Krameri
by Mister Mime
12th May 2021
Chennai based singer-songwriter and producer Damini Chauhan continues her electro-pop journey as ‘Krameri’ with a pensive, coming-of-age, yet light-hearted sounding new EP titled “Feels Like Amnesia”. The multi-faceted artist who hails from Gujarat, and has a penchant for the latest musical trends, can also be spotted alongside a stellar lineup of musicians in AR Rahman’s latest musical extravaganza “99 Songs” handling modular duties for (arguably) India’s finest and most well-known composer. The EP beautifully balances a bold simplicity with honest expression, and most definitely leads her one step closer to a bright musical future.
MM: Why did you call the EP "Feels Like Amnesia"?
Krameri: One day I just thought of this melody along with the phrase "Feels Like Amnesia". I don't know where it came from. It doesn't have any deeper meaning or anything like that. I usually write first and then reflect on it later, and try and think of what it could be.
So, I thought of that song first. All the songs are actually in 3/4, a waltz type beat. I was learning the piece "Blue Danube" on the piano, and when I got bored, I began improvising on it. That's how I came up with the songs.
MM: My favourite track is 'A waterfall'. Is there any personal reflection or story behind any of these songs?
Krameri: Yes, all of them are definitely written from a very personal place. 'A waterfall' is more like a general kind of experience. The song is also about self-love, and acceptance, and how in your early 20s you begin to grow into yourself. You don't need as much validation from others as you did as a teenager. You become a lot more self-reliant and confident. So finally, it's about feeling free and enjoying your own company.
Certain parts of my life have influenced this EP; things that just stick out and remain in your memory. I'm not one of those people who can remember everything from my childhood, just some very intense things and some random memories. Like when I was studying in London last year, there was this one night where everyone from the student accommodation I was staying at, about 200 kids who had come to learn English and work in London, just went crazy partying.
I'm not a huge party person, but I just went along with them and there were about 50 of us together, walking on the street and parading around, people from all countries, and it was such a vibe. So that night just happened to inspire that song.
Also, some similar kind of memories, like when you're in college, and it's the night time; you're driving with your friends, or even just walking. I think every college student would have at least one such night as a memory that sticks out. Not every night is as eventful, of course. Maybe you're just hanging out in a room with your friends. So waterfall is like that, a fleeting musical memory for me.
MM: How was your experience at Point Blank College in London?
Krameri: I studied at KM Conservatory for 3 years and during my 4th year, I went to Middlesex University to complete my music education through a tie-up between the two institutions. And after that, I was at Point Blank for 6 months for a Diploma Course, which was really good. There are always things that you already know and new things that you learn. For me, it was also a lot about living in London. Point Blank is a very professional institution. You feel like you are a client of theirs, rather than a student. You get full access to the studios, and can always change courses or teachers if you want to. They are very flexible, and the teachers there are very good and experienced.
MM: Can you talk about how your musical journey started?
Krameri: I'm from Baroda, Gujarat, born and raised. I think, more than music, I remember writing a lot, and reading a lot of books. I would write journals, make up my own stories and write alternate endings for Harry Potter. Eventually, I started writing songs, and I was obsessed with lyrics. The melody and the lyrics are always the most important part of a song for me. Then, I started singing, but I never underwent any training. I went to FLAME University in Pune for Liberal Arts, and I didn't know what to major in so I picked Music since it was always something that I wanted to do. I had done a Piano course in KM during the summer, and when I found out that they had full-time courses too, I figured why not. Some things feel instinctive. You don't know 'why' but you know you have to do it. Naturally, there have been a lot of moments of self-doubt, thinking to myself that I should have just become a Doctor or something.
MM: Your artist name,'Krameri', is the scientific name of the green parrot..
Krameri: Well, it's actually not based on the parrot at all. I only found that out later on. It's in fact very random. When I was about 10 years old, I was looking out of a bus and daydreaming about...if I were like Hannah Montana, what would my alter ego be? I used to watch Hannah Montana a lot. So there was a 'Creamery' outside, which I read as 'Krameri', and that just got stuck somewhere in my mind. I never thought of it for a while, and ten years later when I was at KM, I made a song and I wanted to upload it so I was thinking of a name. And that was the only name that came to my head. That was it, it was just for about 5 or 10 seconds that I thought about it before I decided that's what it would be. So it doesn't mean anything particular to me, I just like the sound of the name.
MM: Who are your musical inspirations and influences?
Krameri: Lana Del Ray, Lorde and her songwriting style,I grew up listening to Taylor Swift and love her storytelling, Tyler the Creator, I have been listening to Frank Ocean a lot recently, I like his song structures, the way he uses autotune in the middle of his vocals, and Flume, even though I'm more of a songwriter than an electronic musician, his productions definitely influenced me. Apart from these artists, I'm also interested in the current musical trends, the music that is going viral right now, on Tik Tok for example, or just the most trending songs, and then I analyze the production techniques and new things that they are using on those songs. And although everyone listening to one-off singles, I love listening to albums as well.
I like listening to music from other cultures, like Spanish and French music, and Latin-American rhythms. I think that nothing beats Hindustani music though, Carnatic as well.
MM: Speaking of Hindustani music, here's a shoutout to your last EP -Sawalaat!
Krameri: One cool thing was that, on Spotify, the top listeners for that EP were from Karachi, Pakistan.
MM: There is a lot in simplicity backed by intent, in your music. Is that something you do naturally, keeping songs simple?
Krameri: Yes, I rarely ever overthink when I'm writing a song cause every time that I do, it never seems to work out. The best songs are often the ones that just come out easy, and you feel you don't need to make any changes.
MM: Can you tell us about your modular journey?
Krameri: Last year, I came to Chennai to work for AR Rahman Sir, and I started learning this software called 'Kyma' in which you can generate sounds as well as process samples. So I was working on making soundscapes and textures for this Netflix series that's going to come out soon. I've been here for a year and we have been recording regularly.
MM: What's your take on technology in human life and music?
Krameri: As long as you're the one controlling the technology and not vice versa, then you're good. I feel that electricity, electronics, the internet and all these huge innovations have only brought us forward. Of course, there is the dark side of technology, but I believe in progress and moving ahead, and constant innovation. There are so many exciting things happening in music, new instruments, new plugins, software, etc. When you've been in the studio and around Sir, you see it as it happens because he is so passionate about technology and he always has the latest gadgets. Of course, he has the organic elements to balance it as well.
MM: What has it been like to work under and learn from a living legend in music?
Krameri: He is just too kind and generous. He may seem like a very serious person, in his interviews or otherwise, but he's calm and very funny, always full of energy. He is unbelievably humble as well. I’m still exploring and learning about all the aspects related to music. I don’t think I’ve specialised in any particular thing yet.
MM: Who are the artists that you currently dig?
Krameri: Teesri Duniya, Karun, who is a rapper from Delhi, and Lopa Mudra, a singer who was with me in KM. I love Drake too!
It's been a while since I found a song and went like 'this is my jam', but the last one was "Heartbreak Anniversary" by Giveon, well-produced, good melody, amazing vocals. And Harry Styles' album "The Fine Line"
I've been trying to write happier songs. Since I mainly write on the piano, it always comes out as a sad song.
MM: What do you do outside of music?
Krameri: I love reading, I just finished reading this book called "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. It's amazing! It relates so much to music and has changed the way I think.
I also practise Yoga in the mornings, which also changed my life for the better. It makes you want to eat healthier
I think that you can never know enough, and I used to feel that anxiety about not knowing enough about production, mixing, etc. but then I realised that I just had to focus on my end goal.
You don't need to know everything in order to make that piece of music. In fact, the lesser you know, the bolder you are because you take chances and end up being more creative. Yes, you don't need to know everything.
MM: What's your take on social media?
Krameri: That's a whole other conversation for me. I just stay off it most of the time. I did have that phase where I thought I had to put myself out there and push myself on social media platforms, and that it was very necessary. However, at some point, I just decided that if I was to 'win' at music, I would win it by being myself. And that if I didn't feel the need to be on social media, I would find a better way to make my music heard. Because it's only you that's thinking you have to do this or that, but you really don't. Especially not because everyone else is saying so. Only when I have an announcement pertaining to my music, I post it and that's it. I feel it's mostly a waste of time and drains my creativity. Also with mainstream media, people don't realise that there is a team behind each of those big commercial artists to manage their social media presence.
MM: What advice would you give to new musicians, songwriters, producers and artists?
Krameri: My number one piece of advice would be to not take any advice. I remember even when I was just getting into music, people would advise me against it. I think deep down inside, we all know what we want to do, so I believe it's just about following your inner voice and shutting out all that other noise.
Music is meant to be an expression of yourself right? So instead of trying to make a certain kind of music, or trying to make a pop song or a hit song...well what's the point of that? It's been done before. For me, it's always been about originality, and not caring about what other people think or say. Honestly, I've not even cared about whether my music will be popular, since it finds people on its own, and those who want to listen to it do. At the end of the day you have to be a bit selfish and make it for yourself first, or else it's not going to be good.
MM: Is there anything else you'd like to say?
Krameri: Wear a mask! And stay safe.
You Can Follow Krameri on:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hxuMlq1xCyjGyhoPsiIM0https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/krameri/1324053339
https://soundcloud.com/kramerii
https://www.instagram.com/krameri_music/?hl=en
All Images courtesy of Krameri
