Dr. Shara Rambarran Interview (Virtual Music: Sound, Music, and Image in the Digital Era)
Dr. Shara Rambarran is a music writer, researcher, editor, and lecturer who also co-runs the Art of Record Production conferences. Shara's latest book is Virtual Music: Sound, Music, and Image in the Digital Era.
How did you get to where you are today, professionally?
Ever since I was a child, I always knew that I would be involved in music. I took private lessons in piano, guitar, and voice. Then I studied music at high school, college, and university. Before university, I had various part time jobs (e.g. fast food restaurants, supermarkets) and saved up for my studies. At university, I played in bands in the North of England. After I graduated, I worked in indie and dance music PR companies and record labels in London, then went back to Essex and worked at my local music venue, The Square. That was such a fun time as I worked with great people. I had various roles which included DJ-ing, stage management, camera/lights/sound technician, holding club nights, looking after bands/acts and so much more—I was even pulling pints at one point!
Then I decided to become a high school music teacher and went back to university to study a teaching degree. After teaching in high school for two years, I won a PhD scholarship at the University of Salford (in Greater Manchester, England). It was from here, I knew that I wanted to be in academia, specializing in music. During my time at Salford/Manchester, I was so lucky to be supervised by amazing musicologists, Derek B Scott and the late Sheila Whiteley. Derek even sent me to Oslo, Norway for a few months where I received precise research supervision from popular musicologist, Stan Hawkins.