Namaste, Dear Music Lover,

Let’s look at a few of the most impactful psychological aspects influencing our lives as playback singers (that may also apply to other, non-motion picture music), and let’s explore how to establish, maintain and improve our confidence level.

Questions may arise, like: Is it possible to have too much self-confidence? Or: If excessive, is that simply self-delusion?

Without sidestepping such issues… generally, no, overconfidence is certainly a problem, but in this post, and for the purposes of a Bollywood movie soundtrack, singers must try to summon confidence and courage to the best of our ability, without being grievously overconfident!

We will, nevertheless, gloss over easy asks like: 1) What are courage and confidence?, and 2) How should a playback singer build and manage their confidence level (to adjust it to best match each song’s context, including the given movie’s plot, pacing, and any language-, story-, or musically-driven requirements)? That’s certainly a complex multipart ask. Although we must consider several variables or “givens,” none are readily avoidable in the art of singing soundtrack vocals!

As we’ve stated here on AntaraMitra.com, the context of each song is dependent upon the plot and action within the movie… the roles played by the actors inform our performances, and according to the music director we may even be asked to alter or tailor our vocals to sync with pre-existing visuals for some cinematic reason; although generally, actors match their lip-syncing to our songs, and we record songs wholly apart from any existing pictures—in, we hope, our very best renditions, and then actors match our lyrics to the best of their abilities given any other limitations (like today‘s remaining daylight or the flow and meaning being portrayed in a fast-moving dance number) that may apply. We playback singers arguably have very-challenging yet rather pivotal ‘roles’ in South Asian cinema!

So, given the above, it then comes to us as singers to “bring the magic” in each take of every part of our songs. For dance-number songs, singing very rhythmically can ease the choreographer’s task (and the Italian term for this is marcato). However, we hasten to note that whenever using our musical technique, moderation This doesn’t imply that we as hired (singing) talent can dictate which of our vocal takes will be in the final edits. Directors determine that, and here we mainly focus on the singer’s role.

What we’re discussing here is justified or boosted confidence in one’s performance capabilities, because it’s well known that composure and comfort in oneself (at least as a musical vessel or instrument) produces best results. If we somehow feel inferior, unfit or unable in any other of many possible other ways, we cannot possibly do our best. In order to be a skilled expositor of our vocal renditions, we simply must have self-confidence.

Before we launch into tools and methods we can use to gain or build our singing confidence, let’s explore some basics that face every aspiring singer seeking to be the best version of themselves. Here we link a Quora.com article addressing basics faced by virtually every singer. Yes, “beautiful” singing applies to both male and female vocals. Like the sounds of all ‘instruments’.

Whether every situation in movies calls for a “beautiful” singer is immaterial, because generally “beauty” is subjective yet also generally expected by audiences when it comes to song performances. Let’s simply acknowledge for our purposes here that, for the most part, beautiful singing is the standard required for every character “singing” their part(s) in every role. Even if it doesn’t apply in every instance, these items have rather universal merit and audience appeal. So let’s not ignore or avoid them.

Surely it’s undeniable that developing one’s singing abilities could help us find playback singing work. It may also help to learn some basic music theory (in whichever tradition is most appropriate to one’s preferences).

A tidy truism is: Got the skills? Get the job! In this context, we also hasten to add that achieving mastery of any pursuit, whether for self-satisfaction alone, or as a career path, self–improvement is never a bad idea. The investments we make in education and training (including practice and learning at work) tend to pay dividends; not every career exactly matches preparation, though it’s always better to be over-prepared than under.

Please note, Dear Music Lover, that one cannot have one’s education presented or bestowed upon oneself by edict, purchase or by the good graces of a great teacher alone. As we’ve implied several times in other words here (and it bears repeating): the old joke in which a young New Yorker (let’s call him or her a random aspiring singer) asks an elder there, “Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall (the famous New York concert venue)?” The response is quick and New York-blunt: “Sure, kid: PRACTICE!”

In some modern democracies we see the focus on education declining. While no one can fully predict how such policies will manifest in the future, such a change seems unlikely to improve prospects for coming generations. Time will tell!

Now, let’s look at what some may describe as a less clinical, yet more psychological or perhaps spiritual aspect of developing one’s vocal abilities: confidence accumulated via GROUNDING.

Many teachers of the ancient wisdom have lessons for us in contemporary life. Here is a well-conceived and systematically presented web site page by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati (aka Swami J) explaining grounding practices that we hope you will take time to consider, and perhaps use to strengthen yourself in the ways offered.

In this modern AI-influenced world, it’s easy to allow oneself to feel less-than and perhaps hopeless or flustered by the apparent complications (and stiff competition) that we face. Also, please understand that perception itself is not reality. Sometimes what appears to be superhuman is in fact technology, not some living person or group whom we should fear!

The idea of being grounded is quite ancient (and well established in India). One place that embodies this in the material world is called EKAM, which emphasises that we as living manifestations of our universe are each part of its evolving greater ONENESS. (We are it, and it is us!) We encourage you to explore this as well, Dear Music Lover.

If you find this way of exploring our universe and how we fit into (or fail to fit into—although perhaps wish to reconcile or improve upon) this universal oneness useful, then we also encourage you to look into the rather comprehensive source of related wisdom presented by Sri Preethaji and her husband Sri Krishnaji and their team at EKAM India. They also have presented in diverse other locales, including the West, and my footman Joe is among those with whom the EKAM founders have worked (in Los Angeles, California).

There are unlimited ways to behold and to “tap into” the universal oneness, and in this regard, there are many old aphorisms about many paths leading to one’s destination. We may not know at first blush exactly where we’re heading, but with some luck and divine guidance we may find ourselves farther along in our journey than we first imagined.

So in your personal journey, Dear Music Lover, we encourage you to seek your own best methods for grounding and let your voice reflect the stability that you will have accumulated over the days, months and years of your training, practice and work (as well as basic life) experience!

Your preparation itself will be germane to your own evolving career, if you should seek such a path to fulfilment. We cannot make those decisions for you, so if you decide to pursue the singing-contest approach to pro music as a vocation, if you’re fully grounded in not only your personal but also your public life (again, these things develop with time; it’s not like one can switch them on without doing the work), we think you’ll be steps ahead of the competition.

Now, whether you find your grounding in very personal faith in dialogue with your higher power, or in a traditional religious faith practice, or in your family, or in your school and what you learn(ed) there—or wherever else you manage to obtain it, the how and when you establish and maintain your grounding is ultimately up to you. “Persistence pays; quitters never win and winners never quit!” We think that, by visiting here and taking full advantage of these and your other resources, the sky’s the limit! All the best in your endeavours!!

Keep smiling! As we go, some parts of this challenging life get easier—especially when we get well-grounded. ☺️

Namaste, ♫ AM ♫