“I was exposed to music early on, growing up in Hyderabad. My dad had this vast collection of records from the ‘70s and ‘80s—artists like Elton John, John Lennon, and Tears for Fears were regularly playing at home. He’d listen to BBC World Service, and that’s how I got my first taste of western pop and rock. He even enrolled me in violin and piano classes when I was young, but to be honest, I didn’t enjoy it. I eventually asked him to get me a guitar when I was 12, and from there, I began learning myself, just exploring music my own way.
Years later, I moved to the UK, where my music world really expanded. I was suddenly in a place where indie and alternative music flourished—bands like The Smiths, Nick Cave, and Elbow became part of my life. There, I experienced a different kind of music culture, one where artists wrote their own songs and expressed themselves without needing to fit into film soundtracks. In India, most music revolves around cinema, and that can sometimes limit artistic expression. But in the UK, I found a space that embraced independent music, and that freedom became a huge influence on me.
As an indie artist, the journey is challenging. There isn’t a dedicated market for non-film music here, and live performances are often limited to film songs. The truth is, you have to work hard to build your audience from scratch. I do everything on my own—writing, recording, promoting—so it’s a constant hustle. But I’ve accepted that this is the reality. Finding your audience takes time, and while it never gets easier, I’ve learned to live with it.
Western pop and rock music have always drawn me, especially the spirit of self-expression they embody. My music reflects that spirit, but I also realized I wanted a stronger connection to my roots. After my first album in English, I had an identity crisis. I felt I had given so much to Western music and needed to reconnect with my heritage. So, I made an album in Telugu, and now, I’m exploring Hindi, Punjabi, and even Malayalam. My project, The Beautiful Indian Rock and Roll Explosion, reflects this blend, with songs that go across languages and cultures. When I’m working on Hindi songs, I’ll start with gibberish lyrics and a few words automatically suggest themselves to me. And then I sit down with lyricists to bring the ideas to life. Each song is a journey in itself, shaped by the places I’ve been and the languages I’ve absorbed along the way. When I’m working on Hindi songs, I’ll start with gibberish lyrics and a few words automatically suggest themselves to me. And then I sit down with lyricists to bring the ideas to life.
Collaborating with international artists has been another milestone. I got a chance to work with Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols after performing a half-Telugu, half-English cover of ‘Anarchy in the UK’ in France. Glen saw the video, liked it, and reached out. We ended up recording a song together in Italy and even played a gig in Bombay. Later, I collaborated with Andy Burrows from Razorlight, a band I’d admired since 2005. Andy pushed me as an artist; he has this genius way of knowing what each song needs and sometimes what it doesn’t. He even made me take the drums out of one song entirely, which transformed the piece in a way I hadn’t expected. These collaborations taught me so much—about myself, my music, and what it means to share a creative space with legends.
I have co-directed the video for my recent music video Chastavu with filmmaker Milan Rathod which is out of my ‘Alluri music’ channel on YouTube and there’s another one coming out soon that he directed solo. Collaborating with different talent lets me experiment in ways I hadn’t before.
To young artists and music enthusiasts, I’d say this just enjoy the process. Practice, explore, take inspiration from others, but always make your own path. Especially in indie music, your journey will be unique, and finding your audience will take time. Write songs when it feels natural, and don’t force it. Music isn’t just work—it’s a reflection, an expression, and something that, at its core, should bring joy. So keep going, enjoy the connection, and stay true to what you love about it.”
- Shriram Alluri, Musician & Song Writer