Star Spot with S. J. Jananiy, Versatile Musician, Composer, and Singer

 

S. J. Jananiy, renowned musician from India: Insights into Creativity, Challenges, and Success

Welcome to this episode of Star Spot! Iā€™m Merry, and in this series, I interview InterContinental Music Awards winners and insiders, bringing you exclusive insights into the music industry. Today, Iā€™m thrilled to have with me S.J Jananiy.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing S. J. Jananiy, an Award-Winning Versatile Musician, Composer, and Indian Classical, Western Classical & Playback Singer. As a child prodigy, Jananiy has excelled in multiple facets of music, including being a Performer, Songwriter, Music Director, Music Producer, Record Producer, Keyboardist & Research Scholar. In addition to her impressive musical skills, she also plays Violin & Veena for her recordings.

Jananiy’s musical education is nothing short of remarkable. She is the disciple of Guruji Padma Vibhushan, Sangita Kalanidhi, Chevalier Late Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna, and has received training from Guru Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Guru Shri Injikudi Ganesan, Guru Smt. Dr.Rukmini Ramani, Guru Shri Chidambaram Shanmukham, Guru Smt. Geetha Srinivasan, and Guru Smt. Lakshmi.

Let’s dive right into the interview summary and tap into S.J.Jananiy ā€˜s vast knowledge and experience. The full interview is available on Instagram – click here to check it out.

 

How have you been lately, and what have you been working on?

I’ve been doing well, and I’ve been quite busy lately. I’ve been performing in concerts, shooting videos, and working on my next albums. I’m excited to announce that my upcoming album, “Indian Trap,” is scheduled to release in the mid-year. I’ve written the Topline Melody and will be the singer-songwriter for the entire album, which combines mantras with Indian trap music. The album is set to drop on January 27th, and I hope you all enjoy listening to it.

 

Can you give us a brief biography of yourself for those who are just joining us?

Ā Sure, I found my love for music at a very young age. My uncle, who is also a musician, recognized my talent and nurtured it. I gave my first performance at the age of five and was trained in the Indian classical art form, Carnatic music. I was awarded the national award for educational classical music from the government of India when I was seven.

At the age of nine, I worked on my next album, a pop album in Tamil language, where I got the opportunity to work with legends like SP Balasubrahmanyam. I have performed Carnatic classical concerts all over India and started composing when I was 11 or 12 years old. My uncle supported me in my composing and production endeavors. Overall, I have had a diverse musical journey exploring various genres, and I am always striving to grow and improve my craft.

 

Where does your inspiration for music come from?

Ā My biggest inspiration for music comes from my uncle, who exposed me to various genres of music from a young age. Although I was initially trained in Indian classical music, I have been fortunate to draw inspiration from all my gurus and every musician I encounter. Each musician brings their unique style and creativity to their performances, and I draw inspiration from observing their work. Ultimately, music is a creative art, and I find inspiration in every aspect of it.

 

How do you begin working on a new piece of music or a song? Do you start with the melody or the lyrics?

Ā It depends on the situation. Sometimes, when collaborating with others, we start with the melody. I invite and program it, then do the music production. Other times, a piece of lyrics is the starting point. I turn the melody according to the lyrics and have the entire concept of the theme in mind. It’s important to have a clear aim and objective beyond that.

 

How do you categorize your music into a genre?

Ā I have a wide variety and array of genres that inspire me, including Indian trap and Indian classical music. When I experiment with different genres, I have many ideas popping up in my mind, and I need to clearly execute them. For example, when I collaborated with the GBA Records Sofia Session Orchestra in Bulgaria, I created an unusual scale in Western classical music called Raga Papa Ali.

This was an entirely new sound for the orchestra to play, and it was interesting to see how the orchestra backed up my melody. Because of my strong foundation in Indian classical music, I’m able to experiment with almost all genres of music.

 

Can you tell us about your experience as theĀ Intercontinental Music Awards Ambassador?

Itā€™s a great honor for me to be the ICMA Ambassador. I reach out to my network on behalf of ICMA and speak a lot about its aims and objectives. Kudos to ICMA for such a wonderful service to the music fraternity. I first heard about ICMA through social media, and my PR Beth Hilton also posted about it. I have some vague memories about it, but I think it’s through social media that I learned about ICMA.

 

How did you feel when you found out you were selected as the ICMA Ambassador?Ā 

Ā I was thrilled when I found out that I was selected as the ICMA Ambassador. It’s a great honor for me to be a part of such an esteemed organization and to represent them in my network. I feel privileged to work towards promoting the goals and objectives of ICMA and support the music community.

 

What do you think is the importance of organizations like ICMA in the music industry?Ā 

Ā I believe that organizations like ICMA play a crucial role in the music industry. They provide a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent, connect with other musicians, and receive recognition for their hard work. ICMA also helps to promote and preserve music culture by recognizing diverse genres of music from around the world. It’s important to have such organizations that support and uplift the music community, and I am proud to be a part of it.

 

Can you tell us about the project you worked on for the Pudia Taliburi media’?

A: Sure, I was approached by Pudia Taliburi media, which is a popular news channel here in Chennai, to compose and perform the welcome song for the Tamarin Awards event, which they organize every year. Additionally, I am also a part of the Shakti Awards event. For the Tamarin Awards event, the song was based on the culture-oriented traditions of Tamil Nadu and India, with lyrics written by Mr. Carmel, one of the tables of the event.

It was a huge production involving almost 25 dancers and seven to eight shifts. We had to focus on various cultures, disciplines, and skills of Tamil Nadu and exhibit them through the song. I had to internalize the dance production, create the melody, and then back it up with music production and arrangements. We recorded live instruments, including rare percussion instruments, and heavily arranged it with a grand percussion orchestra. The result was truly incredible, with many dancers and a unique fusion of various folk aspects.

 

What are some challenges and ups and downs you faced as a musician?

Ā I am very thankful to God that I cannot even say that I faced any kind of down in my musical career. Starting from the very beginning, I have had a great journey in music, and I am very happy and grateful for all the memorable moments. There have only been ups in my career, and all the memories are so refreshing in my mind. Being with music is such a blessing in this world, and I hope it continues to be this way.

 

What are some of the challenges you have faced?

As a musician, I believe that there are many challenges that one faces, but I have been fortunate enough to have overcome those challenges with ease. One of the biggest challenges that I have faced is experimenting with various genres of music, but I have always enjoyed exploring and performing different kinds of music, ranging from classical music to movie soundtracks.

Additionally, sometimes finding the right team and support can be a challenge, but I am lucky to have a great team of musicians and collaborators who have always been supportive and encouraging throughout my musical journey. Nonetheless, I always look forward to many more projects that are arranged in the pipeline.

 

What advice would you give a musician who is just starting their career?

As a musician, I believe that having an open mind and a positive attitude is essential for success. My suggestion for anyone starting their career in music would be to explore and be creative with their work. Being true to oneself and performing music that one loves is crucial in connecting with the audience.

Music has a way of taking you where you’re meant to be, so follow your heart and do what feels right. A fresh mind and a willingness to experiment are key to creating something unique and exciting. So, my advice would be to be yourself, perform from the heart, and let your passion for music guide you.

 

Do you have any last words you would like to share with your fans and our viewers?

Ā I am immensely thankful and grateful to all my audience and fans for supporting me throughout my career. Thank you so much. It was a pleasure being on your platform, and I wish you all the best of luck on your projects. I hope to be on your platform again soon. Thank you for having me, and it was great talking to you, Merry.

 

S. J. Jananiy Contact Info:

 

Click hereĀ to watch S. J. Jananiy ‘s Ā full interview on InstagramĀ 

Merry & S.J. Jananiy smiling to the camera during the star spot interview.

InterContinental Music Awards Team

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