Auckland-based singer, songwriter and live performer Avish Sharma has captivated audiences with his unique blend of indie sound and soulful melodies.
Avish's path to music began with humble origins as he posted covers on YouTube, a platform that introduced him to the world and sparked his initial passion.
However, as time passed, he felt the flame dimming and a desire to explore new avenues within the realm of music. It was during a trip to Mumbai that the tide turned for him. A heartfelt conversation with his brother, who was already immersed in writing songs, shattered misconceptions about songwriting and composition.
Talking to The Indian Weekender, he reveals, “I used to post covers on YouTube years ago, but that flame slowly died, and it just didn't excite me anymore.
“On a trip to Mumbai, a conversation with my brother, who was already writing his own songs, broke down some walls and misconceptions I had about songwriting and composition being this very alien thing that one needed a lot of technical knowledge for. It turned out to be simpler than that and became sort of a therapy which I didn't realise I needed badly at the time.”
Avish’s songs have garnered more than seven million views across social media, and his songwriting is deeply influenced by personal experiences and emotions that resonate universally.
He acknowledges that while lyrics may often go unnoticed, they come to life when emotions like love, heartbreak, or loss strike.
"I was never really one to pay too much attention to lyrics. I think most people do not, until they're hit by a never-experienced-before emotion like love, heartbreak or loss of some kind. I feel an event like that gets you observing art more closely to make sense of things and heal.”
Currently stationed in the scenic town of Queenstown on a working holiday, Avish is channeling his creative energies into his upcoming music video.
"I'm filming a music video for this song "Jaane Do," which I've written and performed in collaboration with an Indo-Canadian artist."
For Avish Sharma, live performances are a way to forge powerful connections with his audience. Keeping this in mind, Avish is gearing up for his first-ever headlining act in New Zealand at Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland on September 23, 2023.
“The thrill of performing often comes with nerves akin to jumping out of an airplane, yet the exhilaration that follows is unmatched.”
Avish fondly recalls a memorable on-stage moment during a concert at an engineering college in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where the crowd's infectious energy created a rockstar moment that left him pleasantly surprised.
Preparations for Avish's upcoming show are well underway. “The preparations are going well. Over 60 per cent of the tickets have been sold already with under a month to go for the show. We have a great lineup of musicians and a super exciting song list of old and new Bollywood hits,” he says.
“Most of these songs would not have been performed live in Auckland before, so I look forward to seeing how people respond to them. I'm counting down the days to September 23. Auckland, please do come out. You're going to love it!”
Looking ahead, Avish envisions a future brimming with original compositions and musical growth. With aspirations that extend to collaborating with legendary composer AR Rahman, his ambition knows no bounds.
Tickets for Avish's performance can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.nz.
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