TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING

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So I’m often fascinated by our community’s ability to express themselves. Sometimes it’s loud but not obvious, like the sex appeal of a great hindi film that has no love scenes and not even a kiss. Sometimes it’s bold and profound and there’s no subtlety, like landing on the moon or leading a cricket team to victory or starting a political movement. And among the more interesting versions, I think, it's capturing the attention of a generation by creating space to be yourself and challenge norms, by simply showing people how you’re developing by gathering agency and trust along the way. It’s the kind of blend that was at the heart of a conversation that I shared this past summer with singer and content creator, Avanti Nagral. Avanti was born in Boston, and raised in Mumbai with the rigors of academics and the comfort of music. She was the first person to enroll for a dual degree from the Berklee school of music and Harvard University, and has found a way through her experiences to finely thread many needles. Her musical expressions weave pop, soul, broadway, classical, and gospel influences into a very decidedly Indian sound. Avanti’s own health experiences and passion for advocacy has sparked an activism in content creation around women’s issues, sexual health, gender equity, and mental health with true honesty and an open, relatable education that even taps into the wisdom of her aaji (or grandmother). For someone who just recently turned 26, Avanti’s performances breed empowerment, being thought provoking without provocation, and her 2022 album “Quarter Life Crisis” and recent single “Baatein” find her exploring the questions of her generation and trusting her explorations. We chatted about the many connections of her content and experiences, about relevance and empathy, and even privacy. But we started by chatting about the intersection that many young people and perhaps those who aren’t so young find themselves at often - the crossroads of coming into their own: