The Before…

 

I was just an ordinary kid from a conservative family torn between what I wanted to pursue. My parents wanted me to study mass communication while I wanted a career in music. I was planning for a career in DJing but life had different plans for me.

 

The Crash

 

I was 24 when I met with an accident. I was on a road trip to Manali with my friends when our car slipped and went off the hill. My friends suffered major injuries while I barely escaped death. 

 

Moment of Truth

 

Three days later, I woke up in the hospital where I was told that I could never walk again because I had Spinal Cord Injury and was paralyzed from the waist down. My mom was still dealing with the grief of having lost my dad recently and was totally devastated. At that moment, I knew I couldn't break down because it was up to me to be her pillar of strength.

 

The After…

 

I was confined to my house for the next two years where music helped me get through the emotional trauma and I held on to it. I spent those years learning music production by myself and reading inspirational stories of different artists, one of which was Paul Johnson’s, which struck a chord with me. Paul had broken societal norms to become the first-ever DJ on a wheelchair and that's where my inspiration came from.

 

Rejections and Resolutions

 

I decided to take this passion of mine to the real world. I started looking for music institutes to continue my training. The first phase turned out to be quite disappointing when I found out that most institutes did not have accessibility for the specially-abled. The more I searched, the more I noticed that there just weren't enough resources and accessible spaces for the specially-abled. I realized leading a normal life was going to be hard, not because of my condition but because the world was underprepared. This changed my outlook and made me want to show the world that we are not much different.

 

From Dreams to Reality

 

Finally, I completed my DJing course at ILM Academy, Gurgaon. And then the struggle began to find shows. Finally, I met Mr. Keshav Suri, the Executive Director at Lalit Hospitality Group who recognized the talent in me and made me a part of the Kitty Su team as a Resident DJ. When I started working, it wasn't easy, but nothing is. There was a lot of adjusting and getting used to new things, but eventually, it worked out for me.

 

Right Now

 

After Kitty Su, I saw the industry change as people were more welcoming. They were willing to go that extra mile making arrangements so I could perform at different locations. I played various shows and festivals including the Timeout Music Festival and BUDXMUMBAI. The immense love and support from the industry, the audience as well as the artists have motivated me greatly to make my own music, a few of which I've released with good record labels.

 

What’s Next

 

This lockdown has been hard on all of us. But it has made me look at things from a new perspective and given me time to think about what to do next. I have so much more to share with you, including the original music that I am currently working on, which I'll be dropping soon. This is just the beginning of my journey and I'm stoked that you became a part of it. Sign up to my mailing list to stay plugged in on all my latest updates. 

 

And remember, dreams are all we are made of!