BY PANKHURI BHUTANI
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROHAN
With more than 15,000 monthly listeners on his Spotify channel, this artist has gained more than 32,000 streams on SoundCloud. Rohan is one of the upcoming rappers in the industry.
Rohan has Indian origin and hails from Ontario, Canada. Rohan developed the passion and love for music from a very young age. He works with a mix of different genres, from hip hop to R&B. His music is a product of integration between the songwriting that is inspired by his upbringing and the struggle that he faces with the combination of beats that gives a very cultural vibe.
Rohan has so far been successful in achieving more than a million streams from around the world. He is currently working on his first official EP, Stay Off The Internet, and was able to take out some of his time for a short and fun interview!
What was the experience like with your first song?
Rohan: “I remember the feeling of excitement. I was focused to learn and hone a craft that I had such a close relationship with. I had no audio engineer or real access to studios at the time, so I had to record myself and learn that way. I didn't have any expectations; I just wanted to learn, have fun, and be great.”
Was there anything you planned out to do before setting out in the music industry?
R: “Making my presence felt was always a goal of mine. Growing up, I never really imagined I would be able to live this life because of my environment and the perception that it wasn't really possible where I was from. Coming from an Indian background with immigrant parents who had low income, being a musician wasn't really an option or an opportunity that presented itself till much further in life, so I never pursued it growing up. To really top it off, there haven't been any South Asian role models that I looked to in North America — no one had really gotten to an A-list position and sustained it like many of my other role models in music — this always made me feel like I wanted to inspire and motivate those without a voice coming in. No real plan, just pure intention.”
If you could collaborate with one artist of your liking, who might it be and why?
R: “Kanye West, probably. I grew up listening to his music and drew a lot of emotion from his sound, especially 808s & Heartbreak as well as MBDTF. His blueprint helped me shape my path as he also started as a producer and evolved into an artist.”
What are the things that you always keep in mind before creating your music?
R: “Time, integrity, and intention. If it won't stand the test of time or isn't coming from a pure and real place, I don't want to hear it. In the beginning, I wouldn't finish songs that weren't good enough in my eyes — now, I try not to start them.”
Who do you consider as a source of inspiration for your music?
R: “Pharrell, Kanye, Timbaland, Dr. Dre, JAY Z, Notorious B.I.G..”
What is the kind of message that you want to convey through your music?
R: “My name in Sanskrit means ‘to ascend.’ In a way, that is the best answer to that question — my goal is to uplift the spirit of humanity through the colors and textures of my music.”