Global Indian Of The Year,Shayan Italia opens up in a candid talk

Shayan Italia was named “Global Indian Of The Year” for his contribution to India immortalising the Indian National Anthem, making his version the most viewed national anthem of all time on YouTube. In 2020, his global music initiative, “Power Of Love” went viral across Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown receiving critical acclaim for inspiring and helping people cope through the trying times.

Shayan also recently released his new music video called Sha La La featuring 21 artists which also boasts of 65 musicians from across the globe. The music video is touted as a profound ballad with a deeply pertinent message of ‘Love Without Boundaries’. The song which is bold and showcases celebratory statements of passion and queer confidence has been applauded and loved by the Industry and many came in support of Shayan’s passion project.

Tell us about your musical journey?

I started writing songs unexpectedly after my Mum passed away when I was very young. I come from a simple Zoroastrian Parsi family, so music did fill the home. Since losing my Mum and Dad, I went to London to expand on the knowledge of recording songs that I had written the year before (there was a year’s gap between me losing Mum, her gifting me a piano where my journey of song writing started, and me losing Dad). This led me to acquiring various degrees in music production and audio engineering and self-funding my education for the same in the UK.

the midst of all this, I did something novel. As I needed money for recording demos, which were expensive at the time using world-class musicians, I auctioned a portion of my future earnings on eBay. I thought it was a punt of sorts. I raised USD 18,000 in 7 days. This led me to believe the songs had some value. From there on its been a journey of self-discovery and epic productions, one after another.

Do you believe music has that power to give across a strong message?

Music holds VALUE. People pay for it. You buy into the song, then the artist, then the concert ticket, then the T-shirt, then the merchandise. So the brand of “the music” in effect has immense value. The same happens on a philanthropic note, but inverted. Hence you have large festivals of music for awareness of a situation, to raising money for great causes. Where music is given its power and fitting, it will shine, i.e. the theme from JAWS. Without it your fear of the shark wouldn’t be even 25% of what is felt.

The theme from Superman (1978), without it the MAN OF STEEL doesn’t even fly. The opening track “SHE” in Notting Hill, the love theme from Titanic and so on. Canon in D by Pachelbel is perhaps the most performed wedding song when a girl walks down the aisle. Music holds enormous influence when placed well. It is the reason the biggest and most followed stars on social media are musicians. Because audiences connect with them on a deep personal level. 

What was the inspiration behind Sha La La?

Sha La La was written a long time ago and then through its development over the years has come to be what you have experienced. We created a Hindi version to test out with the market in India and so far the response has been highly positive. It’s original International English version will be launched out of COVID-19 when some form of normality exists. The concept of the video has always been with me since I wrote it (having different faces from all parts of the world run through the song), but the development of that concept in its artistic form happened with the video’s director Muni Agarwal, where we both brought it to life in synergy. Every frame of the video has been thought out carefully and storyboarded by us both to give the video its deeper meaning of LOVE. WITHOUT BOUNDARIES. It is a truly global endeavour that belongs on the world stage.

How did you get so many artists across the globe under one roof?

The music of Sha La La was recorded across some of the best studios in the world with some of the best musicians known and respected within the industry. It features a full orchestra too. Every part of the music is organic without any digital sound design, as in played by real musicians on real instruments. I guess that adds to its dynamic aural characteristics. From there I then decided to do a Hindi version of the song and then cut the music video. We revealed the Hindi version in Oct 2020 in celebration of International Coming Out Day.

A lot of the LGBTQ and other communities have had a very hard time during COVID-19 facing discrimination, abuse and this video reminds us that the only true language of UNITY is LOVE! Many celebrities and people from all forms of life openly lauded the video for its message and that itself is a huge victory for the statement it makes. No glory or credit to be taken here. This also answers the previous question of “Do you believe music has that power to give across a strong message?”. Let’s see what happens when the video in its original English version is released formally and internationally.

The Indian National Anthem - your version on the piano is talked about a lot. What is the best feedback you received for the same?

A lady wrote me a long message I remember stating how she has lost all faith in the country, its politics, its system, and felt the Indian National Anthem was a facade for patriotism in its current form and then saw mine and felt a little bit of hope and goodness restored as it represented the deep bond of mother and child and the values my Mum instilled in me, which was more patriotic than all the other versions of the national anthem out there that she had seen, she said. That was humbling. 

How do you evaluate the current LGBTQ issue in India?

I’ve been brought up with a simple understanding and ideology that whoever you choose to love and life your life with, no one has to right to judge the same or stop you from the same. Let’s just leave it here. Those who cannot understand this will never go far. NEVER. 

Are you planning to compose music for Bollywood?

While Bollywood has a vibrant and thriving market and it is an industry evolving exponentially in both Special Effects, to cinematography to artistically made Independent films (we are seeing many of the same now on streaming platforms), I do not believe that anyone would approach someone like me to compose a song for a Bollywood film or even work with me. Our work ethics are very very different, our approach to projects is poles apart and Bollywood is simply not my domain of expertise. But you never say never.

What are your upcoming projects?

2021 holds much promise to sow the seeds as they say. This is on account of launching maybe 1-2 songs internationally across streaming platforms and setting our foot in the door. This will happen after COVID-19 and normalcy returns. But the main priority is the launch of my Wellness App that can help a number of people. This is a long term game and something I wish to do for a long time, should I have the opportunity. More to be revealed when it launches early 2021.