We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rohit Sivaram a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rohit , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The truth is, there have been several projects that have been very important to me, such as my band Enfierce and touring with Guitar Prasanna. However, a particularly meaningful project to me was my debut solo features record, titled Unearth Prophecy. The record took about two years to make, during my time at the Berklee College of Music. The main goal of the record was to help me grow in a collaborative space with people I truly respected and was inspired by. I thought the best way to do this was by composing music specifically for the artists to play.

To bring this vision to life, I assembled a rhythm section consisting of Anup Sastry and Mohini Dey, and featured soloists such as Shaun Michaud, Joe Stump, Guitar Prasanna, Josh Martin, and Tom Monda. Most of the record had a metal style, with songs ranging from gothic to shred to progressive. However, since I was also being mentored by Guitar Prasanna, I wanted to give back to his teachings by writing a song in the Carnatic fusion style. That track, notably called “Nakshatra,” also featured Rohith Jayaraman.

Rohit , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m primarily a lead guitarist and producer, and a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. I’m also a Pulse Artist for PRS Guitars. My main focuses are rock, progressive rock, metal, and Indian Carnatic music on the guitar. I got into the industry by playing in bands in the US and India, constantly performing, posting, and keeping everyone updated on my skills. I’ve had the privilege of sharing the stage and collaborating with fantastic artists, as well as doing session work with incredible people. Currently, I split my time between Atlanta and Los Angeles.

My current role in the industry is as a performer, session musician, and producer for Enfierce and several other projects I collaborate with on various occasions. At one point, I viewed guitar as more of a hobby and passion. However, in my senior year of high school, as I was considering and applying to colleges, my parents suggested I think about pursuing music full-time. That conversation prompted me to define my goals, make my decisions, and truly commit to the path I wanted to follow.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I truly believe that the rewards and results of this journey cannot be measured in monetary terms. While I strive to make this a consistent source of income and aim to do it for the rest of my life, the experiences I’ve had—especially at 23 years old—are invaluable. I can say with certainty that I wouldn’t want it any other way. The people I’ve met, the lessons I’ve learned, and the broadened perspective I’ve gained have shaped me in ways I never expected.

Through music, I’ve discovered more about myself than I ever could have imagined. I once had someone describe the guitar to me as “a plank with strings,” but through composing, producing, writing, and practicing, I’ve found a depth within myself that I wouldn’t have discovered any other way. I’ve also developed a strong sense of individualism and uniqueness, as the way I think, see the world, and express myself is valued both as an artist and as a creative.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I guess a key lesson I’m trying to share is that patience and resilience do lead to incredible results, self-change, fulfillment, and inherent strength. We live in an age where instant gratification is the norm, and our attention spans are shorter than ever. But when I set aside time for myself—time to play, work, and create—I’m able to return to a space where I can truly appreciate the process, rather than letting everything pass me by.

I also want to express myself through all the challenges, struggles, and lessons I’ve learned throughout my life up until now, and continue to learn in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Rohit rocks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rohit_h._sivaram/profilecard/?igsh=ZWU2YmxxbThqZWEw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-sivaram-4b5133191?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/GqhwLyrexMkikALj8
• Other: https://prsguitars.com/blog/post/pulse_artist_news_roundup

Image Credits

Aditya Prabhakar – clicksbyadi2