With podcasting growing in India, it has been reported that the listener base in India has grown from just about four million in 2016 to an estimated 90 million in 2022. With such expansive growth in the platform, three individuals decide to tap into it and present their podcast that would be solely dedicated to music and its events. Let Me Backstage! was launched on July 23 by Zak, the “orchestrator of unforgettable music experiences”, Sachi, “The Marketing Maven, thriving on melodies of music” and Lauv, “The ultimate music festival enthusiast and party instigator”… you can’t make this up!
The podcast has been on Zak’s mind for a few months but was made possible by this trio and is considered India’s first music audio-visual podcast. The aim is to revolutionise the industry and build a community where artistes are brought together and their voices are heard. They plan to not only fuel the music scene but also strike up thought-provoking conversations.
Edited excerpts from a chat with the founders…
My Kolkata: Congratulations on launching your podcast, Let Me Backstage! How did the three of you, Lauv, Sachi and Zak, come together and conceive it?
Zak: I’ve been in the music industry for almost a decade now and about eight or 10 months ago, I had this idea of starting a podcast channel solely focused on music. I shared the idea with Lauv and Sachi and they instantly jumped on board, making it a fun adventure for all of us!
What topics do you plan to cover with this platform?
Sachi: We have a wide range of topics lined up. We’ll be discussing music, the creation of music, the music industry, the darker side of the industry, the life of an artiste, insights from industry experts, booking processes, festivals and sharing our own experiences too.
With such a comprehensive mix of topics, what is the main objective of opening such a channel, and what is your long-term goal with the podcast?
Lauv: The main objective is to educate and enlighten the audience about music and the music industry. There’s so much more to it than what meets the eye. Our long-term goal is to become a go-to platform for music enthusiasts, where they can learn, engage and explore the music world.
[Stream Episode One on Spotify here and on YouTube here]
There are so many options out in the world. Why did you choose a podcast channel as your platform, and why now?
Zak: We chose a podcast because India boasts of around 57 million podcast listeners, making it a medium to educate and engage today’s music audience effectively. Our podcast episodes try to deliver almost everything in one impactful video.
The name Let Me Backstage! is quite catchy. What inspired you to choose this name for your podcast?
Sachi: We all know that fans always want to be backstage and we hear those roars of excitement from the crowd. So, we thought ‘Let Me Backstage’ perfectly encapsulates that enthusiasm and curiosity to explore what's behind the scenes.
You started with a bang featuring Siddhanth Kapoor aka Bullzeye. Can you give us a sneak peek into the guests we can expect to see on your show?
Lauv: Absolutely! We have some exciting guests lined up. Soon, you'll hear from industry experts such as Prateek Pandey, Ali Merchant, Arjun Vagale, Myron Mohit, Lost Stories and even some international artistes. We have lots in store!
‘Let Me Backstage!’ will soon feature industry names like (L-R) Ali Merchant, Arjun Vagale, Myron Mohit, and more
That sounds like a diverse line-up! How has the response been to your first episode?
Zak: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We are thrilled with the feedback and can't wait to release more fun and interesting episodes for our audience.
Will all your podcasts feature special guests, or will there be episodes with just the three of you discussing recent events?
Sachi: Both, actually. While most of our episodes will feature special guests from the music industry, we'll also have episodes where we discuss our personal experiences at festivals, shows and conferences, giving listeners an inside look at our adventures.
As a podcast channel where people’s opinions matter, do you plan on covering both the ups and downs of the music industry?
Lauv: Absolutely! We aim to showcase the reality of the music industry, not just the positive aspects but also the challenges and hurdles that artists and professionals face.
Will Let Me Backstage! remain a podcast channel only, or can we expect other activities from you in the future?
Zak: While we’ll continue to focus on the podcast, we have exciting plans ahead. We’re also exploring alliances with big festivals for some fun integrations.