Akash Ahuja, a musical force hailing from the vibrant streets of New York, seamlessly weaves together the rhythms of modern hip hop with the soulful beats of Indian Bhangra. This fusion, unique to his sound, has become the hallmark of his musical journey. His love affair with music began in the early years of his life, and it was in 2020 that he unveiled his artistry to the world with his inaugural release.
Beyond his music, Akash’s magnetic presence on Instagram has created a digital stage where he connects intimately with his ever-growing audience. His videos, often amassing millions of views, serve as testaments to the devoted fanbase he has cultivated.
The world quickly took notice of Akash Ahuja’s talent, as evidenced by his appearance on the iconic Times Square billboards. His meteoric rise continued with sold-out tours across the country, showcasing his magnetic performances and infectious energy to adoring fans.
Ahuja’s star continues to rise, with his tracks simultaneously finding homes on the coveted iTunes Pop and Hip-Hop charts. As he continues to break new ground in the music industry, Akash Ahuja stands as a testament to the power of cultural fusion and unwavering passion.
In a recent interview with Pooja Kashyap of GrooveNexus, he reveals the idea of blending modern hip hop and classical Indian influences, his musical journey, hit track “Balenciaga”, collaboration with two-time Grammy-nominated artist Fetty Wap and Lisa Mishra. Furthermore, he talks about his upcoming album & performance at Zomaland.
Pooja Kashyap: What sparked the idea of blending modern hip-hop with classical Indian influences?
Akash Ahuja: Nothing sparked the idea, it’s just the most authentic way for me to express myself. I grew up around classical Indian music and the influences of Hip-Hop.
Pooja Kashyap: Share a glimpse of your musical journey since starting at age 13.
Akash Ahuja: My musical journey since the age of 13 has been a long one, and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t extremely difficult and challenging. I have been releasing albums and songs since I was 13 years old and didn’t see a glimpse of success for the first 10 years. The only thing that carried me through was my ability to live in my imagination. When I was performing for small crowds or getting bops, in my mind I was doing this for the 10k raving fans. If a song only got 100 streams, in my mind, it was 100 million streams.
Pooja Kashyap: How does it feel to witness your fan base grow exponentially since your debut in 2020?
Akash Ahuja: It almost feels expected. I am extremely grateful for everything that has been happening, but I’ve been imagining these moments for over 10 years now. So now that it’s happening, it almost feels like “It’s about damn time!!!!”. My fanbase is my motivation, my love, and my source of sense, which allows me to create the art I do every day.
Pooja Kashyap: What do you think made “Balenciaga” such a monumental success, hitting 300k views in a day?
Akash Ahuja: I didn’t even know we hit 300k views in a day! While in the grand scheme of things, Balenciaga may not have any record-shattering stats. But for me, it was a monumental success. With every release, we make mistakes, we learn and sometimes stumble upon things that work. We try to take all the lessons from our previous releases and apply them to the next one.
Pooja Kashyap: How did the collaboration with Fetty Wap and Lisa Mishra come about? Collaborating with a two-time Grammy-nominated artist like Fetty Wap must have been incredible. What was the experience like?
Akash Ahuja: Madstarbase showed me some beats they were working on, and one of them has a vocal from Lisa Mishra on it. I asked them if I could have the record, and surely enough, they let my record on it. I had recorded and re-recorded my verse several times until I was happy with it. Then a few weeks later, after running into Fetty Wap at the studio, and after we had built up a relationship, I played him the record, and he hopped into the booth immediately and laid down the verse in a matter of minutes… And now we have Balenciaga!
Pooja Kashyap: What emotion or message were you aiming to convey through “Balenciaga”?
Akash Ahuja: I wanted to convey that feeling of that first flirtatious encounter with someone, and extremely light-hearted and playful interaction.
Pooja Kashyap: Your live shows are described as vivid dreams brought to life. How do you prepare for each show?
Akash Ahuja: In a world where people are burdened with stress and worry, and are constantly told to be realistic and practical, I think everybody needs a break from the real world. They need to live in their imagination. Whenever I’m performing I feel it’s my job to help people let go of the stress and worry, and live in their imagination. I feel the best way to do that is to be present in the moment and to really talk and connect with the audience. Worry and stress are often related to things in the past or the future. But if you can have your audience be present, the worry and stress become nonexistent.
Pooja Kashyap: Tell us more about the custom 3D visuals and dazzling lighting in your performances. How do you ensure the infectious energy of professional dancers resonates with your audience?
Akash Ahuja: I’m very blessed to have an amazing team that just lets me focus on being present on stage. WhizzMedia handles all the visuals, Agum handles all the dancers, and Mariana takes care of all my outfits.
Pooja Kashyap: What can fans expect from your upcoming album, touted as India’s biggest Hip-Hop collaboration?
Akash Ahuja: The fans can expect a journey into their imagination. Whether it’s sitting on a beautiful beach, being intimate with someone they love, to heartbreak and the everyday grind.
Pooja Kashyap: What impact do you hope to achieve by bridging music between New York and India?
Akash Ahuja: Nothing. It’s not planned, and it’s just the most authentic way I express myself. The year for me is split between the US and India, so I naturally take influences from my real-life experiences, in the states and overseas.
Pooja Kashyap: You’ve mentioned a collection of unreleased tracks performed at various shows. Can you share a bit about the inspiration behind these bangers?
Akash Ahuja: The inspiration behind all of my music is always things that happen to me in real life or the way I imagine my life. For example, when I recorded “Espresso Martini” it was about a date the night before going into the studio. On the date – She said – “She thinks all the men are the same, she thinks vulnerable means pain, she thinks I’ll cheat because of fame” These words struck a chord with me and became the foundation for the song’s lyrics. From there, the song practically wrote itself as I drew upon our conversation and the emotions it evoked. This authenticity and freshness of inspiration made the creative process seamless, resulting in a track that resonates deeply with me and hopefully with my listeners as well.
Pooja Kashyap: What has been the audience’s response to these unreleased tracks during your performances?
Akash Ahuja: Some songs I noticed that the audience reacts to better than others, such as “Bella”, “On A Mission”, and “Oh Yeah”. But that is because those are great performance songs. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the other songs shouldn’t be released; they’re just made for different environments, such as car rides or introspection.
Pooja Kashyap: Could you describe the atmosphere and enthusiasm during your “Balenci Tour” performances at Zomaland in Kolkata?
Akash Ahuja: The atmosphere and enthusiasm were unreal. It was the most insane energy I’ve ever felt. For the first time in my life, I shed tears on stage because of how overwhelmed I was by the crowd.
Pooja Kashyap: How did you choose which songs made it to “The Setlist” EP from the ones that resonated profoundly with the audience?
Akash Ahuja: We just chose the 6 songs that got the best audience reaction during my shows. I also added a bonus song I recorded days before the release called “Espresso Martini”.
Pooja Kashyap: “The Setlist” EP is now available worldwide on streaming platforms. What made this the right time to share these fan-favorite tracks with your audience?
Akash Ahuja: If I’m being completely honest, it wasn’t the right time. Looking back, I wish we released this right before the tour.
Pooja Kashyap: Were there any specific moments or memories from your live performances that influenced the creation of “The Setlist” EP?
Akash Ahuja: Touring didn’t inspire “The Setlist”. “The Setlist” inspired the tour. A lot of the dances and themes through my shows on tour are curated around the vibes and energy of the songs.
Pooja Kashyap: You mentioned receiving over 500 DMs from fans seeking access to songs performed during your sets. How important is fan feedback and engagement in shaping your musical direction?
Akash Ahuja: Fan feedback and engagement are extremely important to me because it motivates me and inspires me. But I try not to let it change the way I express myself through music.
Pooja Kashyap: Have you noticed any particular trends or themes in the songs that fans gravitate towards the most?
Akash Ahuja: I actually haven’t been able to pinpoint any trends. The songs that perform the best are always a surprise to me and the rest of my team.
Pooja Kashyap: How do you plan to continue engaging with fans now that “The Setlist” EP is out?
Akash Ahuja: More music, more content, and more one-on-one interactions. I try to keep myself accessible to my fans.
Pooja Kashyap: In what ways do you envision your music evolving based on the reception of this EP and your live performances?
Akash Ahuja: It gives me more subject matter to write about. It also gives me more motivation and inspiration to keep recording and releasing.
Pooja Kashyap: How do you see “The Setlist” EP complementing your previous collaborations, such as the historic “Balenciaga” track?
Akash Ahuja: I think “On A Mission” in particular was a new and exciting direction for me. It gave me an opportunity to connect with my roots, just like “Balenciaga” did.
Pooja Kashyap: Is there a specific emotion or feeling you hope listeners take away from this curated collection of fan favorites?
Akash Ahuja: I want people to pay attention to the lyrics and to really imagine they’re living the stories I’m telling.
Pooja Kashyap: What message do you have for your fans who eagerly follow your journey?
Akash Ahuja: Live In Your Imagination!
Pooja Kashyap: Anything else you’d like to share about your music, upcoming projects, or aspirations in the industry?
Akash Ahuja: Massive project. Quarter 4, 2024.
About GrooveNexus
At GrooveNexus, we believe in nurturing and empowering emerging artists, allowing them to gain visibility and recognition in the music industry. Our platform is a launchpad for talented musicians to showcase their unique styles, genres, and artistic visions.
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