Coming from a family with a musical background, Riya became a vocalist and singer-songwriter who also coaches students and has coached 170 students in her entire musical journey.

Riya Chowdhury is a Vocal Coach, Vocalist, and Singer-Songwriter based in Guwahati.

Talking about her interest in the field of music, Riya says that she belongs to a family that has been musical. Even though she did not involve herself in music much in her childhood, she grew up in a musical culture and that is why her interest in music developed. She says that she gave her first live performance at the age of six.

Recalling her childhood memories, Riya says that she was born in Guwahati, Assam. She belonged to a middle-class family and has seen a few struggles. She says that her mother went through serious surgery, her father met with an accident, and the family faced many  financial and emotional problems. Yet, her father tried his best to provide them with the best education. Her friends were also very supportive throughout, and she had a pretty normal childhood, says Riya.

Sharing about her musical journey, Riya says that she started learning music as a hobby to escape from her studies. She says that in school too, she was mostly known for her music and as she started getting more and more involved in music, she realized that music is her calling and this is what she wanted to do. She says that she was doing a job that she left in a very short span of time when she realized that she enjoys performing in public. Thereafter, she decided to move forward in the field of music and pursue it as her career.

After leaving her job, she started taking music classes from different places and the biggest takeaway from her journey is, “No matter how much talent you have, it can only be enhanced by making efforts for it”. Riya says that music has actually uplifted her. Riya also teaches students and has coached 170 students in schools and in her own institute, and says that teaching has given her a purpose in life.

Sharing her experiences in the field, Riya says that music is the most unstable career option. She says that whenever a student comes to her with an aim of becoming a vocalist, she always advises them to complete their basic education first. The field of music has a lot of competition and demands you to be present at the right place at the right time if you don’t want to miss bigger opportunities, says Riya.

Regarding her mistakes, Riya says that the very first mistake she made was that she could have started her music journey a bit earlier. The second mistake she made was that she had the talent since her childhood, but she did not use it at the right time due to which she went a few steps back.

Advising the upcoming musicians, Riya says that consistency is the key, also one needs to be disciplined with regards to their music practice, and knowing about the things that are good or bad for their body is very important.

Speaking about her accomplishments, Riya says that singing has given her a lot. She says that she got the best singer award in school and college. Further, the biggest accomplishment for her is getting a silver medal and being one of the top 50 contestants of the television show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Also, she made it to the Mumbai Auditions of Indian Idol. Further, adding up to the achievements, she says that she has currently released her own song and is going to release more such songs in the future. Also, having her own institution is an achievement for her.

Talking about her role models, Riya says that firstly, her family has influenced her a lot throughout her journey. Apart from that, A.R. Rahman, and Shankar Ehsaan Loy has been the biggest influence and inspiration to her. Additionally, her guru Ronkini Gupta has been an inspiration and a guide in her musical journey.

Talking about stress, Riya says that artists are comparatively more sensitive and can feel emotions more. She says that meditation helps her deal with stress and anxiety. Meditation helps to stay in the moment, says Riya. Also, spending time with her friends and talking to her well-wishers helps stay away from stress and anxiety.