There is a lot to be said about making music. We could talk about the blood, sweat and tears that go into producing a track or, perhaps, we could touch on the creative maneuvering that is necessary when laying the beats to a song. Raj Pandit could tell you all about this. Behind him, lies 10 years of experience, time he spent working with the acclaimed duo, Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, honing his own craft. Even so, he asserts that he has just begun, and while that may be true considering the scope of the music industry, his journey, so far, is one worth taking a closer glance at.
Born and raised in Mumbai, Pandit spent his childhood immersed in music. His mother, a Kashmiri Folk singer, was, perhaps, his brush with music. Placed in an environment that made him naturally inclined towards music, he began learning to play the tabla at the age of 4, before going on to take up the piano when he was 9. Considering everything, Pandit knew, from an early age, that music was something he wanted to pursue. And, he did just that.
However, mere passion and talent can, sometimes, fall short. Pandit states that he has been fortunate enough to be surrounded by the right kind of people. There is, as he says, a massive learning curve in a creative field. Being mentally prepared for that and spending enough time to hone his own grasp of the craft was of critical importance to him. Indeed, he has been working with Salim and Sulaiman Merchant for the last 10 years, collaborating on tracks and producing music. Not surprisingly, he considers the time he has spent with the renowned duo as one of the most important periods of growth in his life.
Even so, Pandit feels blessed to be able to pursue his passion for music in a professional sphere. Believing that taking leaps of faith, for the things one is passionate about, to be of crucial importance, he firmly maintains that, sometimes, just going for it opens up avenues that, otherwise, would not be possible.
Recently, Pandit just released his debut single, ‘Vibe’. Having spent years learning and perfecting his own style and voice, Pandit wanted to release his own independent track at a time that he considered right. While on a flight to Australia with the Merchant duo, he came up with the hook for the track. He immediately went on to record it in a voice note before building a basic groove on his phone. That, alone, excited him enough to come back and work on the track. Finally, after the lockdown eased up a little, Pandit decided to release the track, finishing working on it in a month.
“I realized how much more it takes to achieve a certain level when you’re on stage.”
Raj Pandit
It seems like a rosy life from the outside and understandably so. Pandit has been following his passion, managing to turn it into something that he pursues professionally and working with some of the most established figures in the music industry in the country. However, Pandit has had his own challenges, stumbling blocks he has had to overcome and grow from. Years ago, for instance, he recalls one of his initial concerts with Salim-Sulaiman, where he forgot the lyrics to an entire verse on stage, in spite of having spent time rehearsing it diligently. That, according to him, was one of the most embarrassing moments for him to be in. He understood, then, how much more it takes to reach a certain level on stage. He took that whole incident in stride, determined to work harder, not only for himself but, also, for his co-performers.
The one word that always stays with me is ‘patience’. It’s the one quality that we all need from time to time, while doing all the work.
Raj Pandit
For Pandit, his affinity for music is a natural blessing. Even so, he reaffirms how much time and persistent effort he has had to put in. Patience, as he says, is one of the most important things when it comes to pursuing something you are passionate about. Sticking to your own belief, while putting in the effort, is crucial to succeeding. And, that is advice derived from his own personal experience and journey. After all, Raj Pandit has spent the last 10 years learning and growing from those around him, while sticking to his own belief in himself.
It is an impressive path that he has walked and, judging from the reception to his debut, it is, undoubtedly, the one to success.
