‘Find Your Purpose, Hold On Tight, And Take The Plunge’, says Award Winning Bangalore-Based Singer: Ashish Dubey

  Since the beginning, I have always been fascinated with music. My parents' Riyaz sessions after work struck a musical chord inside me that will last for many lifetimes. In college, Ashish Dubey was part of a band called Mary Jane (chuckles); "yes, we were Spiderman junkies"!, he added. "MTV's Battle of the Bands gave us a break. I have also performed in several intercollegiate, national, and international fests". In 2010, Ashish Dubey won the best singer award at a fest in Abu Dhabi. It was in 2014 that he first performed professionally with Mano Murthy, a leading music composer in Karnataka, and opened for Sonu Nigam. BV: From Management Consulting to Music, you are fearless! What's your advice to someone wanting to make the same bold move? Ashish: You have got to realize two things. One is getting in tune with your purpose and how bad you want it actualized, and two, you must face the fact that you will encounter failure. Depending on how strong your 'WHY' is, you will be able to overcome any failure life throws at you. Just START! Be dispassionate about the goal and pour your soul into your purpose. My parents and siblings have been my support system and guiding lights throughout the way. In 2016, my mother's last words to me were loud and clear: Never have any regrets. So, in 2016, I quit the cushiony corporate world and dived into my passion, fulltime. I've never looked back since. Finally, I would say, find your purpose, hold on tight, and take the plunge; it will be worth it! Dive into your passion BV: You composed an anthem adopted by Karnataka's Education Board AND released an album with UNICEF? Tell us about that! Ashish: Yes! Both surreal experiences. My anthem was for the cause of promoting primary education for children and empower them to have a brighter future! I believe education is the backbone of society. The anthem is in the regional language, Kannada. A similar version was translated and composed in Hindi and adopted by Delhi's Education Board as well. UNICEF signed with me to compose an album. It is called 'Ashish: Music For A Brighter Usha'. It went on to bag a few international awards. It was showcased in film festivals in Toronto, LA, and Vegas. In the LA Humanitarian Awards, I was awarded for the Most Promising Vocalist of 2019, which made me revel in the fact that winning for a noble cause is the best kind of victory. Ashish Dubey- Artist BV: In the music industry, who inspires you to create quality music? Ashish: Hands down, it is the music wizards behind the scenes. Music technicians and everyone who works on my music to create pure soulful magic. These are the unsung heroes who need more credit for their tireless service to us singers; they inspire me to make better music every day. My idol is A.R. Rahman Sir. I happened to meet him at the Cannes Film Festival with my sister, and I was star-struck! Luckily I got a push from my sister, she made me seize the moment, and I approached him and spoke to him with the utmost reverence. It was Divine! BV: What was your latest album/ song release? Ashish: My most recent is a lounge mash-up song with a lovely singer, Kahra. She originally composed the song called Vegas Strip. In our Hindi mash-up of the music, I tried my vocal cords at rap, and my partner tried hers singing in Hindi! I wanted to make this song approachable, smooth, and groovy for all age groups. Shooting it at Las Vegas was an enthralling experience. It's on Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. The more music I compose, the more my horizons broaden. Award Winning Singer- Ashish Dubey BV: Tell us about Lofty Spectrums? Ashish: It is a lifestyle blog that my sister envisioned. She lives in India and writes about Travel and Fashion, Lifestyle in general. We've been partners in crime since we were kids. So partnering on this just seemed natural. She brings in the soul and together we spontaneously seize every moment! https://www.instagram.com/p/CDlHTStjSNa/ BV: Have you ever composed a song just for your wife? Ashish:  Yes, two years ago! It's a love song that I have composed in Hindi and Kannada. It expresses my irrevocable love for the mother of my twin children! I sing for her throughout even without request! She is the wind beneath my wings, and my musical journey would be unimaginable without her. For more such updates, follow us on Facebook and  Instagram. Download our magazine Spunky Indian for exclusive stories.