Great to see artists experimenting with sounds: Hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut

Indian Hip-Hop duo, Seedhe Maut, have made it to a cohort of 27 artists for the 2021 class of Foundry from YouTube Music, a global artist development programme that helps independent artists use music and storytelling to engage fans across borders and build careers.

As part of the programme, these artists representing a broad spectrum of musical heritage, will receive dedicated partner support from YouTube and seed funding invested into the development of their content. The combination of access to resources and great teams enables artists to create and launch their music with greater impact and global reach, said the video platform.

Since its beginnings in 2015 as a workshop series, Foundry has supported more than 150 developing artists across 15 countries, including breakout alumni like Arlo Parks, Dave, Dua Lipa, Lime Cordiale, Gunna, HARDY, Natanael Cano, Novelbright, Omar Apollo, Rosalea, Tems and India's LostStories.

"Hip-hop helped us articulate our hopes and ambitions and be who we truly wanted to be. We represent a generation that dares to dream and wants to live life on its own terms. With our music, we hope to give a voice to others like us who go against the grain and follow through on their convictions, whether that be as an artist, gamer, accountant, or whatever," says the duo Seedhe Maut, who'd be part of the 2021 class from India.

Seedhe Maut speak to IANSlife in an exclusive chat:

Q: What are your thoughts on the independent music scene in India? What are some key challenges plaguing the industry still?

A: The independent music scene has really evolved over the past few years. With the advent of the internet, artists and audiences alike have moved beyond the traditional mainstream offerings that were the norm just a few years ago. You'll find artists experimenting with all kinds of sounds and finding their own niche fan bases which is great to see.

We're just at the beginning of this shift in cultural tastes and as access to technology becomes more widespread and more audiences are introduced to different soundscapes -- it's an exciting time to be a part of this community.

Being independent grants us the freedom to evolve in any direction that we feel like. The downside of that can be that sometimes, great ideas get sidelined due to limited resources.

Q: From a creator's point of view, how important are mediums like YouTube to platform your work and build an audience for you?

A: YouTube has played a pivotal role in the ascent of Indian hip-hop. As more and more Indians got connected to the internet, YouTube became the platform they chose as their primary source of entertainment. Whether it be music, comedy or any other creative field -- the first independent superstars of the digital age all started on YouTube.

As an artist, if you want your art to cut across class and regional barriers, the only space to do that is on YouTube. That's why it's important to develop your audience there.

Q: How will being part of the 2021 Class of Foundry help your music? What are you expecting from it? Also, how does it feel to be the only artists selected from India in this class?

A: It's always been our dream to represent our country on the international stage. Everyone dreams of doing something like this as a kid -- through sports, academics or in our case -- hip-hop. Being a part of the YouTube Foundry Class of 2021 allows us to showcase our talent on the global stage and manifest our creative vision to fullest without the looming spectre of financial constraints.