#WhereAre They series: The era of indie pop was like a firefly, short-lived but bright, says Suneeta Rao
Singer Suneeta Rao launched her career with Senorita, which was released in 1989. While the track made her a force to be reckoned with in the indie pop space, it was Paree Hoon Main from her album Dhuaan of 1991, which skyrocketed its popularity, and how! Subsequently, she released albums such as Talaash (1996) and Ab Ke Baras (2000).
Rao, 54, thinks the 1990s were “the golden age of indie pop of sorts.” “What was different about that particular period was that as artists we were the first to come up with music videos, per se. It coincided with the launch of MTV in India. gave visibility because it gave us the same platform as international stars such as Madonna and Michael Jackson, â€she explains.
She adds that novelty was another factor that made the period so memorable. “People got to know us for our music, we had our own concerts. The record companies started signing us, â€she recalls.
However, the era of indie pop was short-lived. “Like anything else in the industry, the novelty wore off after a while. We were on condition that we had support for our next album only if we delivered a hit. The indie pop wave could not be sustained. It was almost like a firefly – fleeting but brilliant, â€she says.
The Vaada singer Karo continued to do what she loved most: performing concerts, acting and writing. Despite the success of his career, Rao admits that launching albums has become a daunting task. “The most difficult was Waqt (2008). This album contained a video of a song called Sun Zara. For this, I had signed with someone who disappeared at the last minute, “she shares.
What makes her happy, however, is that despite the precedence of film music, people still fondly remember the indie pop artists of the ’90s. difference. The substance of the songs was different then. I worked organically. Every producer I’ve worked with, including Lewis Banks, Leslie Lewis, Ranjit Barot and Anand Raaj Anand, has given my album different characters. Today, songs lack longevity, due to their abundance and accessibility. I don’t listen to today’s music because it’s formulaic, â€adds Rao, who looks forward to continuing to do theater, promote his latest album and perform.
