Singer Sona Mohapatra: ‘Music labels exploit newcomers by snatching their credit’

Having teamed up with poet Roshanaara for her single Senti akhiyaan, singer Sona Mohapatra urges music industry to work with upcoming artistes and give them due credit

Singer Sona Mohapatra has been a vocal advocate for empowerment of young artistes in the music industry. Time and again, she has highlighted the need to create an environment where upcoming talent gets more chances and is credited for their work. Her latest single, Senti akhiyaan, is proof that she walks the talk. While her music producer-husband Ram Sampath has composed the song, the lyrics have originated from young poet Roshanaara Qureshi.

Mohapatra reveals that they discovered Qureshi on Instagram when she sent Sampath her poetry, with its feminist theme, via DM. While Sampath shaped the original lyrics to its current form, the musician duo were certain that crediting Qureshi for the verses was non-negotiable. Mohapatra says, “Crediting any person for their work, be it in a creative endeavour, or a professional in a job, or a homemaker for their contribution to a family is a basic necessity. Our entertainment industry and music labels not only exploit newcomers by snatching their credit, but also forget to mention legends while remixing their work. [As a result], a new generation ends up crediting some new kid on the block for making some synth arrangements to someone else’s song—all this to avoid paying royalties and respecting IP [intellectual property]. Such an industry that lacks integrity weakens the roots of creativity. Roshanaara finding more work, thanks to this release, and growing as an artiste, is as much my victory as hers.”

Over the years, the singer has teamed up with fresh talent, in her bid to nurture new voices in the industry. “Most established names will work with other successful people and avoid risking first-timers. As someone who understands the struggles of being an artiste from a non-industry background, I’ve always taken pride in doing the opposite.”

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