There is a unique sense of satisfaction in receiving praise from a former critic for the very same endeavor they once disparaged. While many may dream of this gratifying moment, for musician Shourya Malhotra, it significantly influenced his future trajectory.
“I embarked on my musical journey in high school as part of a band,” Shourya shares during a phone conversation from Delhi. “We performed our first song at a school assembly, and one individual approached my guitarist to say, ‘You should fire the vocalist — he’s really bad’. Being in Class 8 at the time, those words left a mark.”
Shourya recounts, “I was heavily influenced by metal music back then. Bands like Lamb of God, Metallica, and Pantera were my idols. I tried to emulate the vocalists of these bands, learning their techniques and styles.”
It wasn’t long before Shourya’s efforts began to pay off. “When I started performing metal vocals, the same person who had initially criticized me was astonished and complimented my singing. That moment served as a catalyst for my musical aspirations.”
Motivated by this newfound confidence, Shourya continued to hone his craft. “In college, I formed a progressive heavy metal band called Trigger. We achieved considerable success, performing at a variety of venues across the country and eventually winning Blitzkrieg 2013 at IIT Delhi’s cultural festival.”
His journey in music intertwined with his academic pursuits as a first-year law student at Symbiosis, Noida. “Today, Trigger is in the process of writing a full-length album set for release next year,” Shourya notes proudly, a testament to his perseverance.
“I’ve always identified as a singer first, and then a musician,” he adds. Self-taught on the guitar during his first year of college, Shourya’s dedication to his passion is evident.
Following his graduation and five years of rigorous study, Shourya began practicing law in 2015, specializing in energy and mining law. However, as time passed, he felt a growing detachment from his legal career. “Just before the pandemic hit, I realized my passion for music had taken a backseat. In 2020, I decided to quit practicing law and embark on a solo career as a singer-songwriter.”
Shourya’s solo venture focused on indie folk music, a genre close to his heart. “Indie folk has always been a favorite of mine. One of my dreams was to create something more mellow than the metal music I used to perform,” he explains.
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In 2020, he launched this new chapter, culminating in the release of his first song, ‘For Lost Memories’, in 2022. “It took me a while to release my first song because I needed to convince myself that I could do it,” he admits. “The world was going through tough times, which didn’t help.”
Shourya describes ‘For Lost Memories’ as a poignant farewell inspired by a past relationship. Since then, he has released four additional songs, with ‘Still Breathing’, his fifth, debuting in April. “I also released my first Hindi song, ‘Kahi Duur’, in June. It’s a soft acoustic piece about love.”
His inspiration for indie folk acoustic is drawn from the likes of Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, and Laura Marling, whom he regards as incredible songwriters.
Reflecting on his earlier years, Shourya recalls, “I started writing songs in my third year of college but didn’t release them because streaming platforms were not yet prominent in India. At that time, releasing music posed different challenges.”
Taking the plunge in 2020 was a pivotal moment for Shourya. “I told myself I might not become the richest or the best musician, but I would get to write the songs I’ve always wanted to. Imagining my life five years ahead as a lawyer was unappealing to me, and going all out for music is starting to pay off.”
Shourya’s creative process is deeply personal. “My inspirations come from various artists whose work I enjoy. My goal is to express my thoughts and share my life experiences through music. I want to create music that can change someone’s life, as many artists have changed mine.”
He reminisces about one particularly influential song: ” ‘Between the Bars’ by Elliott Smith holds immense meaning for me; it’s a song that, in a way, saved me. If I can write even one song like that in my lifetime, I’ll consider it a success.”
Since 2020, Shourya has also been assisting fellow musicians with contractual disputes. “I used to say I’m a lawyer who’s also a musician, but now I say I’m a musician who is also a lawyer.”
Looking ahead, Shourya anticipates the release of an album featuring four new songs in November. He also plans to continue releasing Hindi songs as singles. His latest track, ‘Still Breathing’, is available on all streaming platforms, marking another milestone in his evolving music career.
