I feel that I have come so far: Monica Dogra

You’re juggling your career in music and acting. What’s new on both fronts?
I am having a hell of a time to be honest! It’s hard some days. But, generally, I can work every day… I feel that I’ve come so far the last five years. Shaa’ir + Func has written, recorded, and released 3 albums. We just completed a 4 city mini tour in India called, ‘I am, We are, You is’.  

You’re doing a new TV show called The Dewarists, where you play a ‘common thread’…?
I am the ears and eyes of the show in some way, and just an audience in another. The show is unscripted, so a great amount of my thoughts go into the chats I have with the artists included from episode to episode. When approached to do the show, I was told that I was the only woman for the job... it made me feel a bit nervous...but also safe.
 

Tell us about your recent collaboration with Bandish Project for Bobby Friction’s radio show on the BBC Asian Network in London...
The Bandish collaboration on the Friction show was a maniacal episode where our two creative minds had to concoct an entire song in the span of an hour. What came out was a blend of the Dhobi Ghat theme by Gustavo Santaolala, which represents a turning point in my career, along with Paul Simon’s 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, and Oh Basanti, an old film song that my mom taught me. We did the Friction Lab after having shot for the video of Lover a single written by myself and Bandish Projekt.

Which artists would you like to collaborate with?
I have my life-goal collaborations, which include song-writers and producers mostly — AR Rahman being quite high on my list. I’d love to collaborate with James Blake or Jamie XX. The list expands and contracts with every new piece of music I hear daily...hourly!

Who are your influences in music?
Bjork, Ani Di Franco, and anything and everything good I hear... So I will be shameless and list, The Weeknd, Made in Heights, Nicolas Jaar, Andrew Bird, Martina Topley Bird, Massive Attack, Basement Jaxx, Tom York, Sam Sparro, Sbtrkt, Sepalcure.         
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