Vishal Mehta, Delhi based musician and drummer of India’s biggest Indie pop band “Euphoria.” Vishal Mehta started his professional move at the age of 17 with Artist Unlimited (AU) from Delhi. While playing in AU, he joined the Ravi Power Symphony from Bombay. Later he collaborated with Ali Zafar.
1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
This is Vishal Mehta, Drummer from New Delhi, India. I’m born & brought up in Meerut, UP. I did my schooling and then shifted to Delhi.
The time I had during my school days had really set my background up as what I’m today is all due to those days when I use to play & practice drums without any major thought. I really miss those days, nothing to fear about and had to practice & practice only.
So, this also includes one part of the journey where I did my basic learning & practicing during my school days, and then when I came to Delhi to do eventually study, music only happened.
I came to college and also started playing drums in my college band and started participating in different arts & music festivals. Due to all of this exposure, I continued my playing after college also and got my first serious break with Padam Shri Hans Raj Hans for Sufi playing.
Then, I played with an English band called Crimson and later I happened to play with Groove Adda which was really become a beautiful turn in my professional journey. I played for 7 years in a stretch.
I also played with Ali Zafar, Farhan Akhtar, Shibani Kashyap, Satinder Sartaj, Rabbi Shergill, Nasya, and many more setups. I am currently playing with one of India’s finest Band EUPHORIA.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue music and how did you start?
My music started during my school days and since then I’m playing Drums only, but properly it started when I joined college.
I mean, I started learning and developing my music sense through studying and performing and moving forward professionally.
I have never decided or chose to be a musician but as the music came to me naturally, I can say and always mentioned that music chose me.
3. Who is your favorite artist and why?
See, music is different to different people and that’s how you admire & chose an artist which has a similar taste like you. For me personally, I listen to every artist and everyone is good but different.
So, I wouldn’t say favorite but I definitely have influences who supported me & my learning during my journey.
I want to name a few of them like Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Larnell Lewis, Steve Smith, and many more.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a drummer/musician?
A drummer/ musician would get to play in a band, work as a solo artist, work as a clinician, work as a music teacher in academic school, universities, music schools, work as a session artist, and last but not least work as session recording artists for bands.
5. Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely based on talent?
One can play, purely on the basis of the talent but talent needs direction. I highly recommend that one should train himself/herself formally to carry music professionally and more oriented.
They should go learn music from any music college or hire a Music teacher locally or do self-study but training is a must.
6. How according to you, the OTT platforms have changed the music over the years in this industry?
It has changed a lot. Music in India categorically divided into majorly two parts, one is mainstream music like Bollywood and one is independent musicians like us.
As we know, we all have OTT platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Netflix where freedom of work can come based on the talent and hard work, due to which anyone who has the talent and belongs to an independent scene or mainstream can come and work here purely on the basis of there talent.
No really back up required. It has given independent musicians a new hope of work though.
7. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
The most important advice I want to share is that one should chase for music education if anyone really wants to be a good musician. Don’t look out for short cuts to achieve success or fame.
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
I read music books a lot and I have finished reading & playing “Stick Control” by George Lawrence. It’s a go-to book for any drummer for sure and for any musician who is a singer or piano player or any other musician who wants to better their rhythm.
Instagram Handle - @officialvishalmehta
Instagram Handle - @officialvishalmehta
Vishal Mehta, Delhi based musician and drummer of India’s biggest Indie pop band “Euphoria.”
Vishal Mehta started his professional move at the age of 17 with Artist Unlimited (AU) from Delhi. While playing in AU, he joined the Ravi Power Symphony from Bombay. Later he collaborated with Ali Zafar.
He has started a band, run by himself, “Vishal Mehta Live” in 2015. This band has been performing in and out for 5 years now.
Currently, he is launching his second in January 2021.
I am proudly sharing, that I am coming up out with my second album - "Only You", in 2021. I have collaborated with three important artists in this coming album.
Ashok Roy who is also a dear friend & a bass player from Bombay, Peter Szendőfi – Master Drummer from Hungary, Budapest, and last but not least Nilanjana from Calcutta who sang the whole album. I would like to thank everyone for listening to my music and for their patronage.
Vishal Mehta
Delhi based musician and drummer of India’s biggest Indie pop band “Euphoria.”
Youtube Channel - @VISHAL MEHTA OFFICIAL
Interviewed By - Sandeep Virothu
Interviewed By - Sandeep Virothu
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