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Each song or project I work on is like a chapter in the book of my career, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. One standout project close to my heart was crafting the sound design and scoring for the Spotify podcast 'Mission Isro’ with the inimitable Indian singer/artist Raghu Dixit. It was a delightful fusion of Indian and contemporary elements and soundscapes that allowed me to explore new sonic territories.
Having the opportunity to open for bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Testament, and being on tour with Lucky Ali on guitar duties. Also having had the incredible opportunity to perform in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and more, gracing some of the world’s most prestigious arenas like Tivoli and the O2 arena, an experience that marked another thrilling chapter in my musical journey. I'm really proud and excited about a few new releases with indie artists, set to drop soon, in addition to all the game sound design and ad films and commercials that I have been producing.
The projects I take up require me to do a bit of everything – mostly music production and mixing based. I'm all about weaving tales through sound and music. It's a bit of a juggling act, but I love it. Whether I'm running the show at the studio or crafting compositions for film or commercials, it all boils down to making the right calls to support the story.
While working with an artist, I like to involve myself right from the writing process and that allows me to develop ideas in parallel as the song takes shape.
I was always surrounded by good music from collections that belong to my father and grandfather, everything from Indian classical to Bollywood hits through the years.
Having discovered my musical knack young, starting with the tabla, and as time passed, I experimented with various musical instruments. As an inquisitive young individual drawn to sound, I explored everything from rock and roll to blues, pop, hip hop, and even electronica and metal. However, I fell in love with the guitar, which became my primary instrument, and I performed with a couple of bands over the years and it's taken me places.
Never really confined myself to one musical style or genre and now, as a producer, it's proven to be an advantage. I get to immerse myself in playing and experimenting with a variety of styles and instruments that truly bring me joy. I really enjoy discovering new artists and playlists these days, and it could be truly inspiring when you stumble upon something beautiful. I am a firm believer in "you are what you eat", more so with our musical diet!
Over the years, playing with different bands and artists has allowed me to cross paths with people I consider heroes and role models: masters such as John McLaughlin, Guthrie Govan, and Alex Skolnick. Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought that it’d pan out this way but here we are. I consider myself blessed to be able to travel around the globe and do what I do best.
At times, navigating a client's sonic vision as a media composer can get tricky. When the picture I have in mind for the final product doesn't quite sync up with what the client is envisioning – especially when they can't get too technical – that's when discrepancies can crop up.
Over the years, I've developed a system, a checklist of sorts that allows me insight. It kicks into gear early in the production stages, helping me get on the same page as my client. This not only saves a ton of time and energy but also ensures there's no ambiguity in delivering what the brief outlines.
I've evolved towards a more streamlined setup, super portable, opting for fewer hardware pieces and mainly working in the digital space. My go-to is a mix of soft synths coupled with hardware controllers. One particular tool that stands out is the new Ableton Push, featuring its MPE (Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression) capabilities. No matter what opinions I have heard, I always run my work through headphones during the sound selection phase and then during the final mix. I feel that they reveal fine details that don't often show up or are hard to catch on even the best monitoring speaker systems.
Be fearless in exploring your own ideas and creativity. This is what shapes your identity and sets you apart from the crowd. Always recognize your worth and remember that minor setbacks or let downs along the way are just stepping stones toward something more substantial.
Around five years back, I found myself in a situation where I had to produce while on tour. The only viable option was to hit the road with a reliable pair of headphones and that has become the norm since. In my production routine, I prefer to shape tones and mix on the go. This approach has proven invaluable in getting results that are closer to the finished product before the final mix. For me, a quality pair of headphones is crucial right from the initial stages of sound selection and an absolute must while working in less-than-ideal listening environments. And now with the advent of spatial audio, headphones are a must have for me.
Having used these headphones for a while, I love the way the music I mix with them translates onto other systems. They have made it so much easier to make sound choices or balance decisions. I use them in addition to my speakers and as an essential tool for the final quality check. Oh also, car checks are no longer a necessity!
I have been mixing for a few independent artists of varied genres, in addition to working on my own music and converting a few releases into immersive audio. These headphones have been a pleasure for binaural mixing, and I thoroughly enjoy the level of clarity, detail and depth they offer.
Wishing you an endless flow of inspiration and spirited sonic adventures. :)
