Delhi based singer-songwriter Nishtha is patiently waiting for a leap in her music career after the release of her debut album 'Minor Epiphany' in February this year. Since dropping the album, she has played at a few venues in New Delhi, and is hopeful that many more opportunities will come her way.

Nishtha’s seven track album includes six original tracks, all of which are written by her, and one cover – Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature'. Two of the tracks from the album- By Your Side and Wasting My Love already have music videos, and a third video is expected soon.

Keeping with the website’s tagline ‘Explore Your Music’, we got a chance to speak with newcomer Nishtha to know more about her debut album, her plans for the fture, her favorite song from ‘Minor Epiphany’ and her music choices.

Which of the songs from the album is your favourite and why?

I'm very critical about my work. It's really hard for me to compliment my work with words like ‘wow I sound so great’ or ‘damn that's a good song’. There is this constant feeling that there is a room for improvement. However, I think one song that stands out for me is Wasting My Love, only because it's not your regular G-C-D song, unlike the other tracks on the album. I feel harmonically and melodiously, it is slightly more challenging, so I would probably choose Wasting My Love .

According to you, which song from the album can be interpreted in many ways? And with what intention was it written? 

Here Right Now'was the first song I ever wrote, at the age of 18. I don't know what I was thinking while writing it, since it's been almost 10 years. Whenever, I go back to the lyrics it feels like a song that best describes me at that age- continuing, confused and open ended. I think listeners can have their own interpretation of the lyrics, since the lyrics are not definitive. 

Which song from your album is part of your regular practice sessions and why? Well, I practice most of the songs from the album pretty regularly, but two songs that are a regular at jam sessions are All I Want and By Your Side. It's because All I Want is very “bluesy” and it stands out as musicians get the freedom to improvise on the tune, allowing them to mess around and be creative with it. It's like every musician can jam to it in their style and bring their personal flavor to the song. 

Considering you are an animal lover, which song from your album 'Minor Epiphany' would you dedicate to your pet cat- Hobbit?

Well, none of the songs actually, since they are mostly about heartbreak and unrequited love, where as Hobbit is my one true love. But I have a stray puppy that I adopted and put up at a relative's farmhouse, and the cover 'Human Nature' best describes my meeting with Ninja- my puppy. She sings "Reaching out, to touch a stranger, Electric eyes are everywhere, See that girl, she knows I'm watching, She likes the way I stare……." I feel like those lyrics perfectly describe how I met her (Ninja), one night on the street. It's like nothing can describe it better words. 

Tell us about your song on Idol Worship. What is the story behind it?

I wrote this song while studying at the LA Music Academy. I have always been slightly more agnostic, even as a child, before I probably even knew what it was. Being away from home, living in California, I was in a completely different world; a relatively more free thinking society, with fewer rules and more people who thought like me. I think that really pushed me to have faith in my belief system, and convinced me of my agnostic beliefs and pushed me to write this song about idol worship. After returning from LA I saw this movie ‘Oh My God’ and I have never been more proud of a work of art, so beautiful and apt. It's what my song is about. It's like he read my mind. We don't have to spend money on temples and priests, but be kind and compassionate, help all of God’s creation. I think that's a true prayer.

Which international acts would you like to share a stage with someday?

That would be so hard since there are so many. But at the top of my head, I would name - Porcupine Tree/ Steven Wilson, Radiohead/ Thome York, Paul McCartney, Zero 7/ Sia and Massive Attack. They are such brilliant songwriters and unique in their own way.

Which music festivals are in your 'must-play-on' list or 'must-attend' list in this lifetime?

I love performing – whether it is a big stage or small, open air or indoors. I would play at any and every music festival that I could. It's about playing, performing and sharing and I do not think there is any limitation to that. If this was the 60s or 70s, I would have said Woodstock . That's something that would've definitely been on both those lists. There's something about such events, they are only about the music, or to bring about change, bring people together, and so many people there have one vision, they all have something to say, something on their mind, most likely the same thing – that gives me goosebumps. Today, I think music festivals are more about wearing cool clothes, looking like you’re a hippie, drugs and big bucks for the organizers. It's not just about the music anymore.

Do you have any unreleased material that you hope to release someday and if yes, when?

My album 'Minor Epiphany' is a collection of my better works till date. I do keep writing in the hope that I might come up with something interesting. However, I don't think there is much to share, from whatever I have done till now, besides it’s already on the album. It could probably be because of my own admission of being too self-critical. But I keep writing in the hope that I will continue to improve and come up with stuff that I can perform, record and share. 

If you had to pick one song from your album 'Minor Epiphany' and experiment with its genre, which track and music genre would it be?

Again, probably because it is my favorite, but also because it is slightly different than the other regular Pop/rock stuff, Wasting My Love could be one song that I would sing at different settings. It's got a slightly electronic/ new age vibe to it. Or can be given that vibe, or stripped down to acoustic, or be a really heavy sad heartbreaking rock tune. So that's one song that works in every genre or vibe. I wrote the song when I was studying music at LA music academy, when I was about 24. It was my first real heartbreak and for the first guy I ever fell in "love" with. So technically you could say that it's the first love song I ever wrote. 

What’s next for you (gigs or creating more material)?

I have a jazz quartet and we performed at the International Jazz Day, at this awesome little jazz bar in Gurgaon called 'Cocktails and Dreams Speak Easy'. Also, I am currently working on new material, which might take a little time, but the trick is to keep writing.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira