Need for independent music still driving Neha Bhasin

Neha Bhasin has come a long way from her Viva days but the need to make independent music is still driving her forward. While she has been doing playback singing for Bollywood and has some hits like Khuch Khaas Hai from Fashion to her credit, Neha is still yearning to do her own thing.

“In Bollywood you are constantly singing someone else’s feelings and someone else’s vision. I want to write my own thoughts and make my own music. I need to experiment with my sound and style,” says Neha.

This need has taken Neha into the studio to record her own compositions for her yet untitled album which will be her first solo release. “We were very young during Viva. A lot of people told us what to make. This one is completely my baby. It is who I am and I have grown as an artiste,” says Neha who has worked on a pop-rock sound for this one.

But it hasn’t been easy. Most artistes have been struggling to find a record company to back them. And Neha is going through the same drill now, unlike Viva where there was a backing after she won the contest. “We are all to be blamed for the scenario,” she says, talking about the CD sales and the music scene. She adds that the process is tough if you don’t have record labels backing you.

We hear that talks are on to record a track with Lil  Wayne but Neha is not in the mood to spill the secret. “It’s still too early to talk about that. But yes, I am collaborating with some American artistes for sure,” she says. “The West is curious about Indian artistes and they have opened up now after AR Rahman made it big. Jay Sean also did collaborations. It’s fun to interact with artistes from various genres and backgrounds.”

The songs on this album range from love ballads to hardcore rock. “I need that freedom as an artiste and as a writer. Playback singing doesn’t give you that,” she says.