Meet Vyoma Oza | Streaming Coordinator

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

Hi Vyoma, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“It means nothing until or unless I want it to mean something.”

This is not an official quote per se, but it’s a phrase I’ve coined that makes the most sense to me. It’s a reminder that I get to assign meaning to an event, place, person, object etc. – only if I want to. Only if it’s necessary. I don’t need to assign meaning to all those things I mentioned, especially if I find that it is baseless, or exhausts my energy. It reminds me not to take things personally, not to jump to conclusions, and not to place things or people on a pedestal. There are a plethora of examples where this phrase could be applied, but I often remind myself of this and it’s worked as a great reality check.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I currently work in the music industry. People are usually surprised when I tell them that – in a good way I hope! South Asian women are encouraged to pursue STEM careers, law, finance, or further their education with a Master’s degree, PhD, or both. I am in full support of my fellow ladies following such paths because there was a time where women couldn’t even do those things. Yet, professions in other industries such as film, art, music, entertainment, social work, athletics etc. are not taken seriously in comparison. Living through such experiences just motivated me more to pursue what I wanted to.

During the pandemic, I had an epiphany that I’d like to work in a creative industry. I played the flute and was a hardcore band kid from elementary thru high school, and even a bit in college. I did acapella and choir from middle school thru college as well. While I am not someone who enjoys being in the spotlight, I know what it’s like to be in the shoes of an artist and performer; it’s one of life’s most fulfilling experiences. Being a part of the force that allows creative souls to make a living from their craft is a cause that deeply resonated with me. So I made it my mission back in 2021 to bring this ambition to life.

In the span of 3 years, I explored what I could independently – unpaid internships, side projects, and more. I didn’t have a music business degree. I didn’t do any internships at a record label, PR firm, agency, streaming service, or anything of that nature. I did not live in a big city or go to any college known for music business programs – simply because I didn’t realize my calling until my 4th year of college. I can confidently say that determination, curiosity, willingness to meet people, and a genuine passion for music is what led me to my current role. Oh, and a whole lot of self-acceptance. This is just the start, I have a long way to go, nevertheless I am excited for the journey ahead!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much to see in the Bay Area! I’d start off by showing a friend San Francisco for a couple of days. Do all the touristy things because I have to admit, they’re still fun after 10+ years of living in the Bay! We would hit up Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Chinatown, and the Museum of Modern Art during the day and then have a lunch break at the Salesforce Park. Then at night grab some food and drinks in the Mission District or the Castro. On Day 2, we would do more nature related activities such as visiting Golden Gate Park, Land’s End, Baker Beach and finally drive across the Golden Gate and watch the sunset from Battery Spencer. It’s very likely that this best friend of mine is a sucker for cafes, so we would likely spend a 3rd day just cafe-hopping around the city, tasting the variety of coffee brews and admiring the unique interior design of each location.

The rest of the days, I’d show my friend the various other regions of the Bay – particularly the East Bay and the South Bay since that is what I am most familiar with. Mount Diablo is the East Bay’s gem, it’s huge that you can see it from anywhere. The drive to the top is a bit windy, but once we’re there, the view is absolutely breathtaking with a 360 degree view of the Bay area. Then, we’ll go to Downtown Walnut Creek where there’s food, drink, and lots of shops from luxury brands to local boutiques. Similarly, in the South Bay I’d definitely take my friend to Mission Peak in Fremont. It’s a long hike but once again, the views are stunning. After that we would hit up Santana Row in San Jose which is also a very walkable area with a variety of shops.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to start off with acknowledging my parents without whom I quite literally would not be able to do what I do. One of the treasures of adulting is being able to see the human in my parents. It’s a whole different perspective compared to viewing them as “caretakers” or “guardians”. While I may not ever comprehend the things they went through as immigrants…I can at least understand their mentality a little better, and it has allowed me to value them so much more.

Additionally, I’m eternally grateful for all the mentors I have met along my way, particularly those I met during my time at the She is the Music Connect TogetHER mentorship during the summer of 2023. Words cannot explain how much these women mean to me. It’s as if they were placed in my life thanks to divine timing, and the rest unfolded from there.

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