Ashish Mehrotra

Domain: Vocalist | Guitarist | Flautist | Music Producer | Lyricist | LIVE Performer

Genre: #Bollywood #OriginalMusic #IndianMusic #Guitar #Flute

Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Journey

IN LOVE WITH MUSIC, AS A GIFT FROM THE DIVINE

Born in a family where his mother sang, Ashish Mehrotra loved listening to music and was keenly attracted to music whenever he’d hear something melodious. He was a bright student in school from early childhood, and he would be drawn to music at all times. That’s how he gradually found a steady attraction to good music and yearned to find a teacher who could teach him music.

THE FIRST TRYST WITH A MUSICAL TEACHER & THE FIRST MUSIC BAND

The place where he hails from, Jhansi, in his circumstances, music was not something that is given importance to, so, Ashish had to struggle, to discover a good music teacher, to learn singing. However, he did not give up, and kept singing on his own, at home, in school. By the time he was 14 years old, and eating kachori with his father, a gentleman who played flute, passed by, so he curiously asked him if he could teach guitar, as Ashish didn’t want to learn the flute. He is called Prithwinath Tiwary; he said his guitar is in his village, so he’d have to go and get it, but Ashish was a bit disinterested, yet he went to his place, when this gentleman played the “HERO movie theme music” on flute, and Ashish loved it! He agreed to learn the flute. He bought the Rs. 10 straight flute, and got started while he lived at his granny’s place, where he practised the flute that would sound horrible, which, in a way, disturbed the more academic environment. Ashish continued to sing, as well.

He moved to the city of Pune, with support from his elder brother, for his high school studies, and enrolled in a Maharashtra board school. During this time, Ashish formed a band along with two of his friends who were guitarists, and they would perform in school & college, locally. All this while, Ashish consistently performed really well in academics. And, his brother always inspired him to do music. Nevertheless, after class 12, he went back to Jhansi, to prepare for IITJEE entrance exams, because he wanted to be financially independent and do music, or become a commercially successful musician. Finally, he got admission in an engineering college, and in the same year, he lost his father to cardiac arrest. Ashish continued his education and his yearning for a serious vocal training got stronger.

TAALIM IN MEWATI GHARANA OF PT. JASRAJ

Ashish discovered a learned Guru Ustad Anwar Qureshi, and learned basic paltas and alankars, with him for 4 to 5 months, after which, it so happened that Ashish went to IISER Pune campus with his friend, and met with Dr. Neelay Mehendale, who was a Hindustani classical vocalist, and Ashish got to listen to him singing Shudh Sarang. Ashish was impressed with his taankari and requested to become his disciple.

Ashish has been learning bada khayal, from Dr. Neelay Mehendale, and started with raag bhairav. Ashish says, “Neelay is Godsent and he changed my life”. Ever since then, Ashish has been rigorously training with Dr. Mehendale, who is a disciple of Shri Hemang Mehta.

GETTING A BREAK IN THE COMMERCIAL LIVE MUSIC

By 2014, Ashish also bought a guitar and learned how to play. With help from a friend, Ashish attended an Open Mic and watched other musicians singing LIVE music in various languages, in various genres, while engaging with audience. He started approaching the music venues, and initially, it may not be easy to make a mark of your own, Ashish kept performing at various venues and improved his presentation, while singing light music, playing flute and guitar. As with any new LIVE concert performer in Indian classical music, Ashish earned similar remunerations, while he grew as a professional singer and musician.

NURTURING A GROWTH MINDSET AND STARTING UP AS A MUSIC PRODUCER

Ever since he started learning music from Dr. Neelay Mehandale, he has been very kind and guided Ashish with utmost sincerity and Ashish proved himself to be a devoted disciple. And, Ashish, along with his commercial engagements in private concerts and events, wanted to grow as a thorough musician, who writes lyrics, and gives music to the lyrics, to produce music.

Gradually, Ashish honed advanced skills in guitar, flute, vocals, mixing and mastering music in a studio set-up. He went on to participate in the “Rising Stars” auditions as well, where he met with extremely talented musicians – someone sang ghazals while playing sarangi, someone had been auditioning for 10+ years. Ashish started learning how to record a song, basics of audio engineering, and he got serious about producing his own music.

Then, Ashish got the opportunity to write lyrics for a song for a web series, which got edited and was released. This was his first song that was commercially released. Ashish has been striving hard to hone skills in his vocals presentations, writing lyrics, and instrumental music performances. Now, sometimes, Ashish earns more on a show than more popular artists who come out of TV reality shows. He is serious about his growth both as a singer, songwriter, music producer as well as improving his commercial acceptance as a brand.

Having worked with well-known guitarists like Indrajeet Handique, who now tours with Rekha Bhardwaj, and collaborating with professional bands such as “Ekaai”, Ashish aspires to make one such song that will touch souls of millions of people who’d remember his song and will sing along. He believes, this goal can never be achieved with money. He only pursues excellence in music and he is dedicated to keep learning more, for this lifetime.

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