Meet Nexa Music Top 24 Artist: Vernon Noronha

In a bid to promote indigenous talent, Maruti Suzuki’s Nexa Experiences launched Nexa Music, a nationwide hunt for emerging artists, earlier this year. The platform, created in collaboration with digital media company Qyuki, aimed to put the spotlight on the creators of English-language original music across the country. After receiving a plethora of entries, Nexa Music announced their Top 24 this past June. Making the cut is Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Vernon Noronha.

The musician has been a known name in the country’s indie music scene since the start of this decade. Noronha also released his debut five-track EP Closer To Home in 2016. This past March he put out the bubbly “Dream Sandwich” as a single which featured fellow singer-songwriter Raghav Meattle. Ask Noronha how he feels being shortlisted by Nexa Music and he says, “A big brand backing independent artists trying to make a mark on the scene is a boost anyone would want.” He adds, “I’m glad that NEXA chose to support and back the indie culture brewing in the country.”

Noronha also tells us that being an English-language artist in India restricts him to a “very low market.” Although he points to the fact that many Indians listen to plenty of music from the west. He says, “This platform is going to open the doors for the [English] language [in India] as well as give me the boost that I require.”

With one of Noronha’s songs being reproduced by musician Clinton Cerejo and the possibility of working on new material with composer A.R. Rahman if he makes it to the Top 4 of the competition, Noronha says, “Both of them have so much to give out musically and are legends in their field of work. To know what they think about my compositions will be something.” He adds, “I’m sure A.R. and Clinton are both open to experiment as artists, so I’ll fit right in.”