There’s a unique joy in receiving accolades for the very thing you were once criticized about. For musician Shourya Malhotra, this paradoxical pleasure wasn’t just a fleeting moment; it became a cornerstone for his future pursuits. Now, with his latest release “Still Breathing,” Shourya’s journey offers an inspiring narrative of resilience and passion.
Speaking from Delhi, Shourya reminisces about his early beginnings. “I started my journey in high school, where I was part of a band,” he begins. “We performed our first song at a school assembly, and someone suggested my guitarist should fire me, saying I was a terrible vocalist. I was in eighth grade then, and that comment hurt.” At the time, Shourya was heavily influenced by metal bands like Lamb of God, Metallica, and Pantera. “I tried to emulate the metal vocalists I admired,” he reveals.
After diligently practicing his metal vocals, Shourya said that the same person who once disparaged him was pleasantly surprised by the improvement in his singing. “That was the push I needed,” Shourya admits. Later, he formed a progressive heavy metal band, Trigger, during his college years. The band performed at various venues across India and even won Blitzkrieg 2013, the cultural festival of IIT Delhi.
Shourya’s musical journey took concrete shape while he was a first-year law student at Symbiosis, Noida. “Today, Trigger is busy writing a full-length album due to release next year,” he shares, noting that this endeavor is a fitting response to any critics he might have faced along the way.
Despite his passion for singing, Shourya also learned to play the guitar on his own during his first year of college. “I’ve always seen myself primarily as a singer,” he explains. After five years of studying, he began practicing law in 2015, focusing on energy and mining law. However, the pandemic prompted a reevaluation of his life’s priorities. “Just before the pandemic, I felt disconnected from my career in law. My passion for music had taken a backseat, so in 2020, I quit practicing law to pursue a solo career as a singer-songwriter,” Shourya recalls.
With a deep affection for indie folk music, Shourya began to channel his energies into creating music that was softer than his previous metal work. “I started this project in 2020 and released my first song, ‘For Lost Memories,’ in 2022. It was about a final goodbye drawn from a personal relationship,” he says.
. Since then, he has released four more songs, with ‘Still Breathing’ being the latest addition to his repertoire this April. “In June, I dropped my first Hindi song, ‘Kahi Duur,’ which is a soft acoustic track about love,” he adds.
Shourya attributes his inspiration for indie folk acoustic music to artists like Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, and Laura Marling. “Laura Marling is an incredible songwriter,” he notes. His songwriting journey began during his third year of college, but he initially hesitated to release his work due to the absence of streaming platforms in India at that time. “Releasing music was a completely different ballgame back then,” Shourya points out.
Taking the plunge in 2020, Shourya decided to follow his dreams wholeheartedly. “I told myself that I might not become the richest or the best musician, but I would get to write the songs I always wanted to,” he shares. “Picturing myself five years down the road as a lawyer, I didn’t like what I saw. Going all out on my passion seems to be paying off a little bit.”
Shourya’s music is deeply personal, drawing from his own life experiences and inspirations from various artists. “My aim is to share my story and life experiences through my music. I want my songs to potentially change someone’s life, just like many artists have impacted mine,” he reflects. Elliott Smith’s “Between the Bars” holds a significant place in Shourya’s heart. “That song saved me in a way. If I can write just one song like that in my lifetime, I will consider it a success,” he asserts.
In addition to his music career, Shourya now assists other musicians with contractual disputes. “I used to say I’m a lawyer who’s also a musician. Now, I say I’m a musician who’s also a lawyer,” he quips. Shourya hints at an album’s release, which will include around four new songs likely to be launched in November. “And I’ll continue to release my Hindi songs as singles,” he adds.
Shourya Malhotra’s latest track, “Still Breathing,” is now available on all streaming platforms. His story stands as a testament to the power of following one’s passion, undeterred by the naysayers.
