For its debut, the label will release ‘Nyima Vol. 1’, a compilation featuring 11 female artists from across India performing original English tracks that showcase a bold, global Indian sound.
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Decades separate music producer and audio engineer Sanoli Chowdhury and music industry veteran Vinod Gadher but the two are on the same page when it comes to their vision on female representation in music.
So much so that they have joined hands to set up Femme Music – the only India-based independent label dedicated entirely to female artists – where their goal is to redefine the South Asian female artist narrative and create a pipeline for Indian talent into the international music ecosystem.
Inspired by the feminist ethos of the 90s Riot Grrrl movement, Femme Music exists to create an ecosystem where female voices lead, own their narratives, and build sustainable careers — in India and globally.“The vision of developing female indie artists and helping them build sustainable careers really resonated with me,” says Sanoli of their decision to launch Femme Music.
“I feel artists are now judged by numbers and lack of management which sign and help develop a musician. Femme Music will help an artist in terms of not just management and booking, but also publishing copyrights,” the Bangalore-based musician adds.
Femme Music has partnered with AWAL for global distribution and PRS for Music in the UK as well as handling mixing and mastering of all tracks. “Vin (Gadher) and I are always open to sharing our knowledge in any way we can. I’ve even helped some artists create their tech riders and work on their sound; it’s all part of helping them grow.”
For their first release, they’ve announced Nyima Vol.1, a compilation under Nyima Records – one of Femme Music’s flagship sub-labels that champions English-language singer-songwriters from India who want to reach audiences both at home and abroad.
Nyima Vol.1 releases on November 28.
Sanoli and Gadher don’t want to tether Femme Music to a certain sound, so each sub-label, like Nyima Records, would explore a different genre, showcasing female Indian talent. “There are no boundaries to what we want to explore,” states Sanoli, who herself has a new EP releasing on artist-first lo-fi music label, Arden Records, next month.
Singer-songwriters featured on the compilation are from different corners of the country with varying levels of experience next to their name. A few are younger entrants while some have been making music for over a decade but for Femme Music, there were no prerequisites placed on artists to qualify.
“We’re drawn to talent in its most organic form, artists with a unique and potential voice and sound. There’s something special about the way each person perceives and interprets music; it’s that individuality, that personal navigation through sound, which truly sets one artist apart from another, far more than genre ever could,” she adds.
Artists on Nyima Vol.1 include Aanchal Bordoloi, Aadya Jaswal, ??Anjali Manoharan, ??kokum, Meera Desai, Ro Maiti, ruhdabeh, Sahana Naresh, Tabitha Kagoo, Tiana Tara and Zahrah.