Singer – songwriter Sherise D’souza is on a roll. Early January, Sherise won third place for Best Female Artiste of the Year at the UK based WIGWAM Online Radio Awards 2021for her original songs Never Born and Stepladder. The awards are equivalent to the annual Brit awards. Sherise was the only entry from India that got selected for the prestigious award, thus giving a boost for Indian artists and thereby putting Indian independent music on the British map. 

While the adulation keeps pouring in, in April 2021 Sherise who has her roots in Goa, received 3 nominations from International Singer Songwriter Association (ISSA), as International Entertainer of the Year, International Band of the Year and International Female Emerging Artist of the Year, respectively.

The Mumbai based singer is known for her vocal prowess and her ability to make each song her own, no matter the genre. She has performed in various genres such as Funk, Pop, Country, Blues, Rock n Roll, Reggae, Pop, Western Classical, Jazz, Hindustani, as well as on her own original compositions.

Verus Ferreira spoke with Sherise to know more on her musical journey:

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us and congrats on all your recent success! How’s it going?

Thank you so much for having me, here. Truly appreciate all the love and support from the readers. It has been going great and have been occupied with live performance shows, studio work as well radio interviews, since the news of my wins got out. It continues to be an incredible journey of growth and musical exploration, this year, too.

What would you say was the biggest change you had to adjust to, in making the mark at the WigWam Online Radio Awards 2021?

I always felt very welcome by Curators whenever I submitted my music to them. Radio Wigwam is amazing in terms of giving musicians a worldwide platform to showcase their music to a wide audience across the world and majorly in the US and the UK. I always feel like I am on the same page as other artists across the world, because everyone is striving for the same common goal – to create and perform high quality music.

Was there a particular moment when you realized you had found success?

Success for me is about finally completing a project or ticking things off my bucket-list for life. I believe that success can happen at any moment, as well as, at every moment. Excellence then becomes a habit.

Your two original songs Never Born and Stepladder clicked at the awards. What do you think makes these two songs so special in terms of musicand lyrics?

The songs ‘Never Born’ and ‘Stepladder’ speak about the current state of politics and social injustices that are faced commonly by people across the world. Stepladder is about the struggles on the way to attain different levels of success encountering powerful figures and dealing with the struggles of working one’s way through the obstacles that come with climbing the ladder. It’s also about the never ending greed and oppressive decisions taken by influential figures when they could actually use their wealth and power to help society to come out of dread and misery.

Never Born is based on the modern age struggles of surviving in a complex world, where human beings have almost become like soldiers fighting for their own freedom from the curses of oppression of war, politics, man - made diseases and destruction. In the fight between good and evil, good always wins, after enduring suffering and focusing on a brighter future. This songs serves as a release of negative emotions through music so that it can lead them to constructively move on to being positive and stronger, within.

For those not familiar with your story, how did you get into music?

I started performing at the tender age of 8 years old where my parents encouraged me to join various choirs and perform Gospel music at Churches. I was hooked to music and performing, ever since.

You’ve been singing and performing since a young age but people are definitely paying attention now. Tell us a bit about your musical journey.

Every journey consists of at least a million tiny steps. This was the same for me, where I took multiple tiny steps that led me to grow in the right direction. I also believe it has a great deal to do with my faith and belief in God’s presence and God’s blessings as well as blessings of my family, friends, well-wishers who kept coaching me and pushing me to reach greater heights.

How would you say your family has adapted to your career as it takes off?

My family has always supported my every decision – whether it be a good one or a bad one and watched me grow and learn from mistakes. They are ever-ready to support me with all the work I put out and have seen me succeed right from my school and college days, where I was also a topper in my college in 12^th HSC Board exams.

Let’s talk about your song-writing process: how do you approach your lyrics and what do they mean to you?

To me, lyrics are life. Words are cathartic and can be a catalyst for change. I love penning lyrics as they resonate from a deeper source. Poetry is second nature to me and I never had to try hard to express myself through writing and poetry, as it always flowed naturally for me.

In the song ‘Change you up’ you speak of a relationship gone wrong. Is this from your personal experience that you’ve put into song?

All my songs have some element of personal experience in them that make them heart-felt and real. My song ‘Change You Up’ is about trying to change a person’s behavior and attitude after a relationship went wrong.

You are also the founder of the 'Sherise D’souza Collective'. Can you tell us something about the band, your music and the members in it?

The 'Sherise D'souza Collective' is a high energy and versatile band that delivers super-charged as well as soul-stirring performances of popular covers as well as my own original compositions. The band derives its influences from varied genres such as Funk, R&B, Country, Pop, Retro, Soul, Jazz, Classic Rock.

Our current all-star band members are lead guitarist Shivam Pant, keyboardist Aditya Ahir, Sheldon Dixon on Drums, Smit Hajare on bass. We also take in backup singers and other talented instrumentalists if the need arises.

You are also the lead vocalist for the Mumbai-based all-girl band "Sugar and Spice". So, what’s this outfit all about…?

Sugar and Spice is an all-girl band that specializes in Funk, Pop, Rock, Retro, Jazz and Bollywood music.

You have performed with internationally known musical stalwarts such as Karl Jenkins, David Bray, Patricia Rosario and Shaun Labelle and even represented India in Germany, France, Ireland, and London, as part of various choirs and collectives. How did these offers materialize and what are the songs you’ve worked with each of these artists?

These performances were a part of my musical journey since 8 years of age, where I met, collaborated, performed and learned with various choirs and collectives. I made all these opportunities possible for myself by undergoing rigorous training and practices (for some concerts, even a year of practice) to ensure the performances were spot on. I was extremely privileged to have been conducted by various high-profile celebrity conductors and performers as you mentioned in your question. All this gave me a multi-dimensional understanding of musical works of great composers and the discipline followed by top-class musicians. For instance, I have been a part of Karl Jenkins ‘Adiemus’ concert in Mumbai. Shaun LaBelle performed with me as a guest performer at ‘The Finch’, Mumbai. I have also been part of the performance for Mozart’s Requiem, in Mumbai, conducted by David Bray. The wealth of knowledge that I have gained from all these experiences is priceless to me, and my aim is to share it with the world and pass the light on, through my work.

Have you contributed to the state of Goa musically, in its local language and culture?

I have collaborated with Jazz Goa for a free jazz album for the Jazz Goa App by Jazz Goa.  I have also performed live at the Goa Carnival and at various high-profile venues across Goa to contribute to the live music scene in Goa.

Do you have any mentors who have changed your life?

I have many mentors who have guided me in music, right since my childhood. My mentors have been in the classical music space, live music space, gospel, RnB, Rock, Pop and acapella music genres. I actually keep learning from every person and even my audience, because feedback is important for growth.

What would you say is the best advice you’ve been given?

The universe is a university, keep on, keeping on.

Over the past year, your songs have been reaching new audiences across the world. What was the experience of having these career highs during a time like 2020/21, when a pandemic was taking place?

It has been a very enriching and fulfilling experience, having my work being recognized and appreciated by industry stalwarts. I received a lot of great feedback which helped me to grow with each new musical art-piece that I released. The global pandemic also gave me time to reflect and write new compositions which in turn became better with each new layer that I added.

Besides music, do you also have a regular job?

Yes, I am an Instructional Designer with over 13 years of learning design experience.

What are your career goals? Where do you want to go with your career?

I really want to be able to leave my own mark in the global music space, whether it is new music, or art or a positive statement through my music, I would want to be able to touch and reach people across the world. Mostly, I would like to be able to go on tour and play my originals live at various large stadium venues across the world.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira