA's, I think that people did not decide on clear roles which resulted in major confusion down the line. I was happy that my fellow classmates agreed on this and we distributed the roles as such:

As seen above we immediately put it in our group so that everyone has time to work on the requirements.

Honestly, I decided to be the stage manager as I was not confident in the role of sound engineer or assistant sound engineer. While in hindsight, maybe I should have taken the risk anyway, I was happy with my choice. I was also a bit nervous about having a leadership role as I usually don't volunteer for them, however learning anything new comes with unexpected things and I was going to learn how to adapt. I wanted to learn more about producing a show as a whole and thought that the role of a stage manager would give me insight into both planning the show and how to effectively communicate with artists.

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Summer Internship : 20 - 24 June 2023

Last Week and Final Reflection

This was my last week at the studio. During this week I continued uploading any remaining files onto the TV channel provider's server and observed studio sessions. I had gotten well acquainted with the in-house producers and during one of the days, I was able to gain a bit of insight into their mindset. We talked about the uncertainties in the music industry. They explained their initial anxieties and problems that they still have with royalties and credit. I also explained to them my worries about the future and it was reassuring to know that they also had the same worries when they first started music and that over time they had worked those problems out. It gave me more assurance towards my own future.

We even talked about creative burnout and how they combat it. One of the producers talked about how he pushed himself too hard. He urged me to never let it get to that stage and to always make sure that I am mentally well enough to continue my creativity.

Overall, this experience was very holistic. I was so happy I got this opportunity to learn more about music production, marketing and the Indian music industry from industry professionals. Along with learning new software and more about music production I also learnt about mindset and attitude which allowed me to understand what I need to work on in the future when I enter the field myself. I learned how to view and analyse music and trends through the lens of marketing which will be relevant for my own future endeavours. Seeing them work tirelessly for something they are passionate about further motivated me to continue on my own path. I always had a bit of doubt in the industry and in myself. I wasn't sure that this would be an option that would work out for me, but I now see that genuine hard work towards skills and mindset will help you achieve your goals no matter what they are.

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Summer Internship : 13 - 17 June 2023

After the week I was sick, I started to finally reformat the final EPG. Learning from the previous mistakes, I changed the format so that it was in list form and allowed for the filtering option to be used. I had to watch tutorials on YouTube that broke down the filtering function on Google Sheets so I could reformat it so it would be more efficient to use. With Shivansh's approval, I narrowed down my initial long list to eight blocks which each had two lists of songs to span their discography.

Example of the titles with the list number:

Along with the EPG, I had to learn how to use a file transfer protocol and cloud server software called Cyberduck to send the files over to the TV channel's database. Luckily the process of transferring ran in the background allowing me to focus on the new task. I had to create a sheet on the EPG for mapping each song title to the corresponding file. This was an arduous task as I worked through to slowly chip away at 200+ songs. This came with problems such as missing, wrongly named and old file names. I had to correct them and then add them to the sheet one by one which is why it took the whole week. This also came with specific requests for where to place the files from the representatives of the TV channel provider. The software had a bug where I could only upload a certain size of files or it would freeze and not complete the transfer. I suggested using other software however it would take too long to learn them properly and continue the task at hand.

Example from the list:

While this was a long task, it was almost mechanical which made it slightly easier. However, I had to confirm and correspond with Shivansh many times and sometimes he did not know where to find the files. This whole process taught me to be more patient and to pay attention to detail. I learnt to organize myself better as I had to keep track of where the files were, and if they were uploaded and add them to the file mapping sheet.

We finally created a summary timetable of all the program blocks and it looked like the very first example of EPG that I had referred to.

This was the last part of the main project I was involved in during my internship. It taught me both hard and soft skills. I learnt how to use new software that will be relevant for marketing jobs in the future which is a field that I am also interested in. However, I think more importantly it taught me how to communicate with other people and how to express my frustrations without disregarding their ideas. I also learned to adapt when expectations and requirements change without my own feelings getting in the way, allowing for an undisrupted path to the result. I never took any of the comments made on my work personally and viewed them as constructive feedback regardless of how it was delivered to me.

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Summer Internship : 1 - 7 June 2023

I was at a standstill mentally. I think the fact that I was away from my family somehow caught up with me in this sudden sense of homesickness. It did not help that I was sick throughout this week and couldn't go to the studio. Shivansh suggested that if I wanted to do work and only if I could, I could work on the formatting for the Excel sheet for the TV channel.

While I was still in my own house, it was the first time I had lived away from my family and the first time I was sick alone. Writing and reflecting on this after it happened sounds childish but at the time I was feeling extremely down. I guess it was hitting me, once I settled down into a routine. I also think the fact that I had only been going to the studio and doing work every day without a break in the routine caused me to feel isolated.

Luckily, my cousin was in town and she got me out of the house to explore a little during this week. I asked Shivansh if it would be okay if I did work from home during this week and he was happy to oblige once he understood my situation.

This whole week made me think about how I would work in a professional setting. Would I burn out like I did this week? What are some boundaries I would have to create? What are some practices I would have to put in place to help me not burn out? I realized that I need to keep time aside where I don't think about work and do things of my own interest. I feel like this is much easier said than done. I feel like I also reach creative burnout quickly and I need to make sure that it doesn't happen often enough that it stops my creativity.

At the same time, I also decided I needed to learn how to be resilient through experiences like these. I have to adapt to people who might not be as understanding as Shivansh has been with me in this experience. Seeing the short timelines and fast deadlines of this field of work, I needed to learn how to boost my mental stamina by not wasting time getting distracted to make space for work, creativity and rest.

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Summer Internship : 29 & 30 May 2023

29 May

I watched a recording session in the studio. An artist had come in to record for an upcoming project and I was able to observe how the recording engineer, Raj, interacted with the artists. The main takeaway was the patience that was required from the engineer to help the artist feel more comfortable.

He made sure to give positive feedback after the take. If the artist missed the cue, he would explain with specificity and correct the mistake. Since the song had a lot of complicated runs, Raj was directing the runs and splitting them to make it easier for the artists to record. I could see the "artist first" mindset very clearly as he listened to their concerns and requests for recording. He was also comping the takes as they were recording and made sure to keep the artist in the loop of what was happening outside the live room.

I was able to learn the attitude that you require as a recording engineer. While most of these soft skills seem very obvious, I realized that they were also skills that I would need to pay attention to when I get to the professional field. It made me reflect on my own skills when I was helping to record vocals during class and also gave me insight into how I should approach this kind of interaction in the future.

30 May

I sat in a recording session where the lyrics of the upcoming song were being written. The skeleton track of the song had already been created and the lyricist had come in to present her ideas. The song was supposed to be able the chaotic city of Delhi and how much love there is for it. While the writer had written with romantic intentions as a chaotic love story, Salim sir wanted the song to be purely about the love of Delhi without the romantic context.

I expected the session to kind of be at a standstill so that the lyricist could come back another time with rewritten lyrics, but everyone in the studio helped her by showing references and even their own anecdotes. While the lyricist went to rework the lyrics, Raj and Salim sir started adding to the track. The track was a fusion of synthpop with elements of Indian classical instruments. There were some key moments which helped me realize the true creativity that the music field requires. They used samples of the instruments they wanted and then created melodies by putting together splices of the loop. Another moment was when a loop they wanted to use was in a random major scale so Salim sir suggested transposing it to the relative major of the minor key of the song, giving them the right notes to work with. The whole process was almost seamless as everyone was aware of what they had to do. Once the lyricist finished reworking the lyrics, they recorded the scratch vocals.

The major learning point for me here was the usage of time, creativity and communication. As they were on a strict timeline, they had to do everything to conserve the time they had which meant finding creative solutions and having clear communication. This practice helped me realize things about my own practice. Once they found something to add on to the track, they did not take unnecessary breaks to cut that creative flow. I feel like when I start something, I often either get distracted or cut the flow by creating a break, which now that I think about it is not necessary at all. I also realized that I wanted to have the level of creativity that they displayed in the studio. It gave me a new appreciation for what I was learning in school and a goal to work towards.

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Summer Internship : 22 - 26 May 2023

22 - 24 May

This was the week that I officially started helping them with work. When I first applied, Shivansh had made it clear to me that I was also expected to work on the label and marketing side of their music. Today I learnt more about using Excel and Google Sheets for organization. I was not exceptionally proficient in either before this internship, however, Shivansh helped me understand some basics while working on the task that I was given which would take up the course of my internship.

The label was collaborating with a TV service provider to create a 24/7 live stream of their music. I was tasked to create an EPG (electronic programming guide) for the channel that spanned that time. Shivansh introduced me to the filtering function on Google Sheets.

It allowed us to sort through data based on what it was tagged as. Using their song Meta Datasheet, Shivansh showed me how to sort through albums and genres to help with the task. Each song on the sheet was tagged with a genre and mood on two columns. This helped me with the first task of sorting the discography into moods, which would later be used as categories for "programs" on the EPG.

This was not very hard to understand and pick up. As they had already tagged their songs based on specific filters it allowed for a much easier job on my part. Since I had no prior reference to creating this kind of schedule I researched EPGs of existing music channels in India. Here is an example of a music channel, 9XM:

Similar to the EPG above I created a separate Google Sheet with 30 min timeslots, suggested by Shivansh, for each program. For example 'Classic Bollywood', 'On a Road Trip', 'Morning Dance Party', 'Indie Showcase'. I created 16 categories and structured the sheet with the categories across columns, horizontally, with the songs listed below each category. For example:

Once I showed Shivansh, he pointed out that I would not be able to use the filter feature as it worked with a list that was vertically under the target cell. I had to reformat the EPG so that the filtering system could be used. The TV service provider had also requested that I reduce the number of programs so that they can be repeated easily. I was a bit overwhelmed with this part of the task as I was not familiar with Excel or Sheets and watching Shivansh breeze through when explaining to me made me feel a bit disappointed in myself. But then I reminded myself that he had done this for way longer than I have and that I'm still learning.

When I get overwhelmed with anything, I usually split tasks into discrete pieces. In this case, I decided to first reduce the number of programs, sort the songs and then reformat. Shivansh helped me narrow down to the programs he felt were good and I used them. Here is an excerpt of the final detailed program list:

From here on, we cut down on a lot of the work that I had already done. The TV service provider communicated with us that usually music programs have one EPG from Monday to Thursday and then a second one from Friday to Sunday which would be repeated. In my original EPG, I had manually shuffled around the songs each day. I was upset when I realized that we would have to broaden the specific work that I had done. This felt counter-productive and I thought it would have been much easier if this was just told to me from the beginning. It would have saved me time and I would have produced results much faster. Inefficiency is one of my pet peeves, especially if there is a very evidently direct process. However as it was a professional setting, I could let my annoyance get further in the way of my ongoing task and had to put it aside.

25 & 26 May

We had an in-person meeting with a representative from the TV service and I was able to ask specific questions on the format of the EPG. He provided us with a template which they use for channels such as ours. Yet again I was annoyed that this template was not provided from the beginning as it would have made the whole process faster. However, I understood that everyone had their own constraints. Shivansh later also expressed his annoyance at the fact that this format was not provided, even though he had exchanged countless emails with their team.

I decided that I did not want to drag this out any longer and sat down to finish the reformatting within the next two days. However, Shivansh was adamant that I also spend time in the studio every day. I felt more comfortable around him as he looked out for me, and would encourage me to eat meals with him in the studio kitchenette. His and the other producers' considerate and casual attitude was very helpful in my settling into the professional setting.

On the 25th, Salim sir was in the studio, adding to a track for an upcoming project. I was able to observe and ask questions about his compositional process. My first question was how can a piece be made better? He said that it begins with realizing that there are spaces to fill. I observed this as he added synth lines that complemented the chords and beat that were already there. The way the spaces were filled was unique making the overall track more dynamic. My next question was, how do you choose what to add? The answer he gave was quite simple, and it was to just try. You'll never know what the track needs unless you don't try. He was experimenting with different gestures and takes to create and preserve originality. He was also very expressive when he liked a gesture he made, which made me reflect on how I react to the compositional choices I make while creating a piece.

I started reflecting on my own compositional process. I realized that I could do more of both the qualities he described. I also realized that I don't have a set 'studio' or creative time set out every day. I usually start a song when I have an idea and not because I just sat down and started experimenting. In contrast, when I'm using modular equipment in school for ensemble class or for my projects, it always begins with exploring what sounds I can get out of the instrument, rather than a concrete concept. I guess it depends on the style of music I want to produce. Although I want to include more experimental soundscapes in my songs, the process of experimentation would benefit this style.

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Summer Internship : 15 - 19 May 2023

15 & 16 May

15 May was the first day of the internship. After I settled down, I asked for specifics on the tasks for the first week. Shivansh gave me two options. The first was to come and watch a shoot they were doing for a project they had started, taking place on the 15 and 16 May. The second was to come directly to the studio on 17 May and start from there.

I decided to attend on the 15 and 16 to watch the shoot. Once I arrived I got more details on the project. It was a program called SoundChk (pronounced Soundcheck), a show featuring bands (funk, jazz, prog-rock) from all around India to expose the Indian youth to a new form of fusion music. This would be a project that we would do the marketing and distribution for, once all the videos had been put together.

The two days I attended were the last two days of the shoot. Each band was given 6 takes after which the footage would be edited together. I was able to observe live lighting and camera work as the producers rehearsed for each set. It was interesting to see how the crew fixed problems and the communication between the director and the visuals and sound crew. The director had very specific ideas for lighting and gave clear feedback to the artists about energy and positioning.

While I have some experience with Indian classical music and other genres separately, I definitely didn't expect the level of fusion that each band brought to the program. One of the groups was a prog-rock band which incorporated traditional Indian instruments with elements such as changing time signatures and intense drums. This opened my eyes to a new genre as something I could explore in my own music in the future. I was also able to get further insights into the making of the song when the artists were interviewed.

Overall, the first two days were more of me observing and getting to know the people. I was a bit intimidated because I was in a professional setting, however as I enjoyed the music, it helped me ease in. Shivansh was very patient and explained when I asked anything. This also helped me as I felt like I at least knew one person over there.

17 - 19 May

17 May was the first day in the studio. My mindset before going was to have no expectations. I often end up with big expectations and if they're not met, I get disappointed easily. However, I reminded myself that this was about me learning new skills and gaining experience. Once I arrived, Shivansh gave me a tour of the studio and laid out what I would be working on in the future. I was a bit worried as I had not used some of the software that he was talking about. He reassured me that I would be learning along the way. I realized that this internship would test me on my adaptability and my ability to grasp new concepts.

An important thing was that their workday was structured differently than a regular 9-5 job. Shivansh told me they usually begin around 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and end late in the night. This was a very good schedule to operate in for me personally. I am not a morning person and the commute to the studio was 1 hour by cab which was the only convenient way, which meant I was able to start my mornings more calmly.

Shivansh told me that I would be able to meet Salim sir properly today and the wave of nervousness I felt was too much. This was someone I had watched on TV, as a judge for singing and talent competitions, and to see him in person is such a big thing! However, when I finally met him, he was such a down-to-earth person and welcomed me warmly. We did not get into any actual work on the first day and Shivansh urged me to sit in the studio session while Salim sir was composing. I also met the in-house artists/producers Raj Pandit and Aditya Kalway. They were beginning the composition process for the next project.

The next two days were similar and I just sat in the studio sessions and observed their process. I appreciated that I was not just being thrown into the work without any guidance. Everyone at the studio was very accommodating and I felt very reassured about the upcoming month that I'll spend there.

[shreyabhagavatulainternships]

Summer Internship : 8 - 15 April 2023

Choosing My Summer Internship

I wanted to have the experience of an external internship for the requirement for the ICE module. I started looking for music labels/companies in Singapore and Mumbai to do a two-month in-person internship.

The company that I looked at based in Singapore was Sixième Son a sonic branding and sound production agency. Since 1995, they have created sonic identities for over 450 brands. Before encountering this company I had only known of sonic branding casually, as 'jingles'. I had only heard and read about it as something freelance producers do along with their production practice, on the side. Hence the company and their sole business of creating these sonic identities for other companies intrigued me.

The label that I looked at based in Mumbai was Merchant Records. It was founded by the popular Indian composer duo consisting of siblings Salim and Sulaiman Merchant. The duo, known as Salim-Sulaiman, are best known for their roles as music directors and composers in Bollywood (Indian film industry). I have a background in Indian classical dance and singing and I thought this would be a good opportunity to understand the music industry in India. I was also looking forward to learning more about composing Indian classical music and incorporating it with popular music.

Before contacting either company I made a resume/CV that summed up my experiences. I used the information provided in a CV Workshop that was conducted in Year 2 Sem 2 to add relevant information along with my experiences.

Contacting and applying for the internship

I contacted both companies through email and WhatsApp with my CV and a short introduction about what the internship was for and what I was hoping to achieve.

Here is the email chain with Florent Adam, the Managing Director of the Singaporean branch of Sixième Son:

Unfortunately, the company was not looking for creative interns at that time and I don't have any experience with marketing. However, this process and exchange was good research into opportunities in the field of audio and/or marketing related to music in Singapore. I was able to find a company that I could consider working at after my studies.

I was lucky to receive the contact of the CEO of Merchant Records through a family member, which made the communication process more convenient. Here is my exchange with Shivansh Jindal, the CEO of Merchant Records:

After the text exchange, we spoke on the phone and Shivansh gave me more details about the internship. Initially, they weren't officially hiring interns, however even if they did it would be for the marketing side of the agency. I explained that I did not have any experience with marketing, fortunately, Shivansh was happy to teach me along the way with the necessary work. I was quite nervous to contact the CEO directly but after learning that Shivansh had a small team under him and was adamant on a casual work environment, I was able to communicate easily.

I was very happy with this outcome as I got to learn something completely new and am being guided by an expert in the field. It was a good job-shadowing opportunity to get involved in the marketing side of music, something I was never exposed to. With the added casual nature, I felt more at ease communication-wise as well.

Along with a new workplace and work experience, I was also going to live alone in Mumbai. This would be the first time I would live and work away from family. While I was nervous, the fact that I would live in my childhood home in Mumbai comforted me. I was looking forward to learning and doing all the other things that came with living alone (managing the house, commuting, food).