The Rise of a Real Artist

It all began with a phone call three years ago. A DJ had shown up at a school event, unable to connect with the crowd, and just like that—out of the blue—I was asked to step in. I wasn’t a professional DJ. I didn’t own decks. No flashing lights. No experience behind the console. All I had was my phone, a firecracker of a Bollywood playlist, and an instinctive sense of what could move a crowd.

That night, something sparked.

What started as a spontaneous save turned into something much more. In just a year, I wasn’t just “the guy with the playlist” anymore. I had performed over 250 shows, built a name that began echoing through club circuits, college festivals, and brand campaigns. And none of it would’ve been possible without my mother—my loudest cheerleader, my constant support. She didn’t care if I failed or flew. She only cared that I tried. It was her who surprised me with my first DJ controller, marking the true beginning of a journey that would change my life.

Soon, those small gigs turned into massive events. I was being featured by Westside, profiled in The Economic Times of India, and backed by artists I had once admired from afar. But this wasn’t the only story unfolding.

I was also juggling college and building a film career. It wasn’t a glamorous grind—it was survival. I wasn't doing it for fame, or for money. It was purely about passion. My weekdays were packed with lectures and assignments, my evenings spent scouting film locations, and my nights immersed in music prep. My backpack? It carried a laptop, USBs, camera gear, headphones, and textbooks. Sleep became a rare luxury. Focus, my closest friend.

People often asked, “How do you do it all?” The truth? I didn’t always. There were days I wanted to cancel everything. But each world I stepped into fed a part of me—music gave me adrenaline, film gave me storytelling, and college taught me structure. I didn’t want to choose. I wanted to connect the dots, and I did.

Coming from an orthodox family, late-night club scenes weren’t exactly “approved territory.” It wasn’t that my parents didn’t support my ambition—they just feared the world I was stepping into. Convincing them wasn’t easy. It took time, transparency, and trust. But I stayed grounded, kept distractions away, and updated them every step of the way.

The shift came when they saw me perform live.

That night, they didn’t just see loud lights and a crowd. They saw their son creating joy, connection, and community through music. From that point on, their support became everything—reminding me to eat before gigs, helping pack my gear, and even proudly sharing my features with relatives. That trust is what fuels me to this day.

But no journey comes without battles. In today’s DJ scene—especially in buzzing cities like Bangalore—followers often speak louder than skill. Organizers chase metrics: how viral you are, not how vibrant your music is. Genuine talent gets buried beneath filters and fakeness.

Many artists buy followers or rely on pre-set trending playlists. The art of live mixing, reading a crowd, and curating an authentic vibe? Often ignored. That’s not just frustrating—it’s heartbreaking. But slowly, I built my crowd. People who showed up for the music, not just the mood board. And that? That’s real success.

I don’t have it all figured out—and that’s okay. My immediate goal is to complete college while scaling my DJ career and film projects. By year’s end, I want to be playing consistently at premium clubs in Bengaluru, exploring more genres, and slowly taking my music across India and beyond.

What others might call “small wins” were monumental for me. Performing 100 shows within just 8 months and seeing posters of myself across Bengaluru was the first time I felt the weight of what I had built. Being picked up by brands like Westside and Homegrown for their campaigns was another surreal moment, one that validated not just my talent but also my identity as an artist. Headlining Scintillation, one of the biggest campus shows, felt like a personal breakthrough—standing before thousands, knowing they came for the music I had curated. Then came the feature in The Economic Times of India for my New Year’s set—a reminder that the world was starting to take notice. And finally, my first intercity gig: the moment I realized this journey wasn’t just local anymore. That gig sealed a deep truth in me—this is just the beginning.

I dream of opening my own production house, creating powerful short films, documentaries, and ad campaigns. I want to build an empire for the music I believe in—music that connects, moves, and heals. I’ve also started exploring music production—creating EDM and house-based tracks that carry my signature style.

Every fall is a pause—not a full stop. I’ve learned to rise, reset, and roll again.

Because this journey? It’s only just begun.

And if there’s one thing I’m here to prove—it’s that an artist doesn’t need fake followers or flashy numbers to make real noise. They just need rhythm, grit, and truth in every beat.