A Chat with Gaurika (08.08.2020)
Talented, multi-dimensional and versatile with drive and ambition, Gaurika is the epitome of the modern artist. Using her talent and drive, she is quickly gaining notoriety and on the cusp of mainstream success. Her debut single ‘I’m Alive’ featuring Sean Kingston has been gaining attention since it was released earlier this year. We sat down with Gaurika to talk about the single, her inspiration, music and much more!
OSR: What inspired you to start a career in music?
Gaurika: From ever since I can remember, music was my natural go-to. I was forever putting on talent shows at home as a child and it was just the space where I was completely and totally ‘ME’ in every sense and I felt fulfilled. It almost felt unattainable as when you say, “I wanna be a pop star” as a response to your career goals, you soon get a laugh as a response or “and what do you really wanna do?”.
For me, music was such a powerful expression that had the ability to connect globally and with what music did for me throughout my younger years, I can never forget how much I learned through music. Although it sounds bizarre, music really saved me through some dark times so if I could do that for somebody, anybody, that’s what I wanted to do. That was my inspiration, as well as proving to myself that anything truly is possible with perseverance, determination, hard work, heart and soul and not to mention many sleepless nights hustling.
OSR: ‘I’m Alive’ is your debut single, were you nervous about it being released?
Gaurika: I didn’t really get nervous about the release, to be honest, I think I was more relieved and excited to finally release after so much work had gone into it and wanting to share what I had been up to with family, friends, fans and the world. I was honestly more nervous after the release with the insane, global pandemic as everything sort of froze in its tracks for a bit there.
Also, when I create songs, it comes from a place of ‘truth’ and genuine passion and although they are created to share with the world, it’s personal to me so as long as I honestly love it and connect with it. That’s what’s most important and usually, when that’s the case, people tend to feel that energy through the song so I’m always more excited than nervous with sharing.
OSR: Sean Kingston is featured on ‘I’m Alive’, how did you feel working with him?
Gaurika: Sean was honestly the perfect fit for this song and I’m grateful the stars aligned and he featured on my debut single. Working with him was honestly a breeze, the creative and music side of it was easy. The part was already written so he had to put his stamp on it and he really well and truly did that in his signature Sean Kingston kind of way. Initially I was worried that he would want to re-write the part but he loved it as it was so that was amazing!
OSR: What is your creative process? Do you start with lyrics or melody?
Gaurika: Honestly, I can’t take full credit for the creative process and also don’t have any set way. For me, it comes very naturally and quite honestly I don’t think it comes from me as much as it comes through me. I can be fast asleep and literally wake up in the middle of the night and reach over to my phone to record a lyric or melody.
If something invokes a feeling in me, and I’m an empath so very connected emotionally, so songs literally pour out of me and the best ones always come naturally, with no real effort in trying to write it. So it could be melody then lyrics or lyrics then melody or both in one go.
OSR: ‘I’m Alive’ has been picked up and played on BBC, what was it like hearing your song on the radio for the first time?
Gaurika: It is definitely a really insanely, proud moment when you hear your song on the radio for the first time. It’s bizarre because by this point I’ve heard the song at least a hundred times before it being played on the radio but hearing it on there is like you’re listening to it for the first time again. It’s really quite strange but such a fulfilling moment which I am eternally grateful for. It’s kind of like showing your baby to the world for the first time.
OSR: If people could take one thing away from your music, what would you like it to be?
Gaurika: Inspiration, empowerment, love, healing, understanding. Any of those in honesty and it would have been worth it. Music for me is one of my little ways of making a difference in this world as I aspire to inspire others.
OSR: If your music was a colour, what would it be and why?
Gaurika: Oh, that’s an interesting question. I’d have to say a mix of colours as it couldn’t just be one. All the chakra colours mixed into one from white, indigo, blue, green, pink, yellow, orange and red. Sorry, that’s the Gemini in me coming out with not picking one. If it had to be just one colour, I’d go with white, because for me it represents its purity, innocence, clarity, connection, love and light.
OSR: Are you planning anything else for this release, music videos etc?
Gaurika: Yes, I can’t wait for things to calm down to be able to get a proper music video done as not sure how a socially distanced one would work given the message of this song is celebrating life and love. I do have a creative official lyric video which I’ve created which has great mini emoji versions of me and Sean and is actually really quite creative. You can check it out on YouTube via GaurikaVEVO.
OSR: If you could collaborate with any musician, who would it be and why?
Gaurika: Oh again, this is such a hard question for me because I would love to collaborate with so many artists. I think the top of my list would be Ed Sheeran, Sean Paul, Will I Am, JLo, Beyonce and Eminem to name a few. Ed Sheeran because of his creative, natural flair and musicality, Sean Paul for his flavour and dynamic vocal performance, Will I Am for his bizarre futuristic creativity, JLo for her flavour and effervescence and Eminem for his amazing, meaningful and extraordinary rap ability.
OSR: What are your plans for the future?
Gaurika: I am so looking forward to getting out and performing again! It’s one of my favourite elements of music, actually sharing it with people. I am looking forward to my follow up second release which should be coming out in the next few months called ‘Digital Age’ which is very in line with everything we’re kind of going through right now with having to go almost completely digital with our socialising as of recently. Apart from that, I am looking forward to collaborating on writing for other artists as well as some upcoming movies. In the short term, I am really looking forward to getting out over to the US and promote ‘I’m Alive’ along with some other very exciting opportunities over there that are in the pipeline.
Thanks to Gaurika for chatting with us! You can find more about her on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
