Ananya Birla

“When I was growing up, my father was naturally a very busy man and was not around for long periods of time. Despite that he was always emotionally with me.”

“I often buy things, feel a little guilty, but then think that it's so worth it.”

“As rural people like to maintain a good name in society, they are more honest about repaying loans.”

“My creative energy and inputs have always been respected.”

“In India, there is a huge stigma attached to one having a mental illness; this not only makes it worse for the sufferer but also for their caregivers.”

“There were certainly more conventional and predictable paths that I could have taken in life, but I believe in being true to oneself and following the thing that sets your soul on fire. For me, that is music.”

“Svatantra's journey began with a vision to make women in rural areas self-sustainable.”

“At university, I used to cheat and use precooked meals and then tell my friends that I've cooked it. They thought I had skills!”

“My earliest memory of music has to be watching my mother play the santoor.”

“I have five tattoos. One says conquer, another Svatantra, a third mind over matter. I have a heart on my collar bone, and another tattoo saying Always Mommy's Girl. I got these tattoos in different places at different times in my life and they all mean something to me.”

“I believe it is only when one comes out of adversity, that one starts to see real beauty.”

“I am following my dream. I've always loved music and believed in making music.”

“I am really into crime documentaries.”

“I didn't have any pressure to join my dad to help with the family business. I don't think he needs any sort of support at all. That said, whenever he needs my help, I will always be there for him.”

“Some relationships don't last for a lifetime but we still feel like it is the one that is meant to be.”

“If I want to dance, I listen to Meghan Trainor, Katy Perry, Justin Timeberlake.”

“I fly to London or the U.S. to record my music nearly once a month.”

“I actually started learning the santoor around the age of 9. I was inspired by my mother who I used to watch play for hours.”

“There are not many musicians from India who are working internationally in pop. My aim is to change that and show the world that we have so much more to offer.”

“It is as imperative to take care of our minds as is our bodies and hence seeking help for mental illness is of paramount importance.”