At the young age of 10 years, Mahati Subramaniam is a musical wonder, who is all set to make a mark on her own in the musical world.

Grand - daughter to violin virtuoso – Dr L Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti, Mahati was always surrounded with music while growing up. Her mother singer – songwriter Bindu and uncle Ambi are musicians in their own right, and it was only natural that Mahati would follow in their footsteps.

Mahati is not only a singer, but also songwriter, violinist and pianist. On 14^th November, she released her first solo single How We Feel, the music video which also released on the same day - Children’s Day. Besides composing, writing and singing the song, Mahati has also played the violin and performed gymnastics in the music video.

Verus Ferreira spoke to the young singer to know her new song and just how her career took off:

What first got you into music?

I started learning music when I wastwo years old. I’m lucky to come from a family of great musicians, my grandparents, parents and uncles are all amazing violinists, singers and songwriters. I have been learning new things from them, and they inspire me to work hard and build my own musical path every day. 

Who inspired you to make music?

I started making music because I wanted to tell stories that matter to me.

What is How we Feel all about?

My latest release, How We Feel, is about the struggles we go through as pre-teens, and how we should come together to stand up against what we think is wrong. My song was inspired by the struggles that my friends and I go through at this stage of being young adults. I enjoy using music to tell the stories that I enjoy, and I am very happy to have built skills like song writing that help me express myself better.

Tell us about the music video and how family support is important to build a career?

The music video is about what we go through as pre-teenagers and talks about how we should all have the courage to form strong opinions and choose what we want. When building a career, it is very encouraging for me to know that my whole family is supporting me and that they will always stand with me.

How did you learn to sing, write and play?

I have been learning from my grandparents, parents and uncles since I was two, and I also learn from some amazing teachers at SaPa. I love my classes because I get to spend time making music with my friends. Even though I’ve been learning online since the pandemic hit, I still am able to spend time with my friends on video calls, and that’s great.  

What is your main inspiration?

I am inspired by my family, because they are great musicians and also work very hard to create their path.

What kind of impact do you have holding such a rich musical legacy?

I started singing with my grandparents when I was two years old. I held my first violin when I was two and have been playing since I was five years old. It’s very interesting to learn about the musical legacy I come from. I love learning from my family and also am excited to follow my path with their guidance. They tell me to always work hard no matter what I do.

Can you tell us something about your musical journey?

I have been learning to sing since I was two years old, and started learning to play the violin since I was five. I have performed with my grandparents in India and abroad, where I have sung and played the violin. I also am a part of the SaPa choir – we have performed in many places and events all over South India. We have also been a part of many music videos by The Thayir Sadam Project. In addition to singing and playing the violin, I also learn to play the piano and write songs. All these skills help me make the music that I love.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

I create music that inspires other people and helps them express themselves. That is one of the main reasons why I try to build many different musical skills and abilities as it allows me to share my story in so many ways.

Which famous musicians do you admire most and why?

I admire Ariana Grande because of the way she opens her voice. Another musician that I love and admire is my mother Bindu Subramaniam, because of her voice and the way that she expresses herself through her song writing.

Have you ever participated in any music competition?

Not so far.

Where have you performed? Tell us about your best performance

I have performed in many places in India and in other countries with my mom and my grandparents. But one of my favourites has to be at the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, where I performed on stage with my grandparents.

Did you experience stress before going on stage?

I used to find it stressful a few years ago. But now, I just try to focus on the concert. I use the time before going on stage to try and remember the lyrics properly and just have fun.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

My mother always tells me that, no matter what I do, it is important to work hard every day and sincerely follow my passion. My entire family believes very strongly in working hard to fulfil our dreams, and this is the best advice that I have been given.

What do you enjoy most about being a musician?

I enjoy listening to different kinds of music and finding inspiration. I also love to tell different kinds of stories with my music. Being a musician means that I get to do what I enjoy, and experiment with styles that matter to me. That’s what matters most to me.

What skills are the most useful in the music industry?

I think it’s very important to learn many skills like audio recording and editing, production and song writing. It is also important to learn more than one area of music (like singing as well as playing an instrument) since it makes you a well-rounded musician.

What instruments do you play? Which instrument would you like to learn and why?

I can sing, write songs, and play the violin. I am also learning to play the piano, which is something I wanted to do for a long time. Learning the piano can help me with singing as well as writing songs better.

Would you agree that it is very important to learn, study and understand old music and music history?

Yes, I agree. Everybody should learn about where each style of music comes from, and the culture behind it. We should all spend time understanding how different types of music have changed and grown over time.

What are your interests outside of music? How do you also manage your academics?

I love gymnastics. My music video has some parts of my gymnastics routine, and I really enjoyed practising and recording it. I also enjoy acting, writing stories, dancing, trying different forms of visual art and playing games like basketball. As for my studies, my mom sets the timetable for me and I just follow it.  Sometimes, I enjoy cooking and baking desserts for my family.

If it was not music, what would you be doing?

I would be an actor. I enjoy acting, and have always staged plays with my friends for many years now. I have been taking some acting classes online recently, and I love learning. 

What’s next for you?

In these last few months, I have released two music videos with my mother. Cover Me in Sunshine and Space Between. Had a great time shooting and recording them. I am very excited to share my solo single How We Feel with everyone. I hope everyone enjoys it. I’m always working on making and writing new music, and I hope I can share more with everyone soon.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira