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Vasuda Sharma Teams Up with Jordanian Violinist Layth Sidiq on Ethereal Song ‘Believe’ 

The two musicians studied together at Boston’s Berklee College of Music

Aug 04, 2022

Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Vasuda Sharma (left) and Jordanian violinist Layth Sidiq. Photos: Courtesy of the artists

Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Vasuda Sharma and Jordanian violinist Layth Sidiq first struck up a friendship when the pair were among a number of international musicians studying at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. After performing together while in the States, Sidiq even recorded on Sharma’s 2013 11-track debut album Attuned Spirits. Now, the duo are out with a brand-new collaboration, the hypnotic “Believe,” which includes Sharma’s angelic vocals and Sidiq’s deft playing.  

In this interview with Rolling Stone India, the artists talk to us about the new song, working together and more. Read below.  

When did you two decide to work on this new song together and what was the collaborative process like? 

Sidiq: ‘Believe,’ the song, happened much later when Vasuda was visiting Boston. I remember she came to my house in Brighton with just her laptop and GarageBand [digital audio workstation]. She played her idea of the song and we started recording in the living room itself. The whole process was very organic and natural. We then even shot the music video for it. Considering the song took a few years to finally come together, the idea behind it was always to create art together. 

What can you tell me about ‘Believe’ itself? 

Sharma: The song throughout has a play of major and relative minor keys. The tone keeps shifting from section to section. The beginning section starts with violin parts layered up with some pads and ambient sounds in the major key, jumping straight into the relative minor the minute the groove kicks in. The whole verse and chorus go back to major key. I intentionally wanted to have this shift as per the theme of the song. The minor key represents contemplation, doubt and fear, while the major stands for belief and faith. 

The syncopated beats along with the warm nylon-string fingerstyle guitars and sparkly arpeggiators create a great canvas for the vocals and the violin to float through the mix. 

‘Believe’ is a song questioning self-doubt and the beliefs that limit us. We are all consumed with the fear that we aren’t good enough or worthy enough, but if we listen to that faint little voice within whispering ‘I believe,’ we’ll know that we are loved, we are deserving and that we are worthy. 

What’s next? 

Sidiq: When I get a chance to visit India again, I would love to play this song live. 

Sharma: I am working on my next two singles, and I shot videos of the same during my recent trip to Australia. I am also working on a couple of raag-based sleep meditation music [pieces] for Saregama Music, incorporating binaural beats. [It’s] a project I am really excited about. The first batch is scheduled to be released in September. 

Watch the music video for “Believe” below: 

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