Australian singer Holly Riva was recently in Kolkata for a musical concert at Nazrul Mancha in the city. In the middle of her India tour, IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh catches up with Holly, who is buoyant by the audience's positive response towards her latest release, Feel It Comin'... Excerpts...

Q. Tell us about the USA John Lennon award which you won.

A. I have always been obsessed with The Beatles and adored John Lennon and his music. I have tried to pay respect to him. When I saw the John Lennon Award was going on, I didn't think too much of it and put my song in the competition without ample expectations. Then I received an email informing me about my win. Initially I thought it was spam. But when musical equipment  started arriving at my home because I won it, then I realised it was actually a reality. It was really incredible.

Holly Riva won the USA John Lennon award for She's Calling song | Photo courtesy: IBNS

Q. How did the award change your life in Australia?

A. It's been incredible. I have been in the charts in Australia since I won the award. I am growing as an artiste and performing quite regularly back and forth in the UK. It feels amazing to tour the UK being an Australian. After receiving the award, I have been able to tell through my music messages and be able to connect with people more true to myself.

Q. Have you always wanted to be a singer?

A. Yes. It's funny because when I was six years old, I was being interviewed in an acting school where I had expressed my dream to be a singer. I was always very determined about what I wanted to do from childhood. When I discovered songwriting after growing up a little, I was sure of pursuing music. I started training in classical music at the age of 11, started writing pop music at 15 and since then, it's been a beautiful journey. I have only been releasing for the past three years as Covid-19 delayed my first release.

Q. Can you give us a sense of the kind of music Australians do follow primarily?

A. There is a little variety. When it comes to popular music, Australians turn to the UK and the US and listen to the likes of Billie Eilish or Dua Lipa. But in Australia, there is quite a heavy influence of Indie rock music because it replicates the very sunny and relaxed culture of the country. Australian culture is very relaxed, I guess (laughs).

Q. Your last release Feel It Comin' is a success. What's in your headspace right now?

A. I was genuinely quite shocked. It was also my first dance music as well. It was the inaugural time we had the song remixed. The song got in the Australian charts and then I started performing it in front of thousands of people in some of the biggest clubs of Australia. So it has definitely opened doors for me that I didn't expect. I am really grateful for it.

In fact, recently, I have been working on a mix of different tracks, pop and dance, one of which involves Bickram Ghosh (Indian classical tabla player based in Kolkata). It's like a dance track with tabla and sitar on it. So it has been a new window that I haven't expected. It's a great way for me to explore different genres.

Q. How was your meet up with Bickram Ghosh on this India tour?

A. It was beautiful. Bickram has a stunning studio. He introduced me to some of his musicians that he works with and they play it on the track. But it was a very synchronistic and beautiful experience to be able to see him take the song because I wrote some of it in Australia. So he took it and he was able to play tabla and sitar, different musicians came in and really expanded the song to something so worthwhile and made sure that both the Western and Indian parts of the song looked authentic. Bickram was incredible in making sure that it was a solid track that has its own strength within it.

Holly Riva collaborated with Craig Gannon of The Smith in Kolkata earlier | Photo courtesy: IBNS

Q. Tell us about your collaboration with Craig Gannon of The Smiths in one of your previous visits to India.

A. It was amazing because basically, Craig Gannon and myself were writing for some years. I am heavily involved in Hope Foundation which is a charity that looks after street children in Kolkata.

(Photo courtesy: IBNS)