We had the good fortune of connecting with Vasundhara Gupta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vasundhara, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I believe there is a certain amount of risk in almost everything we do, right? Be it the beginning of a new relationship or the beginning of a new venture. I think about risk as part and parcel of most of my life moves. And I think that has made me more able to ‘go with the flow’ and treat what might be major life decisions in a calm manner, keepings emotions at bay.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’ve been working as a professional freelancer, in the U.S. and India, in Music and Audio for about 3 years now. My work mostly includes music composition and production for multimedia, and UX (user-experience) based sound design.

Along the way, I’ve also been working on my own artistry. I’ve just recently released my second, self-produced, 5-track EP called ‘Parwaaz‘ (originating from Urdu and meaning “flight” or “first flight of a bird”). Inspired by my Nani-baari (grandmother’s home) in Varanasi, India, my cultural roots, love for sound synthesis, ambient electronic textures, and the wondrous and majestic existence of nature, ‘Parwaaz’ has travelled all around the world and come back home, to Kolkata, for its premiere.

It is available to stream on all major platforms here. ‘Parwaaz‘ also features a remix of one of the tracks by Kolkata-based DJ/Producer ‘8-Bit Culprit’, and features Japanese Sarangi player Yuji Nakagawa on the title track.
My “sound” is a soulful, satisfying, and experimental hotpot of my roots in Hindustani classical and folk music and experiences from all around the world as a result of cultural exposure and my studies at Berklee College of Music. I like to think of my sounds as raw, earthy, and honest. I hope this comes through to my audience too. Every individual has a unique story and if they hone into it while creating art, it already sets them apart.

Getting here hasn’t been easy, and I’ve a long, long way to go, but things are always easier with the incredible support of family and friends, which I’m so very grateful to have.

A couple of lessons I’ve learnt along the way are to never build expectations, but keep working with my head down. Success comes with diligence and honesty. Another important lesson I’ve learnt is to always follow up. It distinguishes you, and reflects on your passion and determination to succeed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many! I would spend an entire day at the cliffside beaches in Point Dume, Malibu…I could watch waves all day long. I’d get in some nice hikes at Runyon Cayon or Culver Steps…Go to Little Armenia and eat the most amazing falafels at hole-in-the-wall joints. Get ice cream at Salt and Straw in Venice…eat all the dosas in the world at Annapurna Cuisine in Culver City. LA is a true foodies paradise, and has the most amazing sunsets I’ve ever seen!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Shoutout goes to David Van Slyke at Slick Sounds, LA! He runs an audio post production studio in Culver City. I was fortunate enough to be interning and training with him in 2018. This experience was my first in the workings of the real world of arts and entertainment. He taught me various, highly valuable, skill sets that set me apart later on, and continue to do so, even though I chose not to get into audio post production. His attitude towards quality rather than quantity and attention to detail, and all sorts of Pro Tools shortcuts (!), are something I still I carry with me till this day.

Website: https://www.vasundharagupta.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isthisvasu/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasundharagupta/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VasundharaGupta02

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VasundharaGupta

Image Credits
Rohith Jayaraman Erin X. Smithers

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.