Introduction and Song Context
- A song titled "Symmetries" is performed, which sets the context for the discussion about symmetry and its implications 25s.
- The song's lyrics describe the struggle of living in a world that values perfection and symmetry, and the desire to break free from these expectations 39s.
- The performer, Frizzell Dsouza, grew up in a city with a strong emphasis on order and perfection, but felt like they didn't fit in 57s.
- The song's lyrics also touch on the idea of being true to oneself and embracing individuality, despite the pressure to conform to societal norms 1m20s.
Frizzell Dsouza's Background and Non-Linear Path
- Frizzell Dsouza introduces themselves as a singer, songwriter, and architecture graduate, and shares that they come from a family of medical professionals 4m58s.
- They mention that they don't have a traditional, inspiring story to share, but instead want to talk about their non-linear path in life and how it's okay to have a "crooked" path 5m15s.
- Frizzell Dsouza shares a personal anecdote about growing up and feeling like they were only known as "Dr. Clem's daughter" or "Dr. Hilda's daughter", and how this bothered them 5m48s.
- They reflect on how this experience made them feel like they were on a mission to prove themselves and establish their own identity 6m2s.
- The individual's parents worked hard to establish themselves, and their identity was initially attached to their parents' accomplishments 6m12s.
Childhood and Early Influences
- School felt normal due to very Indian and academia-oriented parents, and the individual was considered a nerd, involved in extracurricular activities, sports, art, and music 6m26s.
- At the age of seven, the individual was sent to learn the violin, an instrument they hated, but continued to attend classes for eight years, which eventually taught them the basics of music theory 7m1s.
- In 10th grade, the individual was asked about their plans, and despite having medical parents, they didn't find medicine appealing, but instead had a love for science and art, leading them to study architecture 8m0s.
Architecture and Discovering Music
- The individual got admission in RV College of Architecture in Bangalore, where they experienced a mini culture shock, as they were used to being around people who knew how to play an instrument 8m46s.
- Architecture was an energy and time-consuming profession, and the individual would often pick up their guitar and sing as a break, which became a hobby 9m4s.
- In the hostel, the individual sang a song called "Stand By Me," and was surprised to find that their roommate, who didn't listen to English music, knew the song, which was actually inspired by a Bollywood version 10m0s.
- The individual discovered that Bollywood was inspired by "Stand By Me," and that Bollywood often takes inspiration from other sources 10m30s.
Pursuing Music and Early Performances
- The performance of a lifetime was experienced while watching Indiva, which inspired quickly picking up a guitar, singing a song, and recording a cover, ultimately leading to the creation of a YouTube channel in 2018 10m38s.
- Music was initially a hobby, especially for women, and didn't seem like a viable career path while studying architecture 11m1s.
- The first gig was at The Good Gallet in 2018, where a call was made to the cafe to ask if they would allow singing, and the performance lasted for four hours 11m17s.
- In October 2019, a challenge called Inktober was undertaken, but instead of sketching, a song was sung every day on Instagram 11m51s.
Gaining Recognition and Building Momentum
- The follower count doubled after a cover of Prateek Kuhad's song "Cold Mess" was shared by him on his story 12m9s.
- Many established musicians in the indie industry recognized the music, but studying architecture continued, and a conventional life with a steady income was still the goal 12m32s.
Pandemic, Original Music, and Breakthrough
- During the pandemic, a lot of time was spent at home, leading to the discovery of an old iPhone and the start of shooting videos within the house 13m22s.
- A friend suggested stepping up the music game and writing original songs, which wasn't daunting due to the experience of working on architecture projects and receiving critiques 13m51s.
- The lesson learned from architecture was to not get sentimentally attached to projects and to focus on improving and creating better versions 14m21s.
- Writing a song every day became a habit, and eventually, a song was sung during a live Instagram session with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy from the Bollywood Trio 14m57s.
- The debut as an independent artist was made with the release of the song "New" in August 2020, which did well and led to the creation of another song called "Drown Away" in December 2020 15m1s.
- Spotify got in touch and offered to feature the artist on the cover of their global playlist "Radar India", which focuses on upcoming indie talent from the respective country 15m27s.
- The artist quickly wrote another song, "Foolish Once Again", and performed it, with lyrics that include "let's dance till we fall in love" and "let's dance till this falls apart" 15m57s.
- The song "Foolish Once Again" was released and the artist was featured on the cover of Spotify's "Radar India" playlist, giving them a sense of fulfillment and identity 19m36s.
Parental Support and Career Shift
- The artist's parents, including their dad Dr. Clement, were supportive of their music career and did not require much convincing to let them pursue it 20m7s.
- The artist released their first EP, a five-track EP called "The Hills", and it did well, leading them to realize that they had the opportunity to go after their own dreams rather than sitting at a desk job 20m52s.
- The artist decided to take a break from their career and focus on music, which was initially met with concern from their parents but ultimately supported 21m20s.
- The break led to the EP being nominated for the best EP of the year, and the artist receiving an award for the best singer-songwriter of the year 21m47s.
Tours, Releases, and Reflections on Asymmetry
- The journey began with the Indian music Diaries, where covers were made, and some of them got recognized by Sitam and Jacob Kia, which was an interesting and fun experience 21m58s.
- A band tour across 11 cities in India was undertaken, playing at festivals like N7 weekend at Z land and Hanul music festival in Nagaland, which was a special experience as it took the music far away from home 22m18s.
- The first EP was released as a record label signed artist under Kaa originals, and a second EP has also been released 22m48s.
- Life is asymmetrical, and it doesn't travel in a straight line, making it essential to accept the crooked path and give things a shot, even if the outcome is uncertain 23m2s.
- The fear of failing at something new or regretting not taking a shot is a significant consideration, and it's crucial to decide what one is more scared of 23m32s.
Identity, Family, and a Tribute to Mothers
- Finding identities can be a full-circle experience, as seen when a fourth-year student recognized the speaker's sister, Dr. Fana, and asked if she was Frizzell Dsouza's sister 23m56s.
- It's essential to explore one's identity and not be attached to another person's identity, as seen in the speaker's journey of self-discovery 24m15s.
- The speaker's mother, Dr. Hilda, has been a driving force and an inspiration, having achieved a lot in her life despite coming from a family with little to survive on 24m35s.
- A song called "Mom's Laabi" was written for Dr. Hilda and mothers everywhere who do a lot of things with a big smile on their face, and it was performed at the end of the talk 25m11s.
Song Performance and Emotional Expression
- The lyrics of a song are being recited, with the lines "it leaves me guessing and I'm just confessing that I love you" being repeated, indicating a strong emotional expression of love. 27m31s
- The repetition of the lyrics emphasizes the intensity of the emotions being conveyed, with the phrase "I love you" being a clear declaration of feelings. 27m39s
- The song appears to be a romantic ballad, with the lines "the world has stopped moving and time does no waiting" suggesting a sense of time standing still in the presence of the loved one. 28m15s
