An Exclusive Interview with Indian Goth Musician Echo Eudora

I conducted a Q&A session with Echo Eudora, a goth musician from India. During our discussion, we explored her upbringing, the beginnings of her music career, her reasons for choosing this genre, her music and much more. I hope you find this reading enjoyable.

Amit Ahuja: Your background and early experiences often shape who you become as an artist. Could you share more about where you grew up and what the environment of your hometown was like—socially, culturally, and emotionally? How did your upbringing, your family dynamics, and even the community around you help shape your sense of identity and your outlook on creativity? In what ways do you feel your early life still echoes through the music you create today?

Echo Eudora: I grew up in Chandigarh. It is a small, but not so small of a city. There’s no nightclubs, no metro, everything is 15 minutes away. While some may view that as convenience, it was boring for me. There was nothing to do outside of home and my parents would often fight inside. For me, art was all I had. It was the only place where I could feel safe enough to express myself.

I grew up drawing inside of notebooks, playing with paint & writing poems about how cruel I felt the world was. My parents would often punish me for lagging behind on school work, but why on earth would I force myself to fit inside of a system that wasn’t made for me? As a child, my belief system was shaped by my moments of solitude during creation and those were often misinterpreted as disobedience or a lack of discipline.

At the age of 13, I told my parents that I wanted to finish school privately and focus on my art career - they thought I was crazy. I was forced to stay indoor, forced to wear ‘decent’ clothes, forced to stick to a routine that was just not built for me. My mom and dad wanted me to ‘get my life together’ as I grew up. I’d get punished for skipping class, but the classroom was so fucking boring. How can you expect a child to learn staring at another human speak for hours and hours inside of a four wall room? It felt suffocating. What the people around me viewed as escapism - I viewed as a way to enjoy & experience life. We are born to live, not to suffer, I will do that to my fullest, no matter who has an objection with it.

I had to fight my way out of a system that was made to keep me stuck inside of a depressing loop. Every human being is born for greatness and we must not let other people’s baggage tear us down - all of us want to be free & true to who we are, that’s what life is about. Why waste it trying to please or take part in a system that doesn’t give a shit about you?

Amit Ahuja: How has your cultural heritage influenced the person and artist you’ve become? Are there specific traditions, family stories, or cultural values that

have guided or inspired your work throughout the years? Can you recall key moments—whether triumphs, challenges, or personal transformations—that deepened your connection to your heritage and left a lasting imprint on your worldview?

Echo Eudora: My grandparents lived in Lahore before India and Pakistan were divided into two different countries. I never met my grandfather, but as a child, I remember seeing a piece of artwork of his that my grandma had kept safe. It was a brown crumbled piece of paper that she opened and showed to me, “Your grandfather made this portrait of me while I was in the kitchen.” I asked her how much time it took him to draw her and she responded saying, “Just a minute.” I remember how impressed I felt by his talent & speed. I thought to myself, “I wonder if I could do that.” I was 9 years old at that time and by the time I was 13, I could create live portraits of people. I would make one drawing and push myself harder to speed up the process. I didn’t realise at the moment that I was challenging my creativity, until a friend mentioned I drew a portrait in 30 seconds. That made me realise how fast my skill had become. I still didn’t realise I was completing a challenge I had taken on many years earlier. I was around the age of 20 when it all came to me and made sense.

That’s the thing about life - things click & begin to unravel when you stay true to who you are.

I often view my desire to live life to the fullest as a way to honour my ancestors. The British Rule terrorised brown culture. It broke human beings & divided families. My grandmother lost her brother during the riots in Lahore.Who I am today, the unapologetic vision that I have is for me and them. It is to honour the

deaths of the people that didn’t get a chance to achieve their dreams or even live their lives.

Brown history has been intentionally erased and I am here to reclaim what has always been ours - our identity.

For far too long have we let people push and break us apart. The horrors that our ancestors faced because of colonialism has left an impact that we are actively trying to heal through our art, our voice, our culture & our history.

I am here to speak for myself and for the people that have suffered before me. My song,

‘Kali’ is dedicated to people that lost their lives during the British Rule.

I’m not from India, I am from Bharat. My people are on different sides of the border and I will always create art for each and every one of them.

Amit Ahuja: The gothic and dark electronic scene is rich with mood, emotion, and atmosphere. What first drew you to this particular style, both musically and visually? Was it an intentional choice to express something specific through this aesthetic, or did it emerge naturally as your sound developed? What does the gothic identity mean to you personally—beyond just the genre label?

Echo Eudora: When I was 13 years old, I would draw sketches that teachers viewed as ‘disturbing’.They would often call my parents to school to speak about my mental health. For years, my family took me to different psychiatrists to try and understand why I was so stubborn with my views, why my art was so intense and whether it was a mental condition that was causing it.

For many years, I believed there was something wrong with me because I would not enjoy the simple things the people around me did. I would often like spending time alone inside my art book, writing or drawing. It wasn’t a specific moment that drew me to the goth culture, but a state of awareness that was inflicted out of boredom. School, friends, activities - they weren’t enough to fuel my hunger. I wanted more from life and my desire to live life on my own terms with such intense clarity - confused the adults around me.

I was 18 years old when I began meditating and found comfort in spirituality. I would lock myself in my room at night, sit by myself and journal. These moments of devotion to my inner being gave me profound clarity on my childhood and helped me understand that I wasn’t troubled - I was aware and the people around me weren’t.

I felt like a horse between a flock of sheep that was forced to act like sheep - it’s why I love the story of The Ugly Duckling - it inspired the first song I released, “Black Swan”

So much has been taken away from my childhood because I would get harshly punished for my views. I owe it to myself to live my life to the fullest.

Before I started making music, I would create visual goth art - I didn’t know this was a genre until many years later.

I was just expressing my rage and frustration through creativity. I would often use my art to protest anything I was against - whether it was a simple disagreement between my parents & I or a societal issue that involved oppression of women. My art has been my safe space through my entire life and as an adult, the only thing that’s changed is how I express it.

I began making music not too long ago, I was 25 when I released my first track as Echo

Eudora. I had released a goth E.P many years earlier in 2017 under a different stage name.But, the quality of the sound wasn’t great, so I removed it and started over. I found a friend that I worked with as a creative director who helped me create the first few tracks for Echo Eudora. He was an extremely talented sound engineer, but he wasn’t goth. I had to create my sound myself and that’s been a great learning experience for me.

Even now, I may be a musician, but my desire for greatness is limitless. There is so much

more that I want to learn & experiment with. I have created designs of fashion collections & a perfume line that I hope to one day release. My biggest challenge isn’t idea or inspiration -it’s money.

Being goth is a part of my identity while being an artist is my core. I choose to identify as

goth because of the political impact it has on society. A lot of us want the world to change and be more accessible for people from minorities. Capitalism is killing the planet, it breaks communities apart and fuels division. Being goth is standing up against that narrative by supporting homegrown brands, by returning back to community - all while honouring the monsters and demons that are inside each one of us.

You cannot chase light without knowing how to sit still in darkness. You cannot be afraid of shadows, they are you from a different perspective.

Being goth isn’t about being depressed, it’s about acknowledging the darkness in the world and facing it. It is a celebration of dance, a celebration to honour the dead & an acceptance towards beauty that isn’t standard.

Amit Ahuja: You’re originally from India, a place with incredibly rich cultural traditions but not necessarily known for having a large goth subculture. Could you share what the goth community is like where you’re from — is there a noticeable scene, or do you often find yourself standing out as one of the few who embraces this aesthetic and lifestyle? How do people in your surroundings typically react when they see you in public expressing yourself through your gothic fashion and identity? I’d love to hear what that experience feels like for you personally — not only in terms of the attention or curiosity it might bring, but also how it shapes your sense of individuality, empowerment, and belonging. And as a woman navigating this space in India, what does it mean to you to embody and represent a gothic identity within a culture that might view it as unconventional or even misunderstood?

Echo Eudora: I’ve got mixed responses for how I dress or perform. They either hate it, love it or don’t understand it at all. Just the other day, I was walking on the street and an Indian man mistook me for a foreigner who didn’t speak the language. He passed a remark about my outfit and I turned around and stared at him dead in the eye. I don’t take bullshit from anyone, but I’m also not going to engage in mindless arguments. The way I look at someone is enough to let them know I disagree with their opinion of me.

Goths In India have their own unique characteristics that they embody in their art. Some are designers, some singers, some artists. The community is beautiful, supportive & rising. A lot of younger people are engaging with the culture and that’s definitely something I’ve been striving to see for many years.

I felt extremely alienated as a child growing up in North India with no goth or alternative

people around me. I was labelled, judged, criticised for my style of work.

I stopped going to school after grade 10. I never went to college & I began working as an

artist when I was 17. I would create visual goth art - photographs, paintings, blogs, poetry. I had no support, I was told my work was ‘too dark’ and people kept thinking there was something wrong with me. Growing up was difficult and isolating, but my art gave me comfort. It taught me how to survive and that’s why I dedicate my life to it.

Amit Ahuja: Can you describe in detail the defining moment that first sparked your passion for music? Was there a specific concert, performance, or song that changed the way you saw the world? What emotions or experiences made you realize that music wasn’t just something to listen to, but something you had to create and express yourself through?

Echo Eudora: I wanted to make music my entire life. I’d day dream about stage routines, choreographies and how I would perform. It was all a vision that was waiting to be discovered. As I was growing older, my family didn’t want me to get into music. They often criticised me. They wouldn’t let me study music, they wouldn’t buy me any of the equipment I needed. It took me years to change their perspective and that was extremely draining. A lot of families want good for their children, but they confuse guidance with obedience and expect their kids to do what they think is best for them. However, I knew what I wanted since I was 13. I was sure of it. My biggest challenge in life has been convincing my parents about my desire for greatness.

There’s one thing I always tell my family, “I am going to achieve my dreams whether you

help me or not. It might take longer if I’m on my own, but it will happen irrespective of what you think. Who you want to be in this moment is your choice, I have made mine.”

There have been endless movies, bands & plays that have kept the flame for my dream

ignited. Any moment that I felt like I couldn’t do it, I would drown myself into the stories of other artists. We rise by lifting each other and while someone may feel better hearing me, Iremember my fire hearing them too. One such moment was in 2023 in London. It was challenging to convince my parents to let me visit London for a few days. I wanted to do a short course in music, but they pushed me to study photography. I had to pick my battle and I agreed - because I was going to see one of my favourite bands live. I bought my concert ticket before I had a plane ticket. I had no idea whether my parents would let me go or not.

Months & fights later, I landed in London. The moment I saw Lizzy Hale on stage, I knew in my heart that that was where I wanted to be, that was who I am meant to be and I promised myself that one day I would perform next to her in the Ovo Arena.

I read a few interviews about Lizzy and hearing how she struggled to find her voice initially, made me feel like I could find mine. I love Halestorm and I love women in Rock. Lizzy is a powerhouse. I performed one of their songs, “I Get Off” in Delhi.

Amit Ahuja: Every artist has an origin story that defines its essence. How did Echo Eudora come into existence—was it born from friendship, creative chemistry, or perhaps a shared artistic vision? What does the name “Echo Eudora” represent to you both literally and symbolically? When you first came together as a group, what were you hoping to communicate, change, or bring to life through your collaboration?

Echo Eudora: Echo Eudora is a solo act. It is the name I gave myself. I plan on getting it legally changed into my full name. A person’s name is the core of their identity, how can I live my life with a name given to me by another human being?

Echo is an echo of all the versions of her that she has lived. Eudora is inspired by my love for mythology & the ocean, it is the name of a nymph in Greek Mythology.

I am someone that continues to reinvent myself and grow as I get older, Echo is the perfect name to capture the essence of how my different versions echo through each other.

Amit Ahuja: Your lyrics feel emotionally charged and poetically layered. Could you share how your writing process begins—does it start from personal experience, visual imagery, or a specific emotion? What is it like to transform those raw feelings into words, and then bring them alive on stage in front of an audience? How does performing your songs affect your relationship to the stories behind them?

Echo Eudora: For me, writing music feels similar to journaling. I write about my experiences and how I want my listeners to feel when they hear a song. Since I was a kid, I had a habit of writing all my thoughts down into poems, it’s the same thing I do with a bit of song writing arrangement. I currently have more than hundreds ofwritten material waiting to be put into a song. Everything I experience, whether good, bad or even irrelevant, I write all of it down.

Sometimes, I want my listeners to feel depth and acknowledge darkness in my music. While other moments, I want them to have fun and dance. I try to keep a good balance between emotional intensity and sexual freedom.

Amit Ahuja Each of your tracks—such as Dharma, Kali, Shadow, and Emotionally Abusive—seems to carry a unique emotional texture and narrative weight. Could you unpack the inspiration and core messages behind these songs? What were you hoping listeners would feel, think, or question while hearing them? How do these tracks reflect your evolution both as individuals and as a collective creative force?

Echo Eudora: As a goth musician living in India, the country has been rising with fascism. There is so much religious chaos and injustice. The Prime Minister of our country is called the butcher of Gujarat. There are countless politicians that have been accused of sexual assault yetpreach words of modesty to the nation. ‘Dharma’ is about rejecting religion disguised as control. It is a protest against the corrupt politicians in our country.

I have heard such mixed opinions about Indians outside of India. The colonisers forget that they are the reason our country is in shambles. It is their media that feeds them lies about how dirty and poor we are. Every country struggles with homelessness and poverty, the rich to poor gap in India is massive and it must be a priority of the government to create better facilities for people. However, these ignorant views that a lot of white people have towards India and other brown countries is wrong. Colonisers have a habit of being white and breaking indigenous communities apart for their profits - capitalism kills the planet. ‘Kali’ is a song for brown people. ‘My brown skin has the blood of the Gods in it, you don’t have to like me and I don’t have to fucking take your shit.”

For me, Kali isn’t a symbol of religion and neither is ‘God’ they are an essence. A symbol to a name that embodies a deeper philosophical meaning. I do not follow any religious

traditions, what I pray to is the ground, the earth & the mysticism in the night sky - Kali, the term ‘Gods’ is about our higher selves, not an exterior factor or person. At the end of the day, we are here to understand ourselves better, to understand our mind and accept who we are without any shame or guilt.

Amit Ahuja: For someone completely unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe Echo Eudora’s sound and artistic identity? What elements make your approach to gothic electronic music distinct from others in the genre? How do you balance accessibility with artistic depth, ensuring that your music resonates with both niche and broader audiences?

Echo Eudora: Echo Eudora creates different styles of music - one that allows people to sit still in silence and introspect while also allowing people to embrace sexuality, to dance & celebrate life. It is important to talk about political, societal & cultural issues in your music, while also remembering to have fun. I create a balance between these forms. A few of my songs are goth, while many are alternative experiments between rock, metal & trance. It’s important to continue to experiment with sounds that resonate with the story you wish to share. I have plans on creating a lot more rock songs along with 90s dark wave. The beauty of free will is that I do not have to pick one specific genre, I can do whatever I want. My identity cannot be limited, being goth is a part of who I am, but I am many other things as well.

Amit Ahuja: Music rarely exists in isolation. Beyond sound, what other forms of art inspire you most deeply—whether it’s literature, film, painting, or fashion? Are there particular authors, directors, or artistic movements that have influenced the emotional or conceptual framework of your work? How do these creative influences weave into the sonic world you build as Echo Eudora?

Echo Eudora: Growing up in a loud house, where your only friends are imagination, paint or the T.V - movies have played a huge role in comforting me. As a teenager, the lack of goth community around me made me feel isolated. There were moments I didn’t want to be alive. I found no comfort with the people around me, but watching something like, “Saving Greta” or “Girl, Interrupted” was a good way to feel loved.They don’t make Dracula movies like the 90s anymore, I still remember the first time I saw

Dracula on T.V - I was a little girl who wanted to be kidnapped by the beast. Monsters didn’t seem like something to be afraid of, they felt like beings that were misunderstood. This view of mine has often landed me into a lot of trouble when I was younger. I’d often surround myself with people who would hurt me because I kept forgiving them. For me, channeling all of my energy into my art and creating healthier boundaries in personal life has made a huge difference in shaping my career and who I am as a person.

Amit Ahuja: Visual presentation is a crucial part of your artistry. Your aesthetic, from stage outfits to album visuals, feels deliberate and immersive. Could you discuss how your fashion, makeup, and imagery connect to your sound and storytelling? What emotions or narratives do you hope to evoke through your visual style, and how do you see that blending with your musical message?

Echo Eudora: As a multidisciplinary artist, I always wanted to present my vision to the world in a way that felt beyond one specific form of communication. I make sure to tell a narrative through audio-visual storytelling by my music, my lyrics, the way I sing, how I move on the stage - it is all a part of the experience. Artists thrive for greatness; the more you work on your craft, the more ideas & experiments you create, allow you to be as limitless as possible. That is my vision - to do more & to be more. It takes dedication and a shit ton of practice to perfect a single performance.

Amit Ahuja: The future always holds new opportunities for reinvention. Are there any projects, collaborations, or tours currently in motion that you’re especially excited about? What new musical directions or creative ideas are you eager to explore next, and how do they reflect your growth as a artist?

Echo Eudora: I’ve been performing at underground goth nights in Goa. Nobody knows what goth is here, but I have been introducing the sound & culture - my vision is to bring a lot more goth music to the places I go. It’s a way of life. For Halloween, I enacted a performance that told the story of Kali & Shiva; not in a religious context, but in a way where the essence of the narrative is rage, consciousness, fury & fire.

I’m looking forward to collaborating with a lot more performing artists & goth musicians. I am an actor, a singer, a vessel of the stage and I hope that I can continue to express myself till my last breath. It has been a great experience to recently collaborate with a Techno DJ to create a blend between 90s dark wave & dark techno. Both are extremely different genres, we mixed the tracks in a way that allowed our music to blend into one. DJ Han8ini has been extremely supportive throughout the process and it has been a beautiful experience to share our love for music with each other on the dance floor.

Amit Ahuja: People often romanticize the life of an artist, but few understand the behind-the-scenes reality. What are some of the daily challenges and unexpected responsibilities of being an independent band that fans might not be aware of? How do you navigate the balance between creativity, self-promotion, and practical logistics while keeping your artistic spirit alive?

Echo Eudora: There’s different kinds of people & places in India. While in North India it has been relatively challenging to find venues that are accepting towards the goth community, the South side has been a lot more welcoming. My experience has been drastically different between the two. The venues in Goa are more open to experimental music acts & performances whereas in Delhi, they expect more commercial events. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the crowd. Venues create expectations from artists based on what the audience wants. The more goths show up as audience, the more welcoming the venues will be towards artists.

There is a sweet spot between mainstream & underground and that’s the perfect place for the community to be for allowing more goth musicians to show up while also keeping the community away from capitalistic exploitation.

I faced many logistical challenges in Delhi because a lot of venues hesitate to pay well to

performers, but my experience in Goa has been the opposite.

It truly depends on the kind of people you perform with. Many artists are supportive,

welcoming and collaborative while some can be a bit rigid.

If you surround yourself with good quality of people, they will be there to help you navigate through your challenges.

The community in Goa is full of independent artists that uplift each other and it has been a privilege to perform here next to so many talented people.

Finding a goth community in Delhi was a beautiful surprise, it introduced me to so many

other goths that are welcoming & supportive towards each other.

Amit Ahuja: When you think about the future, where do you see Echo Eudora in the next five years? How do you envision your sound and your message evolving as you continue to push creative boundaries? Are there milestones—whether artistic, personal, or philosophical—that you hope to achieve as part of this ongoing journey?

Echo Eudora: I would like to create darker music with the right sound quality. It has been challenging to create a balance between the two since I started producing my own music. I would like my skills as a producer to develop a lot more for me to reach my full potential.

As an artist, I would like to create immersive exhibitions and sculptures. I love playing with my hands and exploring creativity. The world is full of so many different kinds of sounds and souls that I would like to experience.

I love to perform on stage and I would like to be involved in more dialogue scripts. That issomething that I look forward to achieving in my career. It would be a dream come true to have a role in a horror film that is full of art in a sexually empowering way.

Amit Ahuja: Every creative journey is shaped by the people we meet along the way. Who are some of the individuals—whether mentors, peers, or even critics—who have had a profound influence on your artistic development? How have these relationships, both positive and challenging, molded your outlook, discipline, or motivation as musicians?

Echo Eudora: As a teenager, my parents would often try to control me. The punishments eventually pushed me to leave home. I ran away from my house to what I thought would be a safe space, but ended up being full of drug addicts. I was 17 years old when I injected heroine.

My entire life, I had been pushed, I wanted to break free, but I went towards the wrong

direction, only to find myself being pushed around by a different group of people. I felt lost, broken and in pain. The people around me had stolen my belongings, I had no phone, no money, no place to go and the things I saw changed me. Everyone I was surrounded with was many years older than me, the way they spoke and behaved, appalled me. I used to think in my mind, “I hope I never turn out like that when I’m 25.” This realisation brought me back home, away from drugs. But, I was still confused at that point in my life. I still felt alienated from my family and I wanted to protest and create something new in a way that wouldn’t harm me. That’s the moment I began meditating. The irony is that my first experience through meditation wasn’t by choice, but by accident.

There was a vision I had during my experience with psychedelics at 18, it felt like a spiritual awakening. It somehow pushed me into meditation and that’s the moment I began to look back at my childhood, my past experiences and work on myself.

It’s the moment I realised that even when I was an addict, even when I was a kid, to this

very day, so many things have changed, so many people have come & gone, but the onething I never stopped doing was creating art. That made me realise how precious my art truly was. I was ashamed for going towards addiction when all I really wanted was support from my family. I felt like the only way I could forgive myself was by allowing myself to heal.

The horrors of what I experienced during this time is what keeps pushing me. I’ve worked-on myself so much throughout the years that people either don’t believe I used to be an addict or cannot fathom that I no longer am one. And, if a person has the capacity to grow & transform then they have the capacity to achieve their dreams.

Life is meaningless until there’s art and imagination in it. The mind is a beautiful thing to

explore and while addiction pushed me towards the wrong direction, it showed me that all I needed was to believe in myself. I used to wait for people to save me, but I had to save myself and if I can, so can you, so can anybody. The world is big enough to support all kinds of talent and we must keep creating art till we die.

A few months ago, I spoke to Scott Baker Graham, a talented goth musician in Denmark. The similarities between our stories inspired me. It’s beautiful how two people living on different parts of the world can have such similar experiences. Scott has become a good friend of mine and his ability to express pain through sound is a beautiful gift. We will be working on a song together and I’m very excited about that.

Amit Ahuja: Rejection and failure are almost inevitable in the creative world. What advice would you give to young artists struggling with disappointment or creative doubt? How can those painful experiences be transformed into opportunities for growth and self-discovery? Have there been moments in your own careers where setbacks led to unexpected breakthroughs?

Echo Eudora: Failure is nothing, but a waiting game. As long as you keep working on your craft and yourself, sooner or later, the right doors will begin to open for you.

You’ve got to be dedicated enough to prioritise your art and emotionally mature enough to manage your personal struggles along the way.

The best part about being an artist is that any kind of setbacks you face can be inspiration for a new piece of work. If you’re drowning in failure - you’ve got a lot of material to make art about. A shift in perspective is sometimes all it takes.

Amit Ahuja: Artistic energy needs balance to thrive. Outside of music, what passions or hobbies bring you joy and help you recharge? Do you find inspiration in nature, travel, visual art, or something completely different? How do these experiences outside the studio feed back into your creative process?

Echo Eudora: Outside of art, I love the ocean. I love to connect with animals and a true animal lover is a vegan. Fish communicate through sound, vibration & electric fields. Isn’t that a bit similar to telepathy? We have species in the ocean that are magnificent, ancient & almost mystical. I like reading about them and I would like to get my diving license soon. It’s one of the reasons why I came to Goa. I’ll be volunteering at an ocean conservation project with Reef Watch. I’m looking forward to learning more about marine life & ecosystems.

As human beings, we should learn how to be active members in our community. The planet is our home and we must be conscious about how we give back the same care & kindness it gives us. The industrialists kill the planet and in return, nature fights back. Capitalism hurts minorities, endangers wildlife and pushes agendas that enforce control. We must learn to break free from these is these narratives. There is power in community.

Amit Ahuja: Happiness and success mean different things to everyone. How do each of you personally define happiness in your life, and in what ways does that sense of fulfillment intersect—or perhaps conflict—with your artistic ambitions? How do you stay grounded while pursuing creative and professional growth?

Echo Eudora: There are many of us that have suffered, that have felt pain, misery and betrayal. Some of us seek revenge, some drown in shame, while others wish to end their lives. The world is what we build. If we want peace, comfort or justice, we must create it by honouring the values that make us human.

Amit Ahuja: Creativity and mental health are often intertwined in powerful ways. Can you share any personal experiences with navigating mental health challenges throughout your artistic journey? What coping tools, habits, or support systems have helped you stay resilient? And what advice would you give to other artists learning how to protect their well-being while staying creatively expressive?

Echo Eudora: My art is my life. This is my happiness. The things I paint, the songs I sing. As long as I shall have the power to create and be heard, I will always be happy.

Amit Ahuja: As we bring this conversation to a close, what final reflections or heartfelt messages would you like to leave with your listeners? Is there a particular philosophy, truth, or piece of wisdom that feels especially important to share right now—something that represents who you are, both as individuals and as a band, at this moment in time? 

Echo Eudora: Learn to find comfort in yourself. You must be independent and support yourself emotionally or you will continue to rely on others for validation. The best thing you can dois to sit alone, write, think, understand who you are and what you stand for. When you understand yourself, there isn’t a thing in the world that can pull you down. Act from conscious, forgive with grace and ignore what’s irrelevant when you know the power you hold is worth greatness. Remind yourself of who you are - not better and not less, just the same flesh and bones with a mind waiting to be explored.

Amit Ahuja: If you could speak to the entire world for just five minutes, what would you say? What message, truth, or piece of wisdom would you want to share with humanity—and how does that message connect to the core values and emotions expressed in your music?

Echo Eudora: I hope that I can continue to honour my listeners by my words and actions. Everything I do, I do with love and truth and I hope people can feel that when they enter the world of Eudora. This isn’t domination, this isn’t control or superiority - this is surrender to my craft.

Amit Ahuja: Thanks to Echo Eudora for sharing your stories with us today.

We encourage you to explore her work and support her music at the Linktree below:

https://linktr.ee/echoeudora?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnw2-pE13eL9jCqGu-7WWpkP4UpZ5U2FZF3l6fr_aJzakzTFtpWsC3IeOJWYg_aem_F3SaeRyo_FGEZXApFzWPoQ

*** All photos below to Echo Eudora unless otherwise noted***

Exploring the Musical Journey of Jared Jones from Emerge

Photo Credit: Brittany Bossert

I had the opportunity to conduct a Q&A session with Jared Jones, the esteemed frontman and vocalist of Emerge. During our discussion, we explored his upbringing, the beginnings of his musical journey, his band, and a variety of other topics.

Amit Ahuja: Tell us about where you grew up and what your hometown was like. Could you paint us a picture of the community—its culture, people, traditions, or even the everyday rhythms—that surrounded you as a child? In what ways did the atmosphere, whether it was supportive, challenging, inspiring, or perhaps even complicated, shape the person you were becoming during those early years? Looking back now, are there specific moments, lessons, or influences from that environment that stand out as particularly formative?

Jared Jones: I lived most of my pre teenage life outside of Nashville, TN, in at the time wha was a pretty small city named Smyrna. As far as childhoods go, mine was great. I spent a ton of time doing typical kid stuff, playing outside with my neighborhood friends, building forts, playing sports, skating, and really all the classic 90's kid stuff, Pokemon, Nintendo, etc.. When I was around 12 my family moved to Chattanooga, TN and that's where I lived my teenage and early adult years. The atmosphere I was around between my family, friends, and growing up in Church was overwhelmingly positive, honestly. I was very fortunate to have a loving family and great friends, many of whom I still am close with today. All of that definitely shaped who I am as a person, the way I view the world, and the way I view relationships and how I believe I should treat other people. There's not really one specific moment, I was just really blessed to have a lot of great influences around me.

Amit Ahuja: How has your upbringing continued to influence who you are today? Are there certain values, beliefs, or perspectives—whether passed down through family, taught in your community, or born from your own experiences—that still guide your decisions in life and In music? Do you ever find echoes of those early lessons appearing in the way you write

songs, collaborate with others, or navigate challenges?

Jared Jones: Absolutely. The way I was raised still plays a major role in my personality and the way I make decisions. As I get older I definitely find my writing becoming more influenced by personal feelings I have that are directly correlated with how I view the world, and a lot of that can be traced back to my upbringing. Obviously, over time things change and I've grown and matured and developed some of my own ways of dealing with this or that, but at the end of the day I can still trace things back to the core belief I have that you should always treat others with respect, whether they've shown the same to you or not. Life's too short for grudges. 

Amit Ahuja: Can you share a pivotal moment that first ignited your passion for music? Was it hearing a specific song, witnessing a performance, discovering an artist you admired, or even going through a personal experience that made you realize music could be more than background noise—it could be a calling? How did that moment open the door for you to start seeing music as a path worth pursuing seriously?

Jared Jones: I remember coming back from a week at a summer camp and while i'd been gone my younger brother had gotten a couple of rock albums, Linkin Park's Meteora, and Nickelback's The Long Road. From the moment I hit play on those albums I was never the same, as cliche as that sounds. I became completely obsessed with rock music and never looked back. It was a couple more years after that point that I became committed to actually learning to play guitar, but once that happened the combo of my love for the bands I was listening to with this newfound obsession of now learning to play music myself was unstoppable. 

Amit Ahuja: What initially drew you into the genre of music your band focuses on? From the perspective of sound—instrumentation, rhythm, composition, and energy—what felt magnetic or natural about it? And from an aesthetic standpoint—fashion, visuals, culture—what gave you the sense that this style authentically represented your artistic

identity? Was it a gradual discovery, or a moment when it just “clicked”?

Jared Jones: My love of bands like Sevendust, Alter Bridge, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Linkin Park and many of the other late 90's/early 00's hard rock bands is what really influenced me as a player and a writer. The band for the most part all shared the same if not very similar core influences, and then those mixed with some of our more individual interests really helped shape the sound. Aesthetically, we sort of just dress like your standard hard rock band, the more black the better haha. 

Photo Credit: Courtney Lea Photography

Amit Ahuja: Are there particular songs or artists that have deeply resonated with you and inspired your musical journey? How did those influences shape your creative voice, whether in terms of your sound, your lyrics, or the way you approach performing? Do you ever find yourself consciously—or even unconsciously—channeling them when you’re writing or on stage?

Jared Jones: Oh yeah, absolutely, I've always been a fan of what I've always thought of as the more "serious" or "somber" bands. Both musically and lyrically. I love bands like Creed and Sevendust that have always had this kind of serious and mature sound to their music, and that's definitely influenced how I approach writing. A large part of my guitar playing was also influenced by bands with really tight percussive rhythm playing like Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin. I've never been shy about my influences, and I definitely think they can be heard in the music, but I also hope I've blended enough of my influences and just my own personal take on things to not sound too much like this band or that band. 

Amit Ahuja: When Emerge first came together, what sparked the idea of starting this journey? Did it begin as a shared dream, a casual jam session that turned into something bigger, or a desire to create music that filled a gap you didn’t hear elsewhere? What was the original vision for the band, and how has that vision shifted, expanded, or deepened as you’ve grown together creatively and personally?

Jared Jones: When we first came together it was myself on guitar, my brother on drums, and our best friend Will on bass. At first it was just jamming for fun, and we'd write songs all the time, but it was a while of just hanging out and jamming before we actually got things going and found a singer, and that was really when things started taking shape. Back in those days I was writing on a daily basis, and we'd have new songs practically every time we'd practice, which at that time was fairly often since we were young and without much adult responsibility yet. Those were great times. We had a really seamless chemistry together. Over the years as the band has grown as individuals things have changed, members have come and gone as life happens, but the core of what the band is and represents is still the same. 

Amit Ahuja: The name “Emerge” feels both powerful and symbolic. Could you walk us through the story or philosophy behind choosing it? How does it represent your identity as a band and the message you want to put into the world? Were there other names considered along the way, and if so, what made “Emerge” stand out as the one that truly captured your essence?

Jared Jones: To be honest coming up with a band name was a big struggle for us. Our original name was Bentwood, named after the neighborhood we grew up in and started the band in, we always thought that was a goofy name and never were married to it, but we did play our first couple of shows under that name before our singer at the time came up with Emerge. I liked the name, it was certainly better than Bentwood, but honestly it didn’t have any particular meaning to it, we just thought at the time it sounded fine and needed a better name. However, over the years the name has developed a meaning for me personally. A lot of our music is written with the hope that it empowers the listener, or inspires them in some sort of way, so the name Emerge to me now is about overcoming whatever obstacles you face and coming out stronger on the other side. 

Amit Ahuja: Take us inside your songwriting process. Do your lyrics come primarily from personal experiences, from stories you’ve absorbed from others, or from bigger abstract themes and ideas you feel compelled to explore? How do you move from that first spark of inspiration to a finished song? Are there rituals, creative methods, or collaborative dynamics that guide that journey?

Jared Jones: My lyrics come from pretty much all of that. Really just depends on the song, what I’m dwelling on, etc.. In most cases I will start with the music and then write the melody and lyrics around that, but I’ve had times where I’ll come up with an entire set of lyrics and melody and then write the music from there. For me it’s really just about sitting down and committing to finishing a particular song. Over the years I’ve written thousands of riffs and musical ideas that will probably never see the light of day, but they can be helpful in times when I’m in a big writing mode and stumble upon an old idea. I’ve done that a few times recently and been able to flesh those ideas out into full songs, which has been cool. 

Amit Ahuja: Your latest work features standout tracks like Tolerance and your album A New Horizon. Could you talk about the personal experiences, emotions, or artistic influences that shaped the heart of this project? Were there any pivotal writing or studio moments that shifted its direction or added new layers of meaning? And could you dive into specific songs—like Tolerance, What You Want It to Be, The Truth, Watch Me Bleed, and Alive Again—to share the stories, messages, or inspirations behind them?

Jared Jones: I’ll start with Watch Me Bleed, that song definitely came from a personal place. It was one of the first songs we had written that made the album, and had been recorded previously 2 or 3 times before we finally settled on it the way it is. That song to me is about being at your lowest point, but refusing to let the person who put you there see the damage they’ve done. A song like What You Want It to Be is pretty straight forward, but is indicative of how I view life. We only get one, so make the most of it, follow your dreams, and for lack of a better term, make it what you want it to be. The Truth is one of our favorite “deep cuts” on the album, it’s sort of about that old saying “there’s my side, your side, and the truth.”. You can say or believe whatever you want, but that doesn’t make or change the truth of the matter. Alive Again is a pretty straight forward rock song, when I wrote that one it was written with the intention to just be pure energy from start to finish, and lyrically it’s about the band. Having been around for as long as we have we’ve had plenty of ups and downs, and that song was written as sort of a comeback after a period where we weren’t really sure what we were doing anymore. Tolerance is our latest single, but it was actually written years ago. Lyrically it definitely reflects my feelings on the world we live in today, and sort of my core belief that we don’t always have to agree with each other, but we always need to show kindness and grace to those that we don’t understand. It’s a bit more nuanced than that for me personally, but that’s sort of the overall message that I hope people would take from it. 

https://youtu.be/FqD_U8TRRs0

https://youtu.be/zcQt0jKuKpc

Amit Ahuja: In what ways does this album reflect your growth as artists? Looking back at your earlier work, how do you feel your sound, storytelling, and perspective have evolved? What do you feel this record says about where you are today, not just musically but as people?

Jared Jones: The core sound of the band has always remained, but the biggest changes have come from me taking on the role of being the vocalist. Learning to do that has been a lot of trial and error, but it's been a huge growth area for me personally and with that the lyrics have become more personal to me since they're all written from my perspective. A lot of our earlier work had a big emphasis on the heavier aspect of our music, but with this album I really wanted to showcase the more melodic side of the band as well.

Amit Ahuja: What are some of your favorite songs to perform live, and why? Is it the rush of audience energy, the technical challenge of the music, or the emotional release it provides that makes those moments special? Could you describe what it feels like in those peak live

moments when everything just clicks?

Jared Jones: I get a little something different from each song because they all have their own moments and meaning, but some of our staples in the set are Watch Me Bleed, Tolerance, Coward, Alive Again, and No Remorse. Those are all really high energy, which is what we try to put out from our live show. It's definitely a combination of everything you mentioned, but we really feed off the audience energy. In those moments where the band is tight, and the audience is enjoying it there really is nothing like that feeling. The adrenaline and then the satisfaction of feeling like it was a job well done really is what we're always chasing from night to night. 

Amit Ahuja: If you had the chance to open for any band or join a global tour, who would you choose and why? What about those artists—their sound, their message, or their presence—makes them an ideal fit for sharing a stage with you?

Jared Jones: We've been exteremely fortunate to share the stage with some of our favorite bands of all time, which to me has made every sacrifice worth it because at the end of the day i've been able to live out things with this band that i'd only dreamed of. Bands like Sevendust, Fuel, 10 Years, Scott Stapp, bands i grew up influenced by and going to see as a fan countless times. We definitely have a list of bands that we'd love to open for, but for me personally i'd say Breaking Benjamin. They were a huge influnce on my songwriting when it comes to how I play guitar, and I think our sound would go over great with that audience so i'd love to have that opportunity. But man, there are countless others.. Disturbed, Alter Bridge, Nickelback, the list goes on and on. 

Amit Ahuja: What advice would you give to musicians facing rejection or setbacks? From your own experiences, how can artists transform moments of disappointment into opportunities for resilience, creativity, and eventual success? What’s a story from your own path that illustrates that transformation?

Jared Jones: Don't take it personally. Keep pushing, be as professional and courteous as you can be in every interaction. Be the first one in and the last one out at shows. Ask yourself why you were rejected and be brutally honest with yourself. Is it our music, our appearance, our following? Why did we get passed over for this? If you can figure out the why to those then you'll be much better off than just resenting the fact that you were rejected. Emerge tried for years and years to get bigger opportunities, and a tough pill to swallow was the fact that we were rejected time and time again in our hometown while branching out and getting great opportunities outside of there. Nothing happens overnight, even if it appears to from the outside there is so much behind the scenes work that goes into relationship building and getting those bigger opportunities. You can't expect anything because you aren't owed anything. So stay humble, keep being honest with yourself and improving where you fall short, and you'll start to see things change.

Photo Credit: Erica JW/ @atthevenuephotography

Amit Ahuja: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future? Is it new projects, tours, collaborations, or even personal growth? On a deeper level, when you create music, does it feel more like release, self-discovery, confrontation with something inside you—or perhaps a mix of all three? Ultimately, what message do you hope listeners carry with them after engaging with your music?

Jared Jones: I'm just excited to keep growing. We've been extremely blessed this year and have had some of our best shows and opportunites yet. I'm excited to get back in the studio and to put out new music. Creating for me is definitely a combination of all of those things. When people listen to our music I hope they take something positive from it. Whether it's directly from the message or an individual lyric, or just from the feeling the music gives them, I want them to be inspired and hope that it helps them feel something positive that maybe they didn't feel before listening.

Amit Ahuja: Who are three individuals who have had a profound impact on your life—whether personally, professionally, or artistically—and in what ways have they shaped your

journey?

Jared Jones: There are so many, but my mom and dad, my wife, and my brother have all shaped me in some way. I think a large part of the way I view how others should be treated comes from my mom, and I defintely feel that often when writing. 

Amit Ahuja: Outside of music, what kinds of TV shows, movies, books, or podcasts resonate with you most? Is it the storytelling, the character development, the themes, or the craft itself that really captures your imagination and influences how you think about creativity?

Jared Jones: I'm a huge Star Wars guy. From the age of 4 I was obsessed. I love all kinds of movies though, action, comedy, drama, horror. In many cases it's a combination of all of that, how the characters relate to my life, how the story moves me. I'm a big gamer as well, and I love the same things about gaming as I do movies, which is the storytelling and the escape it provides.

Amit Ahuja: Can you share your personal experiences with mental health challenges? What coping strategies, tools, or support systems have helped you most along the way? What advice would you give to others navigating similar struggles, particularly in creative or high-pressure fields?

Jared Jones: I'm definitely no expert, but I've certainly had my struggles. I think some of that can be heard in my lyrics, and a lot of what I'm writing now reflects it. I'm trying to take things one day at a time, otherwise it's very easy for me to get overwhelmed with this or that. I think something that has helped me is trying to understand why I feel a certain way. Being honest with myself, getting other perspectives, and trying to be humble enough to accept the truth, even when it's not easy. There have been times where i've asked myself some dark questions and had the feeling that nothing I do can make a difference, but I have to try to remind myself to take a step back and take a moment, and to keep doing the best I can from day to day.

Amit Ahuja: As we wrap up, do you have any parting thoughts, reflections, or words of wisdom you’d like to leave us with? Is there a message you feel especially compelled to share with your fans—or with anyone chasing a dream of their own?

Jared Jones: Keep pushing. Whatever your dreams are it is possible to achieve them in some way. It may not always be the way you expected or hoped for, but we're all capable of incredible things if we believe in ourselves. Treat others with kindness, be fair, be honest, and listen to different perspectives. Try to understand why people think or believe differently than you, and find a way to relate to them. No matter how unalike someone may be from you, we can all relate to feelings, and I think now more than ever it's important to be humble and open enough to listen to others and show them the same grace you'd want shown to yourself.

Amit Ahuja: We extend our sincere gratitude to Jared Jones for sharing his story with us.

Explore the links below to discover Emerge's music and connect with them on social media:

https://linktr.ee/emergeofficial

***Photo credits are attributed to Courtney Lea Photography, Erica JW/@atthevenuephotography, and Brittany Bossert. Video credit is attributed to Emerge.***

The Journey of Scaredy Cat: An Exclusive Interview with an Independent Artist

I had the privilege of interviewing the independent artist Scaredy Cat, during which we discussed his upbringing, his music, and various other topics. I hope you guys enjoy reading this!

Amit Ahuja: Let’s start at the beginning — tell us about where you grew up. What was your hometown like, and what kind of environment did you call home during your early years? Was it a small, tight-knit community where everyone knew each other, or a lively city full of movement and change? What are some of your fondest memories from growing up there? We’d love to hear about the people, traditions, or everyday moments that helped shape who you are today. How do you think your upbringing and community influenced your perspective on life or the path you eventually chose?

Scaredy Cat: I grew up in Indianapolis, IN. It was pretty much like the standard traditional ‘big city’ you would expect from about anywhere. I grew up with just my mom and I never knew my dad. We lived as normally as possible with a single parent, one income household! We did pretty well with what we had. I was just raised to always seize opportunities and believe that you can do whatever you want to.

Amit Ahuja: Let’s start from the very beginning of your musical journey—can you recall a specific moment, experience, or influence that first ignited your passion for music? Whether it was a performance, a particular song, a mentor, or even a personal challenge, what was it that made you realize music would become such an important part of your life? How did that defining moment shape the direction you’ve taken since, both creatively and personally, and how has it continued to influence your evolution as an artist?"

Scaredy Cat: I have the fondest memories of blasting Counting Crows ‘A Long December’ with my mom in the car and always thinking it was about me because my birthday is in December. HAHA. I remember specifically thinking that I would make songs that did that kind of thing for people one day, too. So, when I was 9 years old, I begged for my first guitar and got it for Christmas. It was a Jackson flying V, which is hilarious looking back on today. Haha. I just thought it looked super rad as a kid. I started to teach myself just based on my ear because we really couldn’t do lessons and this was before tools were available like You tube. It took several years before I could play anything worth-while and soon I learned that I was inadvertently playing chords.

Amit Ahuja: What initially drew you to becoming an artist?

Scaredy Cat: I just felt (& still do) this sense of magic and wonder when I heard a great song. It just felt right. I wanted to learn how to be that for others immediately. Music always gave me a sense of calm that nothing else could.

Amit Ahuja:  What themes or emotions are you most drawn to exploring in your music, and why?

Scaredy Cat: All of my music is quite sad, generally speaking. I think because to me it helps align complex emotions into a much more digestible form and it feels good for the listener to know that they’re not the only ones going through things. Sad songs are strangely comforting.

Amit Ahuja: How would you describe your style?

Scaredy Cat: I think I have a pretty traditional emo style. Most of my music probably sounds like it teleported here from 2005.

Amit Ahuja: Can you explain what drew you toward choosing Nostalgia-Core as your main focus, and what specific aspects of it—whether cultural, aesthetic, or personal—made it stand out to you compared to other styles or movements you could have explored?”

Scaredy Cat: I am a first generation myspace kid. I grew up on Dashboard, Spill Canvas, Brand New and many more like these and it also felt like those songs resonated with me so well that I leaned heavily into that style as well. I hoped I could connect with others (& probably also myself) the same way these other bands connected with me.

Amit Ahuja: Are there particular people, works of art, or life events that have significantly inspired you throughout your journey? Could you share how those influences first entered your life and in what ways they continue to shape your creativity, perspective, or approach to your craft today?”

Scaredy Cat: I get creatively energized from my friends a lot. I adore seeing my friends be passionate about something whether it be art, hobbies or anything else. It inspires me to use my creativity also.

Amit Ahuja:  When you sit down to write, where do you usually find the inspiration for your lyrics? Are they drawn more from personal experiences, stories you hear from others, or do they come from observations of the world around you?”

Scaredy Cat: I have a little bit of everything, but generally my songs are based around personal events or experiences, though they may be (or are REQUIRED to be, even) dramatized and dressed up to be palatable and enjoyable for the listener.

Amit Ahuja:  "I’d love to dive deeper into the creative and emotional journeys behind some of your songs. Could you share the inspiration, personal stories, or themes that influenced the writing and production of tracks like I’ll See You, Scoundrel, It Was Never A phase, Landlocked, and the other tracks you have in your discography?

Scaredy Cat: A lot of my songs are just single moments put under a microscope and expanded greatly. I may write an entire song about the little flash of red you first see when you experience intense emotion, like betrayal. I might write an entire song just exploring the things you wanted to say or feel in that brief moment before getting control of yourself again. I think moments like that are fun to explore and unpack into great detail.

https://youtu.be/JK30U1vSR14?si=oVxQMwyMOlyF5RrB

https://youtu.be/aiaTxBiuQwc?si=wHSzcDvSPz76RGYo

https://youtu.be/gjDLHLS-sfg?si=fR3Dd1MAyOILNxhO

Amit Ahuja: If you had the incredible opportunity to open for any band or embark on a two-month tour, which artists would you be most excited to travel and perform with—and why?"

Scaredy Cat: Hot Mulligan, Spill Canvas, Lydia, Sleeping At Last, City & Colour the list goes on and on and on. These are some of my biggest influences and it would be so fun to play with and learn from them.

Amit Ahuja: What inspires you as an artist?

Scaredy Cat: Feeling anything at all.

Amit Ahuja: As an independent artist, there are so many different challenges to balance — from creating music and building a fan base to handling the business side of things on your own. What has been the hardest part for you personally to navigate in that journey, and how have you managed to work through it?”What drives your passion for creating music?

Scaredy Cat: This project is still so new that I am finding a way to neatly organize all of that still, I’ll get back to you, HAHA. As far as what drives me it’s like a balance between still wanting to make that song that speaks to someone and also a childlike curiosity to see what I am capable of making.

Amit Ahuja:  How do you keep your creativity or motivation alive?

Scaredy Cat: I just get stoked on everything. I’m so full of whimsy I am like a kid at heart, this has never been an issue for me.

Amit Ahuja:  How do you want people to feel when they encounter your work for the first time?

Scaredy Cat: I want them to feel like there’s still some authenticity left in the world.

Amit Ahuja: What insights or recommendations do you have for musicians who face rejection or experience setbacks in their careers? Specifically, how can these artists cope with disappointment and use those challenges as steppingstones for future growth?

Scaredy Cat: I think you just can’t let the numbers rule you. Make great art, put it out and don’t let your value be determined by how many people the algorithm allowed to see it. Be proud of what you made as long as you did your best and you will always be fulfilled.

Amit Ahuja: When you create music, does it feel more like a form of release, a journey of self-discovery, or a confrontation with something deeper inside you? Or a combination of all three?

Scaredy Cat: 100% it is a form of release for me, personally. I always say my music is just my audio-diary. HAHA.

Amit Ahuja: Is there a message you hope fans walk away with after listening to your music, or do you prefer to leave it open to interpretation?

Scaredy Cat: 100% prefer it to be interpreted by the listener. I would hate to rob a special song from someone because it meant something different to me than it did to them.

Amit Ahuja: I would love to hear about any exciting music you have on the horizon! What are you looking forward to the most?

Scaredy Cat: I currently have a song set to release every two weeks for the next few months, and I plan on re-doing some of my favorites for an acoustic EP very soon!

Amit Ahuja:  "Who are three individuals who have had a significant impact on your life—personally or professionally—and how have they influenced your journey?"

Scaredy Cat: My Mom. My daughter. My friends in general. My mom just fostered a very whimsical and creative environment for me growing up and taught me to always be kind of a dreamer. My daughter because she is my biggest fan and helps me be confident that I am still pretty okay at what I do. My friends because they’re supportive and most of them are great sources of inspiration!

Amit Ahuja:  What kinds of TV shows, movies, books, or podcasts do you all connect with—and what is it about them that draws you in? Is it the storytelling, character development, the themes they explore, or just the overall craft?

Scaredy Cat: I am a huge Tolkien fan. I love it because of the fantasy aspect, and I just really appreciate the careful thought put into the character and storyline development. It’s all beautifully written.

Amit Ahuja:  I'm interested in learning about your favorite bands or music artists that you're passionate about. Additionally, I'd love to hear all the details about your most memorable concert experience - the atmosphere, the performance, the venue, and anything else that made it special for you.

Scaredy Cat: I have far too many artists that I adore to narrow it down much, but I particularly love the R&B genre, mostly from the mid 2000’s. I am a singer at heart and those are the best vocalists on Earth in my humble opinion.

Scaredy Cat: Scaredy Cat is quite new still as a project, so shows have been very few as of yet. My main focus has been building a foundation of listeners first and that has been happening slowly, but surely! Past project concerts were always fun- I used to play shows a lot and I think some of the most fun ones I had were playing with The Ready Set on several dates years ago. The energy was so fun.

Amit Ahuja: How do you define happiness in your life, and how does that connect to your vision of success?

Scaredy Cat: Happiness is fleeting. I think I just define it as feeling content with your productivity levels in whatever you're engaging in and the sense that you’re producing the best ‘product’ you’re capable of producing in any capacity.

Amit Ahuja: Are there any particular hobbies, passions, or interests outside of your involvement with music that really energize or excite you—things that you love to spend time on or that bring you a sense of purpose or joy when you're not immersed in your musical pursuits?

Scaredy Cat: Don’t make fun of me, but I am really big into fingerboarding. Yes, miniature skateboards. I skateboard in real life but as I get older it becomes harder and harder to do. Miniature skateboarding is way safer and still gives me a sense of progression in something I love!

Amit Ahuja: Can you share your personal experiences with mental health challenges? What coping strategies, tools, or support systems have helped you most? Additionally, what advice or insights would you offer to others your age who might be going through similar struggles?"

Scaredy Cat: I am not the best person to ask, but I find that writing lyrics helps to compartmentalize and organize difficult or abstract thoughts & emotions. It helps me to understand them and myself a little better!

Amit Ahuja:  What message would you share with humanity if you had the world’s attention for five minutes?

Scaredy Cat: Don’t lose your magic. That spark in your heart when you were a kid and everything was full of wonder. Hang on to that as tightly as you can.

Please visit his Linktree to support, follow, and explore his music:

https://linktr.ee/ohnoscaredycat?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafFWAYW0qN0cpjUMq4mkUgPhHJLAWw8pImdepDiRIpvTVS7R7YNklvjREMSnQ_aem_N_OCYPt5RbuFmUDhsNK1Cg

***All photos and videos are the property of Scaredy Cat, unless otherwise specified.***