Oct 23: Bringing together emerging musical talent from across India, Havells mYOUsic, the grassroots music initiative by Havells India in collaboration with WPP Media and The Shakti Collective, is creating opportunities for independent artists to develop their original music and take it to a wider audience. As part of this journey, singer-songwriter Faheem Abdullah joined the Havells mYOUsic bootcamp, where he interacted with emerging artists working on 25 original tracks and shared perspectives from his own journey in music.
Known for the emotional resonance of songs like Ishq and the title track of Saiyaara, Faheem has experienced what it means for a song to find its audience. But for him, the journey of an artist begins much before the world starts listening. It begins with the people who recognise the work, acknowledge the effort and give an artist the confidence to keep creating.
Speaking about the importance of having someone who listens and believes in an artist’s work, Faheem Abdullah said,
“The first thing you need, more than anything else, is a listener. When you are in the process of making something, especially art, it is a personal journey, an imagination that is limited to you. But when you find somebody who sees it and acknowledges it, that becomes your first validation. You may not be able to validate yourself at that point, but when these people come into your life, you begin to build confidence in yourself as an artist and in the art that you create.”
This belief is closely aligned with the purpose of Havells mYOUsic, which aims to bridge the gap between discovering grassroots talent and helping artists develop their original music, connect with industry professionals and reach wider audiences. The bootcamp brought together 40 artists to work across 25 original tracks, taking them through music production, recording, music video creation, mentorship and live performance development.
Beyond the creative process, the programme offered artists an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from industry professionals and understand the many steps involved in taking original music from an idea to a finished release. Faheem Abdullah and Hanuman Ansh’s music director Sadhu Tiwari were among the industry voices who joined the bootcamp, bringing their experiences closer to artists at an important stage in their creative journeys.
The initiative reflects a larger need within India’s independent music ecosystem. While emerging musicians continue to create original work across languages, regions and genres, access to professional guidance, production resources and platforms that help their music find listeners remains an important part of their journey.
Following the bootcamp, the audio of 25 original tracks developed through Havells mYOUsic will be released soon, with music videos rolling out weekly. The releases will bring the artists’ individual stories and sounds to audiences, extending the initiative’s journey from discovery and development to public release.
Through Havells mYOUsic, Havells India, WPP Media and The Shakti Collective aim to create meaningful opportunities for grassroots artists to develop their craft, find their audiences and build confidence in the music they create. Because before an artist finds the world listening, sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in what they have to say.
