In our latest Band Spotlight, we chat to indian alternative-pop act, Root Murphy!
S] How do you define success as an artist, what does it mean to you?
The idea of success can be broad. It is in the most simplistic gestures by people around us that we find a sense of gratification – friends who sing our songs back to us, or a new listener who goes back to listen to our tracks a second time. We hope that there is a connect our listeners can find with this music and hear something that either adds or refreshes. Furthermore, if our art can leave a lasting imprint and add value for both the industry and listeners, that would make us very happy people. In saying that, I would also like to suggest that success for us is in the happiness we can find in doing what we do, and in being allowed to continue doing what we do, logistics included.
S] What would you say your biggest challenges are as an artist right now, outside of Covid?
We have come across many hurdles in putting all this together. From financial crunches to getting support from friends and family, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. Breaking through to an Indian audience is also a challenging feat, as they have mostly supported the music industry as a part of performative arts or commercial film-making.
On a creative note, we have indulged in challenging ourselves to try and improve on our previous performances and ideas. We are grateful that with every challenge and with trying to face our mistakes head-on, we have been able to find positives that have supported us in making this possible.
S] What sort of stuff motivates you the most outside of music, think specific people and places?
People who face their challenges and have new ideas. Also, those who put in the hard-work to travel a challenging road. We hear of many people through digital media, but these are personal too. Our families have been a source of inspiration and not just support.
We saw the spark of a national political upheaval recently – people marched together for a cause and an ideology that respected everyone equally. It was truly humbling to be a part of such a movement, still ongoing. We are also witnessing a change to more independent careers and a bolder generation in India.
In our opinion, our generation is more vocal in revoking older practices that are bound by discrimination or inequality. There is definitely a change taking place.
S] Tell us why you create music as a band, what does it do for you as individuals?
Music has played a major role in our lives. In a way, it feels wholesome to be working toward what we could only point to as – our calling. We both started very early and have been performing and creating repeatedly.
Not just as a band but also as composers, we have undertaken multiple projects, collectively and individually. There has never been a why, it just has always been this way, and if permitted we’ll continue to do more.
S] What are your goals for 2021?
More content! We are trying to put together live videos and music videos, hopefully live gigs too – if COVID permits. Also, ‘Kinetophone’ will include a total of 16 tracks, and Stack 2, which plays through to Track 8, will be made available to listeners in a few weeks. There are already a number of releases we plan to share with you in 2021.
As tracks from our independent release are recent, we hope we receive increasing support. We would like to take this chance to thank Soundsphere for this exposure, this is awesome! We hope more people will listen and enjoy what we have put together with Stack 1 of the Album.
