Growing up in India, music was not just background noise; it was the lifeblood of our culture. Indian cinema, especially Bollywood, has always woven stories with music at its core. Songs were not merely interludes but emotional extensions of the narrative. As a child, I was mesmerized by the larger-than-life musicals, where melodies translated feelings into cinematic spectacles.
A Home Filled with Music and Visual Art
My personal connection to music goes beyond cinema. My father, Shanker Sahney, is a celebrated singer whose powerful voice has resonated across countless stages. My grandfather was the Head of the Music Department at Punjab University and was the first to introduce the guitar into Punjab’s music curriculum—a groundbreaking move at the time.
Our home was a living concert hall. Mornings started with the rhythmic beats of the tabla and the soulful hum of the harmonium, which acted as my alarm clock. While most kids woke up to digital alarms, I woke up to live musical sessions. These early experiences ingrained rhythm and melody into my subconscious.
A Unique Way of Experiencing Music and Visual Art
While I can't produce sound myself, I see and hear it with heightened sensitivity. Music, for me, is more than just an auditory experience—it's a vivid tapestry of emotions, colors, and stories. This unique sensory interplay became my creative strength.
Visuals from My Mother’s Influence
My visual sensibilities come from my mother, a gifted fashion designer. Her understanding of patterns, textures, and aesthetics taught me how to craft striking visuals. This blend of auditory and visual inheritance shaped my artistic voice.
Discovering Global Sounds and Visual Art
As I grew older, American content entered my world. I was exposed to hip-hop, rock, R&B, and cinematic scores from Hollywood films. This cross-cultural exploration expanded my creative vocabulary. I learned how music could be minimalist yet profound, atmospheric yet emotionally resonant, and how visual art could enhance storytelling.
Music and Visual Art as a Unified Experience
Today, when I create visual media—whether it's a music video, film, or commercial—I approach it as if composing a song. I see visuals as notes on a scale, blending rhythm, texture, and emotion. Every frame is a chord; every transition, a beat.
Music and visual art taught me that storytelling is universal. It doesn't matter where you come from—India’s soulful ragas or America’s driving rock beats—music is a language that transcends boundaries. My journey from waking up to tablas at home to crafting visual stories on global platforms is a testament to that truth.
In a way, I still hear those early morning harmoniums and tabla beats, guiding my creative process—transforming sound into sight and rhythm into vision.
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