Agnes Fernandes Talks About Music, Baking and Living the Dream

Music transports us to place where we do not expect. This is mainly the reason why every person gets hooked on to a particular genre of their choice. Music has an impact on our mood, our memory, performance and wellbeing. Who hasn’t found it easier to run a little further, or work a little faster to keep up with the tempo of the music we are listening to? Music has always been a big part of our lives. Musicians and producers over the years have been answering to our growing thirst for new music.

Agnes Fernandes has been playing keyboard from a very young age and her skills took her to join the band k7 in Goa. The primary role of a keyboard player in a band is to provide harmonic accompaniment to the melodic components of the song being performed. She is not only a great keys player but also a very talented vocalist. Not letting the Covid-19 pandemic stop her creative process, she started her own food venture called Guilty Pleasures which was received well by Goans.

At Goan Insider, we spoke to Agnes Fernandes. She spoke to us about her early influences, her experiences from gigs and how he she started her own business during the Covid-19 pandemic. The excerpts of our conversation are below.

Tell us a little about yourself

My name is Agnes Fernandes am I am 24 years old. I am a vocalist and keyboard player for the band ‘k7’ in Goa. I am professionally a content writer and I have recently started my own venture called ‘Guilty pleasures Goa’. I am a girl who loves music and baking. My dreams and visions are all that keeps me going. What I want out of life is to have no regrets.

What got you into music? Did you undergo any training?

My parents were the ones who got me into studying music at ‘Taught to Teach’ Porvorim. I wasn’t really interested in the theory part of music rather at that point. However, I always did take part in stage performances at our annual music school events and I loved it. I studied up to grade 4, answering exams by Trinity college London, through Taught to Teach.

When was the exact first moment you realised that you wanted to make a career in music? How many years have you been doing this?

I enjoyed the annual day performances at my music school every year, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be on stage having fun singing and playing the keys. I have been a part of my band for 5 years now.

Was it easy to start a career in music? What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? 

It surely wasn’t easy for me initially. It was quite the bumpy ride. I had to convince my parents about my dreams and visions. However, they eventually understood. Another hurdle was the Goan music industry. It had not seen a female keyboard player until k7. Some were pretty supportive and the rest did take some time to break the myth that girls are only to sing and not play in Goan bands. The other challenge was that musicians in the state of Goa are pretty talented and well versed with their music. I had and have to till date work with patience to better my skills each day. What keeps me going is the fact that the audience always seems to be enjoying  my music and performance on stage. 

Who have been your greatest inspirations in music?

I don’t necessarily have a particular artist. I am an old school kinda girl. I love Bob Marley, Queen, MJ, Toto. But I also do love Alicia Keys, Adele and Coldplay.

When did you join your current band ‘K7’? How has the journey been so far?

I joined k7 around 5 years back. The journey has been rough and amazing at the same time. We have grown as musicians, as individuals and as a group. We did have to work our way up the ladder to get to where we are today. But we are here today, and are really blessed.

You have a day job and you also perform as a musician. How do you maintain a work-life balance?

Initially it was quite tough to come home at 6 and then get ready in a matter of say 20 mins for a gig that same night. And not to mention, giving my 100% while performing on stage after a tiring day at work. I slowly got the hang of it and it became a habit. I had to get accustomed to the schedule if I wanted it to work.

You have been performing with your band for 5 years now. Tell us about a fond memory from one of these gigs.

Every gig that I perform at at gives me something to take back home. I love stage shows and weddings. And most of my fond memories are from these gigs. After most of these gigs, people and even our clients come and tell us that it is so good to see a female artist not only singing, but also playing the keys. It truly does overwhelm me.

How is the music industry in Goa? What attributes of the industry are a boon and which are a bane?

The music industry in Goa is hard to crack at times. We have a lot of cover bands and the competition rises each day. I think It’s all really about perspective and passion. For me, I don’t really see a bane. If you enjoy late night singing and love the hustle life, the gig life is Goa is what you need. 

Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful musician? 

Patience and your hunger to make your dreams a reality is all you need. My band and our fans are my greatest motivation.

Tell us a little about your venture ‘Guilty Pleasures’

Baking was one of my hobbies while schooling. I grew into it during college. I was inspired by young entrepreneurs and their talks at college. I kept baking time and again and learning new recipes. It was really getting to be my favorite time pass. After the Covid-19 issue and the lockdown being enforced, our gigs came to a halt. I had a lot of time on my hands and thought I should give baking another shot. Without thinking much I started an Instagram page called ‘Guilty Pleasures Goa’. After a little online marketing it got some reach and I did start getting orders. I was thrilled and that’s when I knew this wasn’t a mistake. This was the exact push I needed to turn my dream of having my own venture into a reality. We are here 2 months later and guilty pleasures doing really well. Still a long way to go but I am pumped for the future.

Not necessarily monetary, how have the rewards been so far in this career?

It is a myth that Goan musicians do not earn well. I would rather say, we as k7 have earned quite a lot these 5 years, and it is all a matter of knowing how the business is. There is a reason we call ourselves a versatile band and our hard work has paid off quite well. 

Whereas, Guilty Pleasures is a new venture and it does take time for huge profits to step in. I would say that it has a good start but still has a long way to go.

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