Indian Music Society: Band Manager

Namaste! I’m Shrey, a second-year neuroscience undergrad with a love for music, and I’m running for my second term as Band Manager of Indian Music Society!

Here’s a bit about me and my musical background:

• Trained in tabla for over a decade and hold two diplomas
• Performed on stage and organised a tabla youth showcase
• Learnt clarinet and flute during school
• Started teaching myself the harmonium and guitar, experimenting with a range of Bollywood tracks and qawwali
• Enjoy working with people from diverse musical backgrounds and learning from my peers
• Enjoy listening to all types of Indian music, from old Mohammed Rafi songs to the classical stylings of Ustad Zakir Hussain
• Sing along to Hindi songs in my spare time

Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far this year:

• Founded Indian Music Society and became affiliated
• Built a strong network with classically trained musicians across UCL
• Performed at a ticketed drama production at Bloomsbury Theatre
• Hosted our first-ever open mic night at Print Room Café
• Run regular band sessions covering a range of areas within Indian music

Here’s what I’ll do if re-elected:

• Continue to deliver fun and high-quality band sessions and open mic nights
• Organise regular social events for anyone interested in Indian music
• Arrange workshops delivered by senior Indian classical musicians
• Make it a priority to help spread the richness of Indian music to a wider audience

Vote for me and let’s continue to grow Indian Music Society into something even bigger and better!

I’m obsessed with South Asian music across time, languages, and styles. I love digging into lyrics and scores, comparing regional influences, and exploring themes, albums, remixes, and remakes across decades. I truly believe music is a sociological phenomenon that brings joy, and I’d love to explore it through fun, high-energy events. Expect weekly song deep dives and comparisons through various genres, and perhaps a couple cheeky Vada Pav socials (chat with chaat, if you will!). I’ll bring energy, creativity, and organization to every event, because music is shared joy, history, and community — and I would love to represent that through our society, bringing Indian music to a wider community.

I've trained in Carnatic classical music for over 10 years and I love Indian music. More importantly, I love creating a community around music and experimenting with new styles and genres I haven't heard before. As one of the band managers, I'll be planning sessions, tasters and workshops, and curating the soundtrack for them all. I'd like to go beyond the mainstream and introduce members to topics like folk music, Indigenous music styles, and fusion jam sessions, to diversify the content that we cover and discover new interests. I'm experienced in event planning and performing, so I look forward to showcasing the beauty of Indian music to larger audiences. As a history student at UCL, music history is one of my passions, and I'd like to educate people on the historical background of the pieces and artists we cover during our sessions to provide important context (don't worry, I won't lecture you)!