Swapna Abraham

Swapna Abraham is a multi-disciplinary artist who serves as a singer-songwriter, author, actor, interior designer, mentor, and corporate professional. Her most important insight is that creativity is a discipline that can be fostered through consistency, leading her to achieve four world records by composing over 2,300 songs in 1,000 days while balancing single parenthood and a full-time managerial role.

Swapna Abraham embodies the modern renaissance artist, seamlessly weaving together multiple creative disciplines while maintaining a successful corporate career and raising two children as a single parent. Her remarkable journey from poet to songwriter to author culminated in breaking four world records and creating over 2,300 songs in just 1,000 days. Swapna, thank you for joining us today. Your creative evolution spans decades and disciplines, offering invaluable insights for anyone navigating their own artistic journey. ## How do you handle the vulnerability of putting your creative work into the world? Swapna acknowledges that sharing creative work requires careful consideration of how personal revelations affect not just the artist, but their loved ones. She believes that vulnerability in art stems from the unique synthesis of one's upbringing, circumstances, victories, failures, and life experiences. **What's your approach to balancing authenticity with protecting those close to you?** This is a good one. I've a section in my book where I explain that it takes a certain kind of person - the synthesis of the person, how they were raised, their circumstances, their luck if you will, the sum of their victories and failures, trauma and trespasses that not only make them, but that also accounts for their work, especially their creative work. I went ahead writing all about what made me and redacted much of it. It's not a lack of transparency, authenticity or integrity, but if one has near ones that have to live with your disclosures and confessions, I for one would think several times before I make all known. ## What compelled you to write your book and achieve four world records? Swapna's journey to authorship was unintentional, emerging from an ambitious musical challenge that transformed into something much larger. Her book **"She Played In The Dark"** documents the extraordinary experience of composing 2,321 songs over 1,000 days while managing the complexities of single parenthood and a demanding corporate role. **Tell us about the challenge that led to your book and world records?** The goal was never to write a book. I was at best a blogger and quite happy being just that. My goal was a self-imposed challenge close to the point of futility and considering giving up after publishing **22 English musical albums** over 25 years. The feat was to compose and produce 'live' atleast **two songs everyday for 1000 days**. One of those songs was intended for children. The net outcome on 2nd January 2020 was **2321 songs** and **four world records** in singing-songwriting and fulfilment beyond description. The experience was surreal, even with life in the background. My son was graduating from university. My daughter had two children through that time. As a single parent, responsibility weighed on me. I also had a **9-5 managerial role**. And as much as I wanted to succeed and excel in the challenge, I also wanted the same for my regular work and life in general. The learnings, sweat, fear, ordeal and pain compelled me to put it down for posterity, why - even for me, that I may one day look back at at a version of me and perhaps draw inspiration. And I do from time to time revise the lessons encompassed in **'She Played In The Dark'**. Soon after, I proceeded to studio-produce the **1000 songs for children** and published them with their karaokes in QR codes in illustrated songbooks for children aged **4-12** and called the series **'A Children's Song A Day'**. That I was an author was incidental, not by default. ## What advice would you give to aspiring writers who haven't started yet? Swapna's approach to writing is refreshingly direct and practical. She emphasizes that creativity is not about waiting for inspiration but about developing disciplined consistency that eventually creates its own momentum. **What's your advice for someone who has always wanted to write but hasn't started?**

"Just start writing. Start now."

They say you need to be inspired to write. Creativity is a discipline that can be fostered. The more you stay consistent, you'll get better, it will literally be a flow. Once you have **30000 words**, you can organize the manuscript into chapters. ## How did you realize you were meant to be a writer? Swapna's artistic evolution followed a natural progression through different forms of written expression, each building upon the last. Her journey illustrates how creative identity develops organically through consistent practice and exploration. **Describe the moment you knew you were a writer — was it a decision or a realization?** I was first a **poet (age 9)**, then a **songwriter (age 15)**, then an **author (50)**. In that sequence. They call songs musical poems. Only poems are poems, for they are wholesome as poems. Songs have a different lyricality in that they seem incomplete without the music. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Swapna.

Frequently Asked Questions about Swapna Abraham

How many songs did Swapna Abraham compose during her 1,000-day challenge?

Swapna composed 2,321 songs over 1,000 days, with at least two songs created each day. One song each day was specifically intended for children, which later became part of her "A Children's Song A Day" series.

What world records does Swapna Abraham hold?

Swapna holds four world records in singing-songwriting, achieved through her ambitious 1,000-day musical challenge that concluded on January 2nd, 2020.

How many musical albums has Swapna Abraham published?

Before her record-breaking challenge, Swapna had already published 22 English musical albums over a span of 25 years.

What is the name of Swapna Abraham's book?

Her book is titled "She Played In The Dark," which documents the learnings, challenges, and experiences from her 1,000-day songwriting journey while balancing single parenthood and a corporate career.

At what ages did Swapna Abraham begin her different artistic pursuits?

Swapna's artistic journey began as a poet at age 9, evolved into songwriting at age 15, and culminated in becoming an author at age 50.

What is "A Children's Song A Day" series?

This is a series of illustrated songbooks for children aged 4-12, featuring studio-produced versions of the 1,000 children's songs Swapna created during her challenge, complete with karaokes accessible through QR codes.