Even before the release of her debut album ‘Naach Le’ in 2005, actress, singer, songwriter, performer and now director, Manasi Scott rose to fame and became a national sensation with her terrific live performances. At a time when remixes were the order of the day, Manasi’s originality and sheer power of vocals got her awards and recognition. She has performed in over 2000 shows across the world for which she has also received The Power List Award in 2016. Her performances go well with any occasion from launches, concerts, weddings and shows in any genre that makes her name synonymous with versatility. Her international dubstep single ‘High’ debuted on the European charts and climbed to no 1.

A decade later, Manasi finally relents to her fans and releases her new album ‘Manasi – The Ideal Woman’. The launch of the album one August evening saw this genius performer transcend her divaesque into the crowd.

Her album resonates with her sensuality, her global appeal as an artist, her growth from singer to performer and exhaustive soundchecks to standing ovations. It celebrates both who she was and who she would ever be.  An unadulterated and benevolent compilation of 6 songs heavily influenced by her performance and carefully selected collaborations. The songs are Todona, Chashni featuring Palash Sen, Farmaanaa featuring Ishq, Kho Gaye, Saawan Raagaa featuring flute by Raghav Sachar & Jamalo featuring Mika. Impactful lyrics for the album are delivered with co-writer Amitabh Bhattacharya. The album has been produced by Ashish Manchanda.

As a single mother to a nine year old son, Manasi has put the pasa behind her and is looking at the future with starry eyes.

Verus Ferreira met up with the singer post the album launch to know more about her album and what she is upto:

Can you tell us something about your background, parents and childhood, growing up days?

The term 'Army brat' applies to me in totality. I've had the most exciting childhood anyone could hope for, growing up in Pitthoragarh and Bhutan and Madras and driving through the length and breadth of India. 

You were also into sports. Comment.

I used to wake up at 4 am every day to get get the best horse to ride by 5am, get back and get ready for school, play an hour of basketball in school and then get back to athletics or Karaté, alternating with basketball or kho kho practice. After school rounded up it would be badminton or swimming. If any team was a woman down, I was called to learn the game. Except being male- playing-superb-cricket-while-being-connected, sports was never a viable career option in those days, except golf, but I've only recently fell in love with the game. I was blessed with the love to play anything and everything, table tennis and handball and volleyball included. I believe every person should learn horse-riding and Karaté. They make us better human beings. Made it to the nationals for quite a few and then papa would get posted out. 

Both your parents are doctors, didn't you also want to follow in their footsteps?

I did. I wanted to become a surgeon like my papa but didn't realise I had to go through a lot of other medical madness I'm not emotionally equipped for. My father figured it out and dissuaded me and I decided to do a Bachelors in Software Engineering instead. Followed by a Post Graduate Diploma in Film and Television Production.

Can you tell us about how you made it into the music industry and also in films?

I was born singing. Seriously, I was born with a tooth in my mouth so you can imagine how quickly I must've wanted to sing. I used to put on LPs at home of Whitney Houston and Nazia Hassan and Lips Inc and pretend to hold a mic in my hand and SING. Won the first of many competitions when I was 7 and I loved the stage. I'd been singing on stage and hosting shows in Pune through college for extra pocket money and when I came to Bombay for my post grad things fell into place. Hemant Trivedi started me off with Femina Chrysallis and I stepped singing into the fashion industry.

You have also sung for a number of jingles in the past, have you done any recently?

I haven't sung many jingles. Playback, down South yes. The last one was Eisalamein Eisalaam for Yuvan Shankar Raja for the movie ‘Aadi Bhagawaan’.

You have also worked in Bollywood on a few films, how did this come about?

I don't get many offers but when I get good ones I take them up. I loved playing the villain in ‘Bhaag Johnny’ and I would love to do more of those roles. Not many people know that I used to do a lot of theatre, so I love acting.

You recently released an album 'Manasi - The Ideal Woman'. Can you tell us something about the album?

My labour of love. I composed the initial melodies when I was pregnant with my son in 2006. I recorded some scratches then and faced a lot of heartache and being put down by stalwarts in the industry because the ideas were in my head as I didn't play an instrument. I didn't want to work with the confines of what's right and wrong in music school but find my own way. It took me a few years to make Ashish Manchanda heard the scratches and then started the most beautiful journey of recording it with my heart and soul. I've composed the songs, co-written them, sung them, had friends like Mika and Raghav (Sanchar), Ishq and my idol Palash Sen sing with me on songs, and I've even directed my first video. We recorded unorthodox, we didn't play by the rules, we didn't cut - paste but sang the songs over and over until I was one with the emotion with which I'd written them, we used our ears and hearts and that's what the album is all about.

What would you say is the selling point of this album?

It's a realisation of a dream and you'll hear that in every song. Drives. Monsoons. Lovemaking. Dance. You can hear these songs over and over all the time. 

How has the album been received by the industry? Any music videos planned?

The first music video for Todona has crossed 115 thousand views already. Many music videos planned. Chashni releases soon.

Have you done any work internationally? 

We've been on the Dubstep charts with High. My collaboration with Mr. DOSS. The music video is on my YouTube channel. I'm recording many more.

What other projects are you working on?

An English album. My concerts. A web series. DJing. Motherhood.

There has been a radical change in the indie music scene at the moment, with live shows and EDM. What do you feel about the new crop of singers?

I am all for singers and singing and making music whether you're a performer, producer, DJ.

The new crop is definitely more aware of having an on stage persona and they're not just the old play-back-singer-on-stage mode anymore. The more the merrier I say. Music is what's saving the world. If you can hold a note, sing. If you can make music, make it. Dance. 

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira