Of ‘Morning Dew’ fame, young and talented Sayanti Chatterjee, shares her journey and feelings about being one of the very few Indian singers and song-writers, in New Zealand in the western genre

IWK: We know you as a singer. Tell us something more about you.

Sayanti Chatterjee (SC): I am also a songwriter. I write my own songs. It gives me immense satisfaction to be able to express my feelings in such a creative way. I also enjoy creating live music for PRAYAS theatre group as a musical director.

I like to believe, I am a good cook. My childhood ambition was to become a chef- but that changed after a few years. Being interested in human behaviour and how people think, I ended up majoring in Psychology at University. My plan B has always been Psychology related careers.

IWK: How did you develop interest in Music?

SC: I started singing when I was 4/5 years old on stage. My mum would force my siblings and me to get up on stage and sing or dance for community functions. I think, its all part of being a Bengali. We are made to start young. Whether we are good at it or not, we have to do it. Luckily for me, I realised I can sing and dance. So that worked out in my favour. It really was as easy as breathing.

IWK: Where did you get your music training from?

SC: Growing up, learning folk songs from mum and my late aunt was kind of an early training. I had music tutors come home to teach Hindustani classical when I was very young. Due to the lack of interest and understanding of this amazingly complex musical form, I didn’t show interest in it back then.

Eventually after moving to NZ is when I realised how much I take singing for granted and I started taking Hindustani classical training from Pt Chintamani Rath.

I moved to India for a short stint, where I met my guide, my mentor - Jennifer D’Souza, who trained me in western voice production. She’s also my co-songwriter for most of my songs. I have learned so much from all these different styles. But I guess my heart was always in Western music.

IWK: When did you start singing professionally?

SC: Honestly, I never thought I would ACTUALLY take it up as a career. As a kid, dreaming and talking about being one was one thing. But actually doing it…I still can’t believe it sometimes. After moving to NZ and getting busier in school and University, music took a back-seat. That is when I realised, how much I missed it.

And once I graduated from University, with my parent’s support, I went to Mumbai to get in touch with my Indian roots. I worked in the industry for a bit, sang for jingles, and private albums. I came back here in 2012 and decided this was the path I wanted follow.

I have recorded and performed a few original songs since then. My debut release was ‘Morning Dew’ that I recorded with the very talented Zorran Mendonsa. That song caught the ears and attention of quite a few people, including an independent record label called ‘Affiliated records’ and they signed me on.

As a musical director, PRAYAS theatre group makes me go out of my comfort zone, as I am required to sing in Hindi. I have managed to find a middle ground by using my western vocal stylings with Indian classical music and creating a fusion sound which works like a charm for the wider NZ audience. It is really a very satisfying space to be in!

IWK: Who or what is your inspiration or idol?

SC: Musically- A lot of people inspire me. I love Norah Jones, Brooke Fraser, Emeli Sande, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, John Denver, Dido, Imogen Heap, Coldplay and many more. I have been heavily influenced by folk/Indian classical music as well.

I think more than artists, its individual songs that inspire me. So I guess, I don’t have idols, but I do get inspired by songs that give me goose bumps.

Non-musically- my father. He has seen such economic and other hardships in life, when he was growing up, and yet he had the courage and determination to turn it around and give us the life we live now- in so much comfort and a life where we can follow our dreams. Without my family’s constant support and encouragement- I wouldn’t be in NZ and I definitely wouldn’t be pursuing music. I owe a lot to my parents and my siblings.

IWK: What keeps you going as singer here in New Zealand?

SC: I love what I do, more so in NZ. When I stand in front of a crowd and sing, the amount of appreciation and genuine love I feel keeps me going. There’s a big untapped market for Indian fusion music here. Indian classical and folk music have a very meditative quality about them. The fact that people like it, is such a high and motivation to keep doing it.

People are genuinely interested in seeing someone grow and succeed. If you make it big, they appreciate. If you have a setback, you get a pat on the back, a helping hand and ample opportunities to keep going and start over.

I think NZ is the only place in the world where I can have both a 9-5 career and follow my musical dreams, without one holding me back from the other.

IWK: Tell us about your past and future music projects?

SC: I have released a few original songs in since 2013. They are up on my YouTube and Sound Cloud channel. I have performed for some NZ music and arts festivals like: PRANA (2013), Auckland Pride festival (with AGRAM productions, 2014), Auckland Arts Festival (2013), White Nights- Auckland Arts Festival (with PRAYAS, 2015), etc.

I have been a part of ‘Prayas Theatre group’ and have performed for them since I came back in 2012. There should be another Prayas production coming up before the year ends.

I am working hard with my Record label on getting an EP out soon. There are many exciting plans around that for this year, but they are a bit premature to discuss. Nevertheless, I am very excited!

IWK: What is your dream project?

SC: I would love to work on a collaboration with the amazing music producers- AR Rahman and Quincy Jones (yes, both on the same project) - learn from them and create with them something grand that surpasses the norm, supports a meaningful cause and inspires people. If I can do something that can achieve all that, and do it with such geniuses- I would consider this life well lived.

IWK: Is there anything else you would like to say?

SC: I am grateful to my family and friends for being a constant support system and grounding me; my manager, Indika, and my label Affiliated Records for having faith in me. I know we’ll do big things in the future together.

And lastly, but not the least- I want to thank you and the Indian Weekender. It’s thanks to such local support that makes me want to keep doing what I do. I feel very humbled by it.