1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
I'm a finance professional on sheets blessed with the hand and heart of a musician. A self-taught artist and gloriously honoured of being India's youngest rhythm facilitator, a corporate trainer, a mentor, a traveller and a rare instrument artist. Presently living the 25th year of my life and still exploring tunes and beats every day. So, my trail began since I was a child.
Hailing from a creative middle-class family got educated in a govt. school with finite resources and opportunities. At that point of an hour getting trained in music was financially onerous for me but I was grateful enough for the love and support my parents gave me for my talent and it eventually gave a push to the zeal I had inside.
Now, comes the student who has been miraculous with his grades and is really sincere about his education and along with it was the inexpressible love for music. So, I tackled both of these zones together and made them my priority because of which later I was able to make music my profession.
From providing open stage platforms to laying down the foundation of different groups and companies, playing and teaching around 20 instruments, mentoring these young minds and achieving the stage of being a 2 times TEDx speaker and performer.
Today, when I think about it I feel that the journey wasn't easy but it was worth it. And as it has been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and I had the courage to take one and look where it got me.
Hailing from a creative middle-class family got educated in a govt. school with finite resources and opportunities. At that point of an hour getting trained in music was financially onerous for me but I was grateful enough for the love and support my parents gave me for my talent and it eventually gave a push to the zeal I had inside.
Now, comes the student who has been miraculous with his grades and is really sincere about his education and along with it was the inexpressible love for music. So, I tackled both of these zones together and made them my priority because of which later I was able to make music my profession.
From providing open stage platforms to laying down the foundation of different groups and companies, playing and teaching around 20 instruments, mentoring these young minds and achieving the stage of being a 2 times TEDx speaker and performer.
Today, when I think about it I feel that the journey wasn't easy but it was worth it. And as it has been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and I had the courage to take one and look where it got me.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue music and how did you start?
Frankly, it wasn't decided I call it my destiny that I landed in the garden of these Beats. Being a little Kid I remember playing Congas and drums in the school choir group and playing different rhythms on school desks, till this date I cherish playing desks as it reminds me of the good old days.
So, eventually, music was an escape for me. I look at myself as a man with numerous zones. Education was my first and foremost zone but still, the music stood at a different level for me.
While pursuing CA studies were really complex when you're opting a field so competitive and that's the moment when I started to drown myself into these rhythmic beats just to feel stress-free, soothe my nerves and calm my head.
Little did I knew that this escapism of mine will turn out to be my passion one day? Every artist has to hit the streets before tasting the limelight on the stage and that's exactly how I started my music journey.
It all began with busking on the streets and playing for crowds and later it went to the formation of different music groups and playing for social causes and social foundations.
The most astonishing part of this story is that I've been punished a lot by police officials during my initial years for busking in public areas and now currently when I stand at this position and having the blessing of performing on different prestigious platforms I understand the importance and fun of being called as "A street artist".
And certainly, it became a dream of mine that busking should be allowed in selected areas with all the security protocols to give a flight to these wandering musical souls looking for a strike into this field.
Managed mostly all the Drum Circle and Open Music Platform for a Couple of Years then around a span of 3 years back I took an initiative and started my very own first Drum Circle is known as Noida Drum Circle and this group has been performing in and around Noida and Delhi NCR.
With successful 3 years of it, hundreds of public events, hundreds of Social and Fundraising events, doing so many open jams with thousands of people and interacting with these young lads with a dream of being an artist.
I somehow managed to lay a brick of foundation into creating these streets a self-made stage for every musical mind.
3. Who is your favourite artist and why?
So, eventually, music was an escape for me. I look at myself as a man with numerous zones. Education was my first and foremost zone but still, the music stood at a different level for me.
While pursuing CA studies were really complex when you're opting a field so competitive and that's the moment when I started to drown myself into these rhythmic beats just to feel stress-free, soothe my nerves and calm my head.
Little did I knew that this escapism of mine will turn out to be my passion one day? Every artist has to hit the streets before tasting the limelight on the stage and that's exactly how I started my music journey.
It all began with busking on the streets and playing for crowds and later it went to the formation of different music groups and playing for social causes and social foundations.
The most astonishing part of this story is that I've been punished a lot by police officials during my initial years for busking in public areas and now currently when I stand at this position and having the blessing of performing on different prestigious platforms I understand the importance and fun of being called as "A street artist".
And certainly, it became a dream of mine that busking should be allowed in selected areas with all the security protocols to give a flight to these wandering musical souls looking for a strike into this field.
Managed mostly all the Drum Circle and Open Music Platform for a Couple of Years then around a span of 3 years back I took an initiative and started my very own first Drum Circle is known as Noida Drum Circle and this group has been performing in and around Noida and Delhi NCR.
With successful 3 years of it, hundreds of public events, hundreds of Social and Fundraising events, doing so many open jams with thousands of people and interacting with these young lads with a dream of being an artist.
I somehow managed to lay a brick of foundation into creating these streets a self-made stage for every musical mind.
3. Who is your favourite artist and why?
Sivamani
I respect and admire the contribution of each and every artist in this music industry but yes, people that I look up to as my inspiration are :
* Trilok Gurtu
* Ghatam Giridhar Udupa
* Kabecao Handpan
* Kabecao Handpan
These names are so magnificent in the book of musical wonders that I really don't need to justify why they're my favourite.
Their journeys, their creativity, their thirst of creating and exploring every bit of this universal tunes and the vision they carry has shaped me as an artist.
These gems are themselves an entire institution of music education. You study their music and their energy, you've learnt half of what the world will teach you when you step on that path.
As I’m very close and personally connected with them, penning down the most admirable qualities that I cherish about these geniuses are:
Trilok Gurtu Ji's humbleness and clarity. That charisma in his music and persona and that wild drive he carries for music is nothing less than wizardry for me. He has seen generations of music and has given so much to the world that many more young aspiring artists like me are indebted to him for his immense contribution. He's the master of percussion power in the world's musical wonders.
Their journeys, their creativity, their thirst of creating and exploring every bit of this universal tunes and the vision they carry has shaped me as an artist.
These gems are themselves an entire institution of music education. You study their music and their energy, you've learnt half of what the world will teach you when you step on that path.
As I’m very close and personally connected with them, penning down the most admirable qualities that I cherish about these geniuses are:
Trilok Gurtu Ji's humbleness and clarity. That charisma in his music and persona and that wild drive he carries for music is nothing less than wizardry for me. He has seen generations of music and has given so much to the world that many more young aspiring artists like me are indebted to him for his immense contribution. He's the master of percussion power in the world's musical wonders.
Ghatam Giridhar Udupa is the man with abundant knowledge and an easy style of playing with a cool mind and a zestful stage persona. Achieving that calmness and holding your motions along with keeping an eye on your hands during the performance is commendably difficult but he does that with ease and that's what makes him another wizard in the world's musical wonders.
Sivamani is a name each of us is familiar with and I've been grateful enough to witness his magic on stage. Apparently what flabbergasted me was his performance style. If you're someone who's not attracted to music the day you see him playing live you will be. That energy, those tricks on rhythm, the intellectual level with the audience. He's unquestionably the show king in the world's musical wonders.
Kabecao Handpan, a soul made with melodies and tunes that makes everyone surrender to his compositions. When you listen to his tunes what happens is, you instantly feel the connection with it. He just doesn't present music or a set of 15-20 minutes of performance. He shows you life, he depicts what nature, what the world, what music has to tell you. And that's why I consider him as the master of Feels in the world's musical wonders.
So, at the end summing up all these elements what I've learnt till now is Patience, humbleness, determination and learning this is what it takes to stand out different into this musical realm.
That's what I've gained from them.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a musician?
Opportunities come to those who work for it but if I see the world today the scenario has changed and it's more like opportunities come to those who work differently for it. You'll find people who follow the herd closing their doors of creativity and intellectually.
For those souls, opportunities are limited because they're just another brick in the wall. There are plenty of options when you land up into this artistic field. Be an independent artist, perform in a band, and make your own music.
Just an example, me being a percussionist it could've been really simple to walk with the herd and stay stuck with one path and not standing out differently with my music.
But rather, I chose to turn my music into medicine for those who need it. I turned my way into corporate training, therapy sessions, performing for social causes and using it as a stress reliever for those who smile a little less. To let them see the musical side of life.
You see, people need to understand that today music is not just a hobby or a leisure activity it's a way of life and once you step into the realm of it, you'll experience inexplicable wonders. Music is an apparatus for the development of the brain if used in a proper way.
As I mentioned before that I didn't have a musical education and when I landed into this field I had to learn from scratch. Let it be the rhythmic counts or the basic hand movements etc.
So, today when I mentor or interact with these young minds I wouldn't want them to not have that look out of what they exactly want. Due to which past 4 years back, I founded my own company, NomadSouls Inc.
This is a venture of mine that performs at Corporates and is into giving workshops in schools and colleges. But beyond that, the main aim of the company is to give a chance to these young music aspirants.
To let them learn what they want to, to let them see what music has to offer and how far they can hold on to this determination. Presently, I'm backed up with a team consisting of Nomads from different backgrounds and places but one thing that ties us all together is the string of music and that crave for the beats.
Recently this year, I was grateful enough to be a Co-Founder of India’s First Handpan and world music Festival Nivaan. It was a 3-day music festival in Goa with a showcase of all the rare instruments that yet not have been witnessed by people in this country.
Talents from all over the world came under one hood and made it one of the most happening events in India. For a person who started with just a step and a vision and organizing an event like this is much of what dreams look like in reality.
So, the moral of the story is don't look at what the world is doing or how they're walking. Create your own path, walk differently and shine out brightly.
For those souls, opportunities are limited because they're just another brick in the wall. There are plenty of options when you land up into this artistic field. Be an independent artist, perform in a band, and make your own music.
Just an example, me being a percussionist it could've been really simple to walk with the herd and stay stuck with one path and not standing out differently with my music.
But rather, I chose to turn my music into medicine for those who need it. I turned my way into corporate training, therapy sessions, performing for social causes and using it as a stress reliever for those who smile a little less. To let them see the musical side of life.
You see, people need to understand that today music is not just a hobby or a leisure activity it's a way of life and once you step into the realm of it, you'll experience inexplicable wonders. Music is an apparatus for the development of the brain if used in a proper way.
As I mentioned before that I didn't have a musical education and when I landed into this field I had to learn from scratch. Let it be the rhythmic counts or the basic hand movements etc.
So, today when I mentor or interact with these young minds I wouldn't want them to not have that look out of what they exactly want. Due to which past 4 years back, I founded my own company, NomadSouls Inc.
This is a venture of mine that performs at Corporates and is into giving workshops in schools and colleges. But beyond that, the main aim of the company is to give a chance to these young music aspirants.
To let them learn what they want to, to let them see what music has to offer and how far they can hold on to this determination. Presently, I'm backed up with a team consisting of Nomads from different backgrounds and places but one thing that ties us all together is the string of music and that crave for the beats.
Recently this year, I was grateful enough to be a Co-Founder of India’s First Handpan and world music Festival Nivaan. It was a 3-day music festival in Goa with a showcase of all the rare instruments that yet not have been witnessed by people in this country.
Talents from all over the world came under one hood and made it one of the most happening events in India. For a person who started with just a step and a vision and organizing an event like this is much of what dreams look like in reality.
So, the moral of the story is don't look at what the world is doing or how they're walking. Create your own path, walk differently and shine out brightly.
5. Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
Formal training will obviously be beneficial and will provide you with a core perspective and a firm base which will help you polish your art to grow fast and easy.
But apparently, it's not necessary if you can do it by yourself. That doing it by yourself needs a lot of determination, hard work, practice and self-strengthening as music is a long and every day innovating and learning process. There is no end to it.
And as rare instruments are now catching a flash in India there are very few institutions that provide proper training for them. But yes, for certain instruments like Cajon and Handpan we are the Industry representative and the ones who provide a workshop with all those passive details and focusing deeply on the style of playing.
But apparently, it's not necessary if you can do it by yourself. That doing it by yourself needs a lot of determination, hard work, practice and self-strengthening as music is a long and every day innovating and learning process. There is no end to it.
And as rare instruments are now catching a flash in India there are very few institutions that provide proper training for them. But yes, for certain instruments like Cajon and Handpan we are the Industry representative and the ones who provide a workshop with all those passive details and focusing deeply on the style of playing.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring artists?
Art is a form of medicine. It's worship and a passionate thing to do. So, do it wholeheartedly not just to be famous and earn huge bucks. This art form needs dedication, hard work, sleepless nights and a lot of practice to be a self-satisfied artist.
Balance your life properly, set your aim clear and wide, make your family and their happiness you’re first and foremost priority and give proper importance to your studies. Always focus on managing yourself efficiently with performance enhancements and new creative ideas.
That's all it takes. If music helps you find the inner you then that's what you're meant to do but not with a fickle mind do it with a zealous mind. A simple mantra for attaining your vision should be Talent+Hardwork+Smartwork and you'll be good to go.
Balance your life properly, set your aim clear and wide, make your family and their happiness you’re first and foremost priority and give proper importance to your studies. Always focus on managing yourself efficiently with performance enhancements and new creative ideas.
That's all it takes. If music helps you find the inner you then that's what you're meant to do but not with a fickle mind do it with a zealous mind. A simple mantra for attaining your vision should be Talent+Hardwork+Smartwork and you'll be good to go.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
I'm not ecstatic about reading books too much but yea if I prefer to then I go for something enlightening and knowledgeable like Manorama.
Taking a dig at my professional studies I already have a pile to read and study so generally I'm not a keen reader but my favourite book is Shrimadh Bhagavad Geeta as it consists of all the universal truths and the meaning of life within it.
Secondly, I suggest Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. This book has some great life lessons for highly active brains.
Interview - Shamayla
Taking a dig at my professional studies I already have a pile to read and study so generally I'm not a keen reader but my favourite book is Shrimadh Bhagavad Geeta as it consists of all the universal truths and the meaning of life within it.
Secondly, I suggest Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. This book has some great life lessons for highly active brains.
Interview - Shamayla
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