I used singing as a safety measure. I would pay attention to what songs the popular girls liked, learn those songs from the radio or library cassettes, and then "accidentally" sing or hum these songs in class. This would impress the girls, who would then defend me from the boys.
Vivek ShrayaI tend to focus less on genre as a starting point and more on idea or intention and let the idea dictate genre.
Vivek ShrayaWhen I was writing, I wanted every word to be not only deliberate, but musical. Precious.
Vivek ShrayaAs much as I believe in the capacity for art to create change, and as much as being an artist is physically and emotionally challenging, there is ultimately something a bit comfortable about making art in the comfort of your own home.
Vivek ShrayaI always work with text orally in the writing process, saying passages aloud to measure flow.
Vivek ShrayaGenerally, I start by observing the existing and popular narratives in my social spheres and media, and the pressures I face in my own life experiences. As someone who is "newly" trans, I am constantly thinking about what the dominant narratives are around transness, how my work can push against these narratives, and how it already falls into these traps.
Vivek Shraya