Rohit H. Sivaram: A rising star bridging cultures through music

(November 4, 2024) All of 22 years, musician Rohit H. Sivaram shows a rare maturity. In his speech he is measured, in his answers he is thoughtful, and in his actions he is considerate. While most South Indians his age are busy making marks in traditional fields, including math and science, this youngster is making waves with his music. His latest album, Unearth Prophecy, has just been released to much acclaim (including being considered a Grammy nomination in the Best Rock Album category), and the guitarist is currently busy touring and showcasing his unique music—alternative and progressive metal blending in with Indian Carnatic.

“I did not enjoy playing the guitar while I was young and started playing it while at school,” he shares with Global Indian and adds, “My mother was keen that I continue my lessons, but when I moved to the US, I really enjoyed playing and started taking my training seriously.”

Rohit H Sivaram

A Tale of Two Countries

Born in Miami and raised in Hyderabad, Rohit grew up surrounded by a large extended family and had a regular sporty childhood. “I was very naughty, had high adrenaline levels, and always loved being outdoors,” he recalls. Even in his growing up years, he was part of bands while at the music school, apart from his school (Vidyaranya) in Hyderabad.

At 14, the youngster moved to Kansas along with his father, and it was not an easy homecoming. Rohit explains, “Somethings were easy, like I had an American accent, which made integration seamless, but since my mother was in India to take care of my brother, who was unwell, I did feel alone at times.”

It was then that music became a respite and a refuge. He started learning guitar classes at a local store, followed Youtubers including Mahalo Guitar and Marty Schwartz, and started playing his favourite music bands (from Guns N Roses to Dream Theater), building a repertoire of his own. Soon he started playing the school band (named Hidintact) which helped him get his groove.

 

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Music And Magic

In 2020, Rohit Sivaram joined Berklee College of Music, and the credit for it goes to his parents, Nagalakshmi and Hariharan. Though he was on his way to pursue a course in computer science and pharmaceuticals when the unexpected trajectory suddenly opened, thanks to his parents who saw the zest for music in him.

“My parents asked me if I would like to take up music as a full-time career, which made me really think of turning a hobby into a full-time passion. I was also conscious of the fact that less than three percent of people make it in music but was ready to take up the challenge,” he states.

Always aspiring to be a part of a band, he always admired how musicians were totally committed to their craft — living, loving, and breathing music continuously — and took the plunge to be a musician.

Berklee became a hallowed ground for honing his craft and learning. He states, “Berklee has been an incredible experience where I got to work with the faculty who inspired me to further develop my craft. I worked and learned from legends like Joe Stamp, Shaun Michand, and Tomo Fujita (John Mayer’s teacher), which was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

 

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Apart from experiential learning and being exposed to different genres of music, Rohit Sivaram built a community of musicians around him as well as being part of a band (Enfierce) as a lead guitarist.

Starting Out

Rohit’s first debut EP, Unearth Prophecy, is out with five tracks that traverse alternative metal, progressive rock, and Indian fusion. Songs from his debut album, be it the catchy Nákṣatra or the engaging Whirlwind, have already been hitting the right chords with people and have been submitted for Grammy consideration.

The young musician has also worked alongside the maestro Guitar Prasanna, and all his songs have a natural inclination towards Carnatic music. He recalls, “I felt I was drifting apart and cold-mailed him one day. To my surprise, he responded, and we started corresponding and before I knew it I was learning classical music under him.”

Under Prasanna’s mentorship, he has combined unique eastern and western notes, creating a singularly prolific voice for his music. He is also touring and performing the songs across the world (from the US to India), picking up important lessons crucial for his craft while playing live in front of a crowd along the way.

Learning Carnatic music has been like a blindfold that has been taken off, smiles the guitarist and adds, “There was a real connection, and from a technical perspective, I’ve picked up some amazing insights by learning and playing traditional music. The technique, attention to detail and precision required, and the tenacity to train have equipped me with a unique discipline and focus that I now bring into my work.”

A musician learns as much by practice as by perspective, and Rohit enjoys meeting musicians (from the classical genius TM Krishna to the pop culture band Indian Ocean, also including Western Rock greats such as Myles Kennedy and Nate Navarro) and having conversations that enhance his understanding.

The Way Forward

Making it as a musician is a long and challenging journey, with few people getting a breakthrough easily. Now that he has started his career, the young musician is aware of what lies ahead of him. He explains, “My friends have already started their internships and jobs, so I’m aware of peer pressure and the expectations. I know what I’m chasing and that the road in front of me is not easy, but I’m determined to give it my best.”

Having close-knit family and parents who encourage him at every step certainly helps. What also helps him keep grounded are his other interests — reading, watching shows (Jamie Oliver and Masterchef), or being physically active by playing sports. His other interests include reading memoirs of musicians and exploring new genres of music.

At 22, Rohit Sivaram has already carved out a distinctive space in the global music landscape, blending the raw intensity of alternative and progressive metal with the nuanced beauty of Carnatic rhythms. As he navigates the challenges of a music career, Rohit’s grounded perspective and fierce dedication set him apart, promising an exciting future.

 

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For him, this is just the beginning — a journey fueled by a love for music and a relentless pursuit of artistic authenticity.

QUICK TAKES
Musicians who influenced you: Santana, Pink Floyd and Slash from Guns n Roses
Carnatic musicians you like: Thyagaraja, L Subramanian, TM Krishna and Guitar Prasanna
On your checklist: Touring and performing extensively, deepening my understanding of fusion music and focusing on my social media approach
On your playlist always: Isolation by Alter Bridge, Born to Fly by Slash and Bowling for Peace by Prasanna

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