Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Anonymous Singer
by Shrutee K/DNS
International Pop Sensation Lord J shares his views on
what it is like being an anonymous pop star. We live in a world where most
people believe that the illusion of attaining intense fame makes people happy.
But is being famous equivalent to happiness? Many might believe this is true. Being
an anonymous pop singer, I have learnt that being appreciated for your talent
and not your upbringing or social background has a different kind of
satisfaction altogether.
I began singing in my teen years
in early 2000’s, but it was only when I released my first single, ‘Beside Me’
in 2016 that I realised that music had unveiled a whole new side of my life.
Coming from a relatively lower-class family in India, I was completely
overwhelmed wondering what the audience response will be. Therefore, choosing
to be anonymous was like a social safety mechanism that shielded me and my family
if any negative reactions came up. Another important motivating
factor behind choosing to remain anonymous was because I wanted my voice to be
heard without discrimination or judgement over which place I belonged to or
what my caste was. Being a public figure can be very
daunting on your life, with constantly trying to match up with people’s high
expectations. The world of social media has benchmarked success with the number
of followers, likes or views on their favourite celebrity’s media content. Some
bands like Daft Punk have also tried to hide their real identities to avoid
complications in their private life and to emphasise on their music rather than
their personalities.
Moreover, as they say, there is
power in anonymity, because people love secrets, and being anonymous is a very
attractive pull factor.
Of course, there are times when I
feel that so many people who have crossed paths with my life might feel proud
of my achievements if I reveal my real identity, and their appreciation will
mean the world to me. Another big drawback in remaining
anonymous has been seeking collaboration opportunities. Being an independent
artist, it limits my contacts to only those who have heard my music. In today’s
age, the lack of steady income is one of the most prevalent disadvantages for a
professional singer.
I have been an anonymous public
figure for the last two years, and there has been a constant fear about my real
identity being leaked. I must confess it has been a bit tedious having to
explain why anonymity is so important to everyone who I have to work with. If I have to summarise, I would
say anonymity mainly gives me a sense of social security; it gives me
confidence that the audience genuinely appreciates my talent and does not judge
me over my social upbringing. On the downside I feel limited in terms of
building credible business contacts. It creates fear in my mind about being
exposed publicly, and I feel missed out from getting comments from my childhood
friends and mentors. But above all, I would like to
use this platform to inspire others to pursue their passion, without judgement
over what their social background has been.
About J: J is an international
singer-songwriter hailing from Varanasi, India who has successfully managed to
anonymously release four music singles in English language worldwide. A
self-taught musician, J has no formal training in singing; neither is associated
with any music label. All of J’s songs have been produced by his parents. J has
accomplished great fame across the globe as the world’s first anonymous
international pop star. His music has been internationally appreciated in
countries like UK, Canada, Croatia, Romania and the United States of America
with over 2.7 million hits across all his songs on Vevo. J currently lives in
Bangalore and has about eight new tracks in the pipeline.
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