Emory senior Neha Gundavarapu, the artist behind Vara, talks her musical roots and the power of connection.
First off, tell us about yourself! Where are you from? What year are you at Emory? What are you studying? What kind of art do you make?
Hi, I’m Neha Gundavarapu, and I’m a singer, songwriter/poet, and producer. I go by the stage name Vara, as the letters appear in my last name. I’m New York-born but grew up in Marietta, GA, where I’ve spent most of my life. I’m a senior at Emory in the Goizueta Business School this year, studying data analytics and music arts management.
When did you start making music? Do you write, sing, produce?
Short answer: I started writing when I was 10. I started producing when I was 18.
Long answer: So I began learning piano in 2nd grade, guitar in 5th grade, and since I was 8, my mother enrolled me in classical Indian music singing lessons. So my musical foundation goes way back. But the journey of writing my own songs began in 4th grade when I first heard of Taylor Swift. I instantly became obsessed with her and her music, singing karaoke to her songs for hours in my bedroom. This led me to beg my parents for a guitar, which I would then use to write silly songs and perform them for my parents. Eventually, when I got to middle school, I joined the chorus and started getting solos, and realized that I loved singing, especially in front of others. I ended up in Choir for seven years. I’d written songs throughout my life, but it wasn’t till I got to college that I desired to produce music and explore other instruments in harmony with my voice. I began in Garageband, using my computer microphone and AirPods to record myself. But eventually realized that if I wasn’t going to take charge of it, no one else would. So I taught myself Logic Pro, a digital audio workstation, over quarantine through LinkedIn Learning. I eventually worked at a record label where I was introduced to Pro-tools. I decided to release some songs in 2020 on Spotify, but I would consider these more demos than final versions.
What do you love most about writing or performing?
I love writing because it gives me the chance to sculpt my poetry into something that physically reaches someone’s ears in a uniquely sonic way. I write to make sense of an experience I’ve had or work through something I’m feeling. It’s therapeutic. It’s so cool to watch something go from a simple word-vomit to a finished song that I can perform in front of people. In that same vein, what I love most about performing is that I feel fearless— like there’s nothing in the world that can stop me. I feel confident in my singing in a way that I never have about simply speaking in front of a crowd of people. You can’t ask me to talk to a group, but you can ask me to sing!
How do you incorporate music into your daily life at Emory?
I wish I could incorporate it way more than I do right now. I listen to music as I walk from class to class or when I’m studying. It’s a big part of any downtime I have. In terms of what I’m learning, much of what I write for my poetry class is in my songs, which allows for super unique pieces. And I use a lot of what I learn in my marketing classes to market my music.
Who are some of your inspirations? Favorite bands or songs?
Some of my biggest lyrical and/or sonic inspirations are Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, EDEN, Billie Eilish, Maggie Rogers, Daniel Caesar, Lorde, BØRNS, Flume, and pluko. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from Taylor Swift’s spectacular writing abilities, especially folklore and evermore. It’s difficult for me to choose a favorite song, but some songs I’ve constantly gone back to over the years are:
“Bloom” by Paper Kites
“Sweetie Little Jean” by Cage the Elephant
“Settle Down” by 1975
“Love is a Bitch” by Two Feet
“Miranda Beach” by COIN
“Black Mambo” by Glass Animals
What does your creative process look like?
Making music for me is therapeutic. When I sit down to work on music, I typically start either by journaling about my day or my current feelings. Alternatively, I’ll go to my notes app, where a junkyard resides, consisting of phrases and words that I jotted down at one point because I thought they sounded cool or held some kind of meaning for me. Often, though, inspiration will find me at random times, like when I’m running or cooking, when a friend is talking about something and says an exciting phrase, or when it’s 2 am. I’ll have to write down what I’m thinking. Other times, I’ll sing or create an enjoyable melody on the piano or guitar at other times and go from there. Once I have the ball rolling, I make sure to produce and record as much as possible to at least have a very rough demo as a reference for myself.
What do you hope people take away from your music?
Honestly, for me, music is connection—a way to see the world through the lens of the song. Music connects you with an artist; it connects you with other people. I think that when words fail to communicate, music speaks. I hope people who listen to my music can relate to the beat, to my lyrics. Though my music tends to be more upbeat, much of my writing is linked to loneliness and frustration. Many songs have helped me get through difficult times. When I’m experiencing a certain feeling, listening to a song that conveys that same feeling is very cathartic and comforting; it makes me feel less isolated. I hope my music can do the same for those who listen -- I hope it makes them feel less alone. My end goal isn’t to be famous for my music. I want to be around music my entire life, but I make music because it’s refreshing and enjoyable. The moment I stop feeling that way, I’m out.
Do you have a website/Instagram for your work?
Yes! My website is www.nehagundavarapu.com
My Instagram is @nehagunda // music Instagram is @vara_sings
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