SPEAKER_00 0:00

Music is not just about sound, it's about uh storytelling, emotions, and creating an experience that stays with you forever. And in today's episode, we have someone who doesn't just make music, he's a sculptor, a soundscaper who crafts emotions and tells powerful stories through his work. And today, in my show, I have someone who is a versatile music producer, a sound designer, and mentor who has turned his passion for music into a thriving career. His journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From starting as a passionate keyboardist in school to forming a nationally recognized band, from leaving behind an enduring degree to training at A.R. Raman's KM Music Conservatory, So Smith has truly swallowed his heart. He has worked on everything from viral songs and brand identity films to children's jingles and background scores. He's collaborated with national film award winners, worked with top YouTubers like Ansh Mehera, and created soundscapes that have reached millions of listeners. But beyond all this, he's also a mentor helping young artists shape their own careers in music and sound design. So today we dive deep into his journey, struggles and lessons. And for all the young dreamers out there who want to make it in the world of music and sound design, this episode is for you. So without further delay, let's invite Mr. Sushmit Nimburkar.

SPEAKER_04 2:18

Welcome.

SPEAKER_05 2:19

Hello.

unknown 2:20

Hello.

SPEAKER_05 2:20

How are you? Heartwarming uh you know introduction you have given me. I'm so so glad and thankful to you.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

No, you actually deserved it. You have got such a huge, you know, I would say so many feathers in your cap. So I thought that maybe it should be a bit longer. But yes, thank you so much. I full fully I'm so happy to see you on my show today. Just so grateful to you.

SPEAKER_05 2:46

Thank you so much, Kapir.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

And I don't want to wait basically any longer and let's start straight away with a podcast because I'm sure even the students, the listeners, the youngsters would be waiting to hear from you. So to begin with, because I came to know that originally you belong to the engineering background. So how come from engineering that is so logical, so technical to music, so creative field? So you started with engineering, I came to know, but later came to know that you followed your passion for music. So what was that turning point when you decided to switch completely?

SPEAKER_05 3:34

Uh to be honest, uh, I think I came back then uh when I I went into engineering college, I think back then uh it was uh you know trend kind of a thing to go into engineering college too, and then you become uh engineer, and and I didn't have any uh you know uh knowledge of where to go to study music or anything like that. So and engineering colleges were famous for bands as well, you know. Back then, that um all these bands uh used to come out of uh engineering colleges, and so I was just fascinated to go to engineering college to create a band. So from childhood, I think, yeah. So as I as I went into engineering, the only subject that I liked was physics because it had a certain sense of you know sound and audio and you know how to make these devices and stuff like that. So, and otherwise, I did very bad in the in engineering. So uh something uh uh that I learned from back then in engineering was uh that uh you know it was just uh uh road for me, which was not meant for me. Like I I thought I thought it was not for me. So I dropped out of the college actually, and this happened in final year. So I completed three years and never went to college. I instead went to competitions and I attended uh uh I actually it was true that a lot of other engineering colleges had the same kind of students like me, and I created a band with them, and then we went to a lot of band competitions because only engineering colleges were back then uh you know organizing these band uh band competitions and stuff like that. So, yeah, that was about it, but yeah, it was just uh you know, uh, what do you say? I was just passing by that kind of a road. So eventually I wanted to go to music, and it was the easiest way for me to actually go and find something because music education to convince uh you know, to convince uh parents to be that kind of a guy who is going to pursue music as a career, it was way very, very tough back then. I'm glad that now everything has turned, everything has come up to and people have uh you know uh so much record uh uh realized that you have to you know uh let the children be and uh pursue their passion, and yeah, it was a great kind of thing, even though back then my parents also supported me on whatever venture I wanted to go. But for me, the easiest road was through engineering, so yeah, that's how it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

Actually, I was just about to ask that didn't you get a thrashing from your parents for switching from engineering to music? But I would say you were the lucky one.

SPEAKER_05 6:45

That it was uh wanted you in music only, it was a tough uh you know tough decision for them as well, uh, to to to understand that what uh he is doing is not conventional, it has to be something else. But I think my uh it it worked for me, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:11

The stars were with you, yeah, and my parents as well because yeah, yeah, because see uh earlier I knew one engineer, in fact, the world knows it that from engineering to become a Hindi Kavi, yeah, Dr. Kumar Vishwas, right? And people love him, right? Yeah, and and now I'm seeing you from an engineer to a musician, I'm sure people will love you too.

SPEAKER_04 7:40

Yeah, yeah, thank you so much, right?

SPEAKER_00 7:44

Right, so currently, for the current generation, I would say, because though in the past there have been so many Hindi poets, right? But of course, for the current generation, I would say for the younger or the Gen Z Kumar Vishwaz is like the you know god of Hindi, and similarly, when it comes to music, somewhere Mr. A. R. Rahman has the same place, right? He's so much respect, he's done such beautiful work. So, I would definitely want to know A. R. Rahman's influence, like studying at KM Music Conservatory, it must have been a game changer because, of course, I'm sure nobody, not everybody can get through that, right? And you were the one. So, how did that experience shape you as a musician and a sound designer?

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SPEAKER_05 9:23

Okay, so there's a story there. Uh, during uh the time of engineering, my

(Cont.) From Passion to Profession: Susmit Nimbhorkar on Making It in Music & Sound Design

SPEAKER_05 9:30

I we were touring like uh mad, like I was in a band, the band was called, we created a band, the band was called Barud. So it's a funny name, but it's uh it's a very impactful name for a band. Yes, so we were based in Nagpur, it's a central uh like I I am born and brought up in Nagpur. So in central so gradually we started going out for gigs and all. So we started getting a lot of uh shows and you know uh the private uh shows and corporate shows after winning so much uh of competitions. People started calling us to their events, their uh their cafes and stuff like that. So we started performing at different different places, and then we went to uh we started going uh eventually we started going out of the city as well, near Gondya and Raipur and Chattisgarh. So that the radius was expanding, expanding, and eventually we started going out of India as well. So uh I we uh we as a band we went to Indonesia, Jakarta, and like uh places to perform, and uh we stayed there for a month or so. But before just before going, that my parents were convinced that okay, fine, now there is no going back to engineering. I think you are you are going to be a musician, so that that is final. So just get some education. So yeah, uh by then I had done a lot of research, and I uh my the biggest influence in my life was ARM ansur because he uh as a child, I always listened to his song, very had a very keen ear on listening to his song and his design because he was the guy I I I know for sure, and every no one will disagree on that, that he revolutionarized the sound of Indian music in uh in the world, right? There was a certain set of you know, there are a lot of other composers and producers, and everyone, but this guy he came up with a completely different kind of a sound, sonically. I'm speaking, right?

SPEAKER_02 11:45

Right.

SPEAKER_05 11:45

So I was very fascinated because every other song sounded like all of them, but Air Raman sound sounded a very uh very different kind of uh, you know, uh it sounded different to ears. That's that was the most uh inspiring thing for me to create something so revolutionary that entire generation can you know become a fan of him. I'm sure that many like most of the people are ARM fans because of that, uh because of that quality of his sound and songs, and they don't even know that it is the quality and the uh and the beauty of that sound and the compositions because songs are made by different composers, but the sound that he can produce that was the most important part. That's why when I came to know that okay, yeah, Reman has created a uh a university, uh yeah, a conservatory. So, conservatory is different from actually a school or a university.

SPEAKER_00 12:47

Conservatory, I was uh confused, but I definitely put new already uh answering my next question. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:55

So conservatory means they want to conserve a certain set of music. So R Rman Music School all uh was all about is all about, I feel that it's it's all about conserving Western classical music and certain section of Russian piano, they have a Russian piano course and they mentor all the students in a in a very peculiar way. It's not like a student and uh uh classroom kind of setup. It it can sometimes be, but most of the time it's one-on-one teachings and stuff like that. At least back then, uh when I was there, I I was privileged to actually uh be in that environment where there were less amount of students, and we could get hands-on experience uh with the great uh mentors that uh those who were there uh at that time, yeah. And uh it was amazing experience. I think it was the uh it was the first time I actually went to college. So and enjoyed it too, yeah, and enjoyed it too. So my routine back then was just simple. We just had to go to the school uh morning. Uh I think 10 o'clock the gates opened, and um every day it was no Sundays or Saturdays or something like that. The doors were open all the time. So from 10 o'clock to evening, 9 o'clock, the doors are doors are open. You can go practice, you can do hangout, you can do whatever you want. Uh there are mentors available. There are certain not too many classes, practical-based uh application was more of uh there. So I just went to college, just woke up, go to college, practice piano for six, seven, eight hours, or like like mad, like you just practice there because you get inspired by looking to other before that. You know, since we were touring in national and interact uh international and all, I was all in my head, like all over in my head, that I am the best musician and all. But after going that, that I I you know the reality the reality hit you hard. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very hard. That oh my god, there was there was this kid, uh, his name is uh Lidian Natswaram. So he's a child prodigy, he he's one of the biggest. He was back, I think he was eight or nine years old back then. And he was the fastest pianist in in the country, I think. And he was a he was amazing. He was he he's trained by you know, he was a born talented guy, and when you see nine or ten years old guy who's playing pianos and he's so well, you just have to you just have to put your weapons like everything down and just just practice. That's what I did for another, I think one one and a half year I was there, and I just fell in love. I made a lot of friends as well, so who are still with me and who are actually uh working so well. One of my roommates, he was uh he is currently now um the chief engineer to Ramansar, and uh yeah, all of them are uh really doing well. So, yeah, made good friends, made my kind of uh friends, and met uh met the you know, you just I feel like there is one song uh by Coldplay, it's called Paradise, right? So this uh this so and the video goes like uh there's an elephant who is trapped in the you know a zoo and he breaks out of it and he goes, he finds uh a jungle. When he goes there, he find finds his own people. So for me, that that that experience was like, Yeah, I finally found some my kind of people, so it was a really yeah, so you found your own tribe, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:05

Listening to you, it seems as if usually when we meet some elderly gentleman and doing something very energetic and all, so we usually say age is just a number, right? Yeah, but if uh you got a chance to uh watch and hear the child prodigy, and at such a young age, if he's able to play in such a beautiful manner, so again we can call that age is just a number, right?

SPEAKER_04 17:35

Yeah, yeah, 100% for for sure.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

Yeah, so but if I may ask you, what is the duration of the courses there?

SPEAKER_05 17:47

So I don't know about now, but back then there were different tiers of courses. So there's this something called foundation course, and uh, foundation is a year-long course, and it's divided into uh a diploma and then if uh a degree as well. So foundation, then year one, year two, something like that is there, and there are these are the main courses, then there are smaller courses, they are uh you know uh preparation, preparatory courses, which are like Western classical piano, instrument-based courses, western classical piano, or Russian piano, or vocals, Western classical vocals, or Indian classical vocals, or uh or and so many more. And then uh there are some other uh uh courses which I went for was a certificate course. It is uh it uh it is called electronic music production. So it was into electronic music production. There's another certificate course which was sound engineering. So sound sound engineering was the course when I was also there, I actually decided to go to KM for sound engineering, but I ended up going to uh music production because after visiting that uh uh facility, I came to know okay, this is not sound engineering, is not what I want to do. I wanted to do electronic music production. So, to understand that even though I had knowledge about sound engineering, or what I it was still very confusing back then. Exactly what am I going to go for, or what should I apply for, or how to proceed from here? The main goal was to just be there in the college, but right, yeah, but uh after that I came down to this niche that I found out my niche. Okay, this is what I want to do. So, so that's about it. Like it's it's pretty simple now, but back then it was very difficult to understand where do I want to go actually.

SPEAKER_00 19:57

So, can I say that they helped you give insights so that you could decide?

SPEAKER_05 20:03

Yes, yes, 100%, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

Right, right. Yeah, and uh for example, if somebody wants to go and take admission there, is it like you just go there, inquire about the course and pay the fees, or they do some kind of screening also before actually allowing you, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:22

There is a screening process where you you need to understand the basics of at least music, like as in uh you just have to understand that there are like there are certain criteria basically that uh the you need to know the scales and chords and basics of music, and at least you are eligible to understand, or else why waste your time and my time as well? That's the mentality of the that if they they thrive for it, they used to thrive for it, that actually the students uh should get some employment after doing this thing, yeah. So, yeah, it was it was uh really good uh uh that way. So, yeah, and also I I went, I I actually went for a sound engineering course, but then uh when I sat there on the registration desk and then I I get got a counsel about uh you know where to go from here. That okay, this is your interest, this is not your interest, even though the sound engineering course was way expensive than what I did, but still they suggested me don't do this if you are not interested in it, you must do that. So it was a very, very kind of a thing that they guided me on that. It was a great thing.

SPEAKER_00 21:39

Nice, nice, nice. And moving further, if I talk about Gen Z, we are you know, we attend concerts, we you know go for live music sessions, and it's actually mesmerizing the ambience, everything, right? It's so exciting and energetic, and then there is studio production, right? Yes, now we as are as an audience have a different take altogether, and those who are actually in it creating live music or in the studio production, there's a total different perception, right? Yeah, the reality is far different than what we actually see. Now, you have played live, you have worked in studios, you have done sound design. So, according to you, which aspect do you enjoy the most and why?

SPEAKER_05 22:31

I think it's about the balance. Uh I feel the like any other thing, without a balance. Meal or below without a balance of everything, life doesn't work like that. You need to have balance of all the things. So, uh, in my career, I also went for a lot of you know, if you are, for example, if you are having a coffee and you put too much milk or too much coffee or too much, so it spoils the dish. You need to have that certain amount of everything to actually enjoy this profession. That's what I uh that that's what my opinion is about this profession. Because sitting for me, sitting all the time in studio, it doesn't uh it will get some someday it will it gets on to me. It's good it gets on to you. Poor poor time all the time when I I had done this actually, I was on stage for 31 days, 365 days like a year. Like I was every day, I was touring, I was playing shows and everything. I it took it it took a toll on my physical and mental health, both both of them.

SPEAKER_01 23:44

Right, right.

SPEAKER_05 23:45

So too much of everything I I think is not recommended, or uh this thing. So for me, I cannot live without going on stage because that is where you get uh you know uh this uh you belong. Yeah, yeah. That that is where I belong. The other thing uh that uh that is um uh studio in studio, this power of creativity is such a you know, you have you get that sense of creator kind of a thing, like not not in in the sense of uh you know, uh not in the sense of ego kind of thing, but I'm saying that you get a sense of there is nothing existed just before uh cre uh there on the project file or ears, and you have the power to create something from thin air, it's like magic for me, right? So it's a beautiful experience that out of nowhere you are putting out some plucking these notes from here and here, and some some rhythm from here and here, and uh you're creating this beautiful piece of music, and you're presenting it to the world, and it gives you a sense of you know it it just is very heartwarming.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

Then uh magical experience, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 25:10

It's a magical experience giving sound or background scores to a film, it is just another experience that you are it's all about teamwork as well. In that, yeah. So so it taught me teamwork, how to work with team and how to follow the direction of the director. So there needs to be a team lead, there is needs to be a director to direct you. That this film is his guy. If I'm making a film, I would uh direct in a certain way a music, but to listen to other person and to create this piece with someone else, that is also a different kind of experience. So everything in a small quantities that makes me whole. That's what I would I I would like to answer to that.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

Yeah, beautiful, beautiful, yes, yes, and I the excitement, the happiness in your voice is actually showing that how you felt, right? Yeah, I know I can understand.

SPEAKER_05 26:16

It's a daily affair for me, I think. I every every month I this I have decided to do uh two shows or one show maximum. That's it. I do only two or three concerts. To do this two or two or three concerts, you actually need three or four days of practice as well, every week to be in in touch with uh the stage and to be to to be there on so it's it's just uh it takes a lot of work to actually perform a show. So and to create all these things, you have to be at it, you have to be willing to sit in front of the computer as well to produce some something. So it's it's all about balancing all the time and uh and realizing that it that's how it doesn't get boring. Even music gets boring sometimes. If you abuse it, if you abuse the timing of it, if you do, if you don't take care of your mental health, physical health, it it takes a toll.

SPEAKER_00 27:15

Right, right, right. Because then you're not able to perform at your best, right? So obviously it takes the toll. I can definitely understand that. So, but I when I was reading your profile, I saw you've worked on so many things from brand identity, films, viral music, so there's so many things in your kitty. So, if I may ask you, what is the most important lesson the industry has taught you?

SPEAKER_05 27:46

I think the industry has taught me how to handle rejections. That is the most important part because I've been rejected and still getting rejected so many times, but the one time that you succeed that gives you so much happiness, and rejection is just part of the creativity. It doesn't have to, you know, uh everything that you create or is your opinion at the end, it has it doesn't need to be perfect, or it it it has you don't have a right to be say that I have uh to be get hurt every time you have to get rejected. So to become uh industry has taught me how to handle this rejection, and that's why it uh I have I think this uh uh this learning of accepting all the things has come to me that okay, fine, it doesn't have to work all the time, and you have to keep on uh perfecting it and working on it until and unless you uh everyone is happy.

SPEAKER_00 28:57

So that's that's that's the way I I fully agree, Sushmidji. This is something very profound that you have said handling rejection because you know it if we are not able to handle it, and of course, a newcomer it puts him down, right? But of course, the person needs to understand that he needs to work harder, work more, something more is accept expected of him, right? And it is just a feedback, right? Which is which should basically help him or help him decide that okay, in what areas he has to improve, exactly, exactly so, yes, so it is more about acceptance, definitely, as you said. I fully agree that the youngsters, the teenagers must understand that that even rejection is part of your growth.

SPEAKER_05 29:51

I think it's the integral, the most important part part of your growth.

SPEAKER_00 29:56

Right, right, yeah. And you back down or you stand up and then create something, you know, improve yourself and then come back, create a comeback. Yes, yes, yes, that's a very, very important lesson. I fully agree on that count. Yeah, but then breaking into sound design because I've seen many teenagers are so passionate about music, but you know, don't know how to enter these different fields, how to differentiate between the two. So, what advice would you give them?

SPEAKER_05 30:32

So, uh, to be honest, sound design for me is a recent finding for uh for me uh for me personally, and I have been loving it, and I actually came to know okay, this is called sound design. So, there actually there is this story behind this. Uh, how do I came to the sound design part of it? Let me explain you that story actually.

SPEAKER_00 30:56

Let me narrate I'm sure everybody would love to listen to it.

SPEAKER_05 31:01

Yeah, I'll tell you what happened was uh as I said before, I was into touring and bands, and I was always um uh uh into the product uh on the live front. Uh even after K Music Conservatory, I came to Pune and I went to you know uh playing all these gigs, also while producing music for and freelancing for other uh a lot of clients over in the town and all over India and abroad. So I came across this community called Association of Designers of India. So, Association of Designers of India is a is a very uh very beautiful community of designers. So they have been uh conducting these festivals called Pune Design Festival and Mumbai Design Festival and Bangalore Design Festivals, and these are all the designers, and they are a beautiful bunch of senior people who uh for whom we were booked to play one day. So yeah, so we played there, and these were the bunch of people who actually stood out for me as while playing, as people on stage while while I was on stage, they were listening to Bullesha's Kalam, and uh they were listening to whatever we are we are we are we were playing uh original compositions and everything. I was expecting them to uh you know uh to be a normal gig someday, but that was a very different experience altogether. That these guys understood that okay, these are artists and they they need to be respected, and how they so I instantly fell in love with the community itself. I made friends out of there, uh uh in there, and I joined this community of designers, and then I came to know oh, there is a whole whole another field called sound design as well. So, what do sound designers do? They actually create these logos, the Nokia, uh, you know, the handshaking logo and the Zomato thing, these are also part of music, right? These are also these are also the the Nokia jingle, the ATL jingle, all these small, small things, and this these are all the uh components of sound design, and okay, so then I came to know okay, films also have sound design, the follies that you hear, and the integration, the person who does the integration of all the music, sounds, and everything that is the sound design. So I didn't know that before. I was only doing music as an album, as a singles, as uh as for you know, as a song, or maybe a background scoring, or something like that. Who is the guy who integrates that all those things and puts uh uh and creates it it with a uh as an audiovisual experience or maybe auditory experience, the things that you listen on railway stations, the that that is also sound. The the games that you play on uh on the on the on your phones, that is also sound. So everything is designed for something. So that's why that's when I came to know that oh my god, this is a different field altogether. Let's try this.

SPEAKER_00 34:27

So these guys were just listening, just listening to you is sounding so interesting.

SPEAKER_05 34:32

Yeah, so you know this uh so uh now next year I I come to this community again, the same festival, the Pune Design Festival. What I came to understand was okay, let's uh they gave me an opportunity to work with uh Suresh Ariad. He's a national award will winner for uh he has created so many films, uh animation films, and every year he does this uh identity film that the opening film for the festival, which sets the the objective of this film is to set the tone of the festival. The first thing that they show in the festival is an identity film that this year this is the theme, and this is the identity, it sets the energy for all the speakers and all the listeners over there, and it's an amazing, huge festival. There are 5,000, 6,000 people maybe there. Uh, and and this they they play it in big, huge speakers. And uh Suresh uh is so sweet, he took a chance with me, even though he's so much of a huge uh you know uh uh influence to a lot of he has worked with almost all the composers from Bollywood in this industry and all, and he just gave me a chance. Okay, you work on this, let's try. Okay, and we did, and it was a huge success. Like till date, this film is recognized. It also won some award um in India as well, the identity film as well. So, yeah, it was uh it was just the starting point of the sound design, and I instantly knew that this works for me, and then eventually I drifted towards sound design. Already now I know how to produce music, I know how to produce songs, but how to integrate it with the uh video part of it that was new and exciting for me, and that's how I uh now have drifted towards more of sound design and sound design. It is it is actually uh making me more you know uh more delightful and uh more satisfied. Experience uh the feeling is very much satisfying myself on this now. So, yeah, so one more thing to add in my you know uh skills to that is that is how I think it should be for any musician, to be honest, that you keep on learning and learning and exploring, and maybe some some next year I will be venturing into some other direction of music itself, but there are so many, it's a C, I think. Right, right, go for it anytime.

SPEAKER_00 37:18

I must say, as if you are having multiple honeymoons in the music industry, yeah, exam correctly described.

SPEAKER_05 37:29

I think it's uh new venture every year, maybe every you're enjoying every bit of it. Yes, yes, yes. I think more of it, I I personally like learning more and more things, so that's why I enjoy this thing. And uh I think what you're doing for one thing for a very longer time, it might get boring for me. So that's that's the kind of personality maybe I am. That's why it happened.

SPEAKER_00 37:57

No, that's true. See, you are creative, so obviously, it is I'm sure it comes from within only to try different things because that's also part of creativity. Yes, uh, yeah, definitely. But as a little while ago, you said that there are times when you get tired, right? So obviously, there when you were talking about the balance in the workplace, so obviously, we many times have heard about the creative block of a professional, right? So every artist faces it, but how do you deal with them and what strategies help you stay inspired? Because you have been doing so many things, still, you look so energetic, so excited talking about all this. So, what is the basically reason behind it? What's the secret?

SPEAKER_05 38:53

I think I have bypassed the creative blocks, to be honest. So, creative block happens to professionals who are extremely mad up to be in my opinion, it happens to professionals who are extremely tight on deadlines and also uh are doing one single thing uh all the way, all the time. So, if for example, if I'm a writer, writer's block or a composer's blog, if I'm composing say three songs a day, there will come a point when my brain will reject that idea of composing any more tunes or write any more kind of a song or do any kind of a thing. So, to deal with that kind of a thing, you have to do multiple things because if you get bored of this, you can do that, if you get bored of this, you can do that, and all acquiring all the skills, if you have all the skills in your pocket, then you can choose to go anywhere you want. For for I I don't know about other people's, but I'll I'll take example of my own kind of a thing. If I'm for example, if I'm currently I am working on uh two albums of two different bands, uh, one uh one film with Anshmera, one film with Xora Studio, one uh uh you know one uh one or two singles and one voiceover project, and these are all the things that I'm working on right now, currently. So, whatever inspires me now, that's what I follow. And I I and I know for a fact that it this is what I do and I love doing it. So my mentality has become that okay, fine, this is the time for this, and this is the time for that. Okay, if I'm not feeling like this, I can do that. So that's why I said that I I think I've bypassed all these things. So so to for people who are listening, I think you need to find your own safe space to not be bothered with this kind of things. I don't think it is that uh that that you know uh that easy to hit that level that you will you will be able to say that oh I'm I'm getting a uh you know writer's block or a musician's block or any kind of a thing or any kind of a block. If you are interested enough and you know yourself well that okay, this is what where I'm going to get stuck. You have to anticipate it, okay. Fine, there is there's coming a saturation point of this. Let's switch it before that kind of thing. So I've learned to navigate all these things. So I I don't know when I was facing a block ever actually. I would if nothing is working for me, I would just just sit and and watch Netflix and and listen to the sounds how other people have did did and get inspirations from there. So, for example, just recently, I think third or fourth time I I watched a series called The Breaking Bad. It's so it's so amazingly well designed, and it has won so many awards and it has won so many hearts that I still I get amazed by how how these people have designed the sound. Uh looking at now from my skills now, when I even when I see Harry Potter movie, how well it is sound design. I I don't know if I was this, I had this kind of a you know knowledge back then. So looking old films again is a new kind of a refreshment for me because I understand the technical aspects of it now, right? Right, yeah, so that's about it.

SPEAKER_00 42:49

Yeah, yeah, that's so what I gather from you is like you have been creating and you have been learning at the same time, yes, and that has helped you in a big way, right?

SPEAKER_05 43:03

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:04

Great, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 43:05

That's I think I think obviously this process for me is a loop, and I think I will be I will be carrying this process for my own kind of thing because I it's it's my habit now, and it it has become uh for me. Yeah, so true. So I don't know if uh I agree or disagree, I don't agree on as well as disagree on the thought of getting a block, it's always a way there, some some way or other way, yes, yes, right.

SPEAKER_00 43:39

Agree, agreed. When you work with top creators and brands, right? Now when we are working for somebody or you are working with a creator, as you already said, it's a teamwork, right? And usually what happens is the team leader gets the recognition, right? And so how important is networking in this profession, and what about your personal branding? How important is that? Because I believe or I assume that when you are known personally, then you don't need to go out and look for work. People ask you to be part of their team, right? So, how important is that?

SPEAKER_05 44:31

So let's let's break this up into two parts. First, we will talk about networking and then we come to uh the um the personal branding. Personal branding. So the first about the first part networking. I think networking is the most important thing in any kind of profession, not just in music, in any kind of profession that will help nurture your mental growth and it will boost you in a substantial way, like as in a in a very rapid way. For example, you have mastered one art, maybe, or if you are on a verge of you know mastering one art, or you think that you are the you are in this domain and this kind of a field, and it is very the most important thing to find a better person than you. That's why networking is important. That's what I feel, right? Okay, there is one space where uh you don't know about yourself. Uh okay, after a certain point, you are steady that okay, this is mine this is the end of the subject matter, I feel, and I cannot go further beyond a point. That's when net networking helps you. That is the application of networking. Now, how do you network? It is very difficult for most of the people who are specially introverts, and maximum, I think there are a lot of people, like I don't know how many percentages per se, but I know of so many people who are so introverted that they are not able to network. So for them, I think it is to consider this networking is a very difficult task. So I would suggest that go to some physical place instead of just networking, are multiple, there are multiple aspects to it. There are digital networking, you use you just uh some LinkedIn request to someone or just Facebook or Instagram follow, and you try to I would say Sushmanki networking is all is like a life skill.

SPEAKER_00 46:46

If you don't know it, it's better learn it from some exactly, exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_05 46:51

And I learned this networking skill from going to a conferences and all because that's and I just came to know after this ADI uh association of designers of India only. I came to know okay, there are so many people who can actually contribute in your growth and your uh how they can actually show you mentor you. You get so many mentors, and you get so much inspired by going to these events. Uh, I went to this All About Music, uh it's a it's a conference from India, it's it is one of the biggest music conferences in India. It happens in Mumbai, it's called All About Music, and you can't imagine around seven or eight thousand musicians, music professionals, they come at one place, and there are sessions for three days from morning to evening, where the top uh industry professionals are the all of them, like from AR Raman to Vishaldlani to all the top composers, producers, Salim Suleiman, everyone and every aspect of it the record label owners, the like the record label, the record label producers, the uh ANR, the artists and repertoires, and all the music professional, the magazines, the music, everyone is sitting there and they give their talks, and they are so approachable that you can just go and talk to anyone. It these are some very great networking events where you can just go, you feel you will instantly feel you know safe there because everyone is so approachable and friendly, and it's it's just beautiful to just talk to anyone, or even you have if you are not able to talk, then these guys make you talk because there are events happening, there are activities happening to make you talk. So, that is for for introverts, it is a best opportunity, I think. If right uh if they they make you sit uh uh facing each other and just introduce yourself and talk to you, so something like these events and all, these are the most important thing, and networking for sure, how would you grow at after a certain point? After a certain point, as in you you can keep on chasing and your own direction or your own skill, but it just stagnates at one point, I think. So, so the first part about networking was that the second part was regarding branding, uh, personal branding. This is something which I'm myself am uh now getting, you know. Uh uh, what do you say? Um, I'm trying to build that kind of a thing. Now I have learned how to build it because of Anshmer and because of whom I'm working with. So personal branding is, I think, in today's day the most important aspect to get the business actually, to actually get money out of it.

SPEAKER_02 49:57

Right.

SPEAKER_05 49:57

As a musician, as as musicians, or as sound designers, or as producers, there is there is uh some kind of a you know, there are hundreds and hundreds of people out there who are doing the same things, and how would you stand out? That that's where personal branding comes in. Personal branding helps you in, you know, uh putting out your name in a certain way. If if you are able to do that, you will multiply your business or your photo or your field to get more networking as well. So both of them go hand in hand. So it's I think it's it's it's like that, and it is in today's age of uh you know Instagrams and uh YouTube and everything, it is very important to be out there on the latest platforms, on the latest skills, and everything.

SPEAKER_01 50:56

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 50:59

Okay, see, for example, I am in Delhi, right? So it's like somewhat the next question is related to the previous one only. And uh when uh we see the opportunities, the good work is taking place in Mumbai, right? So when a delight person views Mumbai, it's like all it seems so magical, so heavenly, right? And there is an urge, okay, I should also do something, some creative, and many times youngsters feel that they have the passion for this. So, but every thing is uh you know, so looks so charming, right? But uh when they actually land up there, obviously passion is one thing, yeah, but of course, at the end, you need financial stability, right? You fun once you need financial stability also. So, how can one monetize their skills in music and sound design?

SPEAKER_05 52:07

Okay, so um I'll I'll I'll break this out this down into a couple of pieces wherein okay, first of all, I don't think that it is necessary now in today's date to be in Mumbai or in Delhi or any kind of thing anywhere. Okay, you can sit at your place, you can sit and you at your place, and there are so advanced uh AIs and so advanced uh you know platforms to actually help you work and uh efficiently from your own space. For example, I am working with Anshmara remotely. Ansh Mera is sitting in Delhi, I am sitting in Pune, I am still sound designing for him on all his uh Instagram, YouTube, and everything. Okay, the whole team is not remote, just a couple of us are uh remote guys, but others are in Delhi, whoever is required. But I don't think it is necessary that you have to go to Mumbai or you have to go there or you have to. It is better. I would not uh uh deflect that. I think it is it is important to to build that teamwork and to to stay at one place and to uh build your relationships in person. But if you are if in any condition, if you are not, that should not stop you. That is what I uh I intend to say with that. Okay, the second thing is how to get more business or jobs or how to earn out of music. The first thing is you need to be ready to learn all the time because there are uh uh no skills are going to be uh the the industry, the the uh you know this medias and everything, they are upgrading at a very rapid place pace right now. I am talking about currently five years back. The game was different, now the game is different with AI in the market, with uh generating. It is it is just the the you know the economy has just going it is it is just going to be 10x from now because you can create in a couple of years. I won't be required to actually make music today. Also, there is Suno AI, which you can just type in something and it generates music for you however you want, and they are only going to be, you know, uh uh it is going upwards only. So, to know the skills, you first have to be clear on your basics, and you have to be updated like today, like what whatever is going on, you need to be updated. That is going to get you a job or any kind of a scale, uh any kind of kind of money as well.

SPEAKER_01 55:05

Right, right.

SPEAKER_05 55:06

If if you are, for example, if you are a musician who is performing, who performs, or who wants to perform, then he needs to be updated on the latest uh songs, for example, and to be updated on the latest gear, the the guitar he is playing, the with the mic he's into singing, and to to to practice on the latest kind of uh you know art form, which is trending, and the trend changes with with time. So for them, it is that for producers, they have to be very familiar with AI and all the traditional aspects as well, because to prompt to an AI, to prompt to an AI, you actually require skills, you need to understand basics of it. So, like AI cannot help you in that situation. So, you need to be very clear about your basics, uh basics, but being updated as well. That's what I feel for some people who are into sound design and all, you need to be updated on videos as well. So recently I've started learning, like I I knew a little bit of uh video editing as well. Being a sound designer, I don't I don't I didn't need that skill, but then I thought, why don't why why should I not up my game? And then I started learning video editing as well. That how do you actually do this? How to communicate. So communication is very important in this. No, so if you are working with a team or anyone, for example, if you are a band of five people, if you are uh working in a company with 10 people, even if you are a solo person who needs to scale your your kind of a thing. So for scalability, you you need people, so it's a team game. When when 10 people come around, it is it is much more scalable uh to grow the business or to uh actually earn money out of it.

SPEAKER_00 57:14

So should I be sending this video to you for editing?

SPEAKER_05 57:20

Sure, I would love to. So yeah, so it is it is like that. I think uh uh you have to Malab, it is imperative to be very, very updated, right? To actually uh earn out of it, and it is very important because there is no other way, as such. There is still uh in India at least, I don't think uh for us as musicians, uh, we get that much of a payment uh per se on on uh you know you know, like an IT guy or something like that. So to earn your way in music, it takes a little bit of a learning curve altogether, and to be good at a lot of things, so and I'm sure it is going to be more relieved with time as people realize that this is actually uh uh I don't think 10 years uh back uh I could say to any of my relatives that I'm going to be a musician and so easily as now it is right, yeah. 10 years back, it was not even considered a profession, it was a hobby always, and for most. Even if I tell something, step one, do this, step two, do this, step three, there is no convenient way because it's a creative field. It is as it is exactly similar to being a painter as well. For a uh an artist who wants to be become on the next Picasso, I don't know how there is if there is a roadmap to it. Right, you can only hope for the best. There for a cricketer, for example. So, even for a cricketer, there are clubs out there, and every everything is there, but at the end of the day, are you not sure, and that's what that's why people are more scared of it. Uh, the parents are more scared of this fact that uh how to go to this direction when you don't have a traditional or a roadmap to it. Step one, do this, step two, do this, step three, do this. It doesn't have work like that in creative fields. For engineering, it's like one year, second year, third year, fourth, some kind of a PG. Maybe even if you don't have a PG, then go for a uh a course on specializing this. You go that and you would get employment or something like that. For business person, you can do an MBA, you learn about basics, these are the laws. This is this law, this is that. For a designer, there's Higgs law, there is this law for UX UI designer. Like there are there is certain roadmap to it for musicians and for music producers, for sound designers, there is a certain kind of a there are always going to be hurdles because you have to understand it is a creative field, and creative field uh you know, creative field it asks a lot, and you have to be ready to be giving and getting as well. So, yeah, so it's a it's a it's a tough road, but I I think I work to walk on a lot of my friends, I and all of not all of my friends, maybe like for example, what I see in my what changed for me from all in all these years, I have realized that I am in love with my profession more and more each day. Like, interest but the thrill for me is more than it was before, and I don't think it is going to go down, it is going to always go up for that. Is the that is the upside of being in this uh field that you are not getting uh in creative field that you are never going to get bored of your life itself, right? Right, no chance of of getting down, it is always up.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:54

So that's even I wish this should keep on increasing, like you have said, and I'm sure after uh listening to this podcast, or in fact, watching on YouTube YouTube, that dilemma that how to move forward in this profession, that dilemma will also end. But I I'm just afraid that some parents might not say, Okay, Sushmu did engineering first, so you do engineering first and then move on to the music field.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:23

Yeah, I think there are now some colleges which who are offering degree courses after your uh graduate uh uh 12th standard itself. Okay, even after 10th standard as well. There are a lot of colleges, and they like the situation of music education in India has gotten better. That's I would like to inform you that that for for parents who who are watching this, that and those uh those who think that their son or their daughter can uh go to a music school or they are interested into music in any kind of in any kind of a art form where whether it be uh instrumentation or sound design or sound engineering or any kind of live sound design or whatever it is, I think the education has gotten better and it is only going to go go uh up because of all the people who are getting interested into it, right? And the more opportunities. Also, by going to this uh uh these these events held every year, uh like uh all about music and every other conference, music conferences as well. I came to know that these numbers, the people attending to these conferences is getting more and more like they are getting uh bigger number each year. So that which means that music scene in India is growing, which is a good news. The more number of people they come to this uh to understand to gain knowledge, the more uh more education system will be also we uh people will be spending more on education as well. So it takes a lot of it takes an army to build uh you know a whole lot of people to build a castle, so it's like a castle now. It and it is building, it is building, and it's going to go better only, I think. Yeah, yes, yes, and now out of all the work that you have done, which project is the closest to your heart and why I think the current project is the closest because uh because uh the current doesn't whatever is today, whatever I'm working today is the closest because once it is done, it is released. I don't know if I look back at it because the okay the the journey is more fun than the destination, you know.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:57

On this yes, kind of yes, so true.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:59

Yes, to to create a song or to create a design, the process is more beautiful for me than the result itself. After this is done, then it is done. Your song is viral, that is to public opinion, it doesn't matter because I do it for myself, so I know that for me. And once that is done, then gone. When it is released, then it is released.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:25

Or if I may rephrase my question that okay, which project you enjoyed doing the most, or you had real fun time doing it.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:37

I again it is the same, but okay, for uh let's some projects which stood out. I if I see to be honest, all the all my projects because I worked on all the projects with equal heart, I think. Yeah, so they're your babies, yeah, yeah. They are all my babies, and I I love them dearly. And even if they work, if they don't work, it doesn't matter to me because all the journeys I have enjoyed it. There's no single project that I worked on and that I haven't enjoyed. I I think, but for some, I stood uh some uh some of the projects stood out for me because the team was very inspiring. Uh on them, for example, uh both the films with uh with Studio XORA Suresh Arya, the identity films for uh Association of Designers of India, Pune Design Festivals, both of them were amazing because the level. Of precision, the that uh the vision, the concreteness of his vision, which Suresh has, is just next level, and I think he rejects a lot, so it is more challenging and love it. The people who reject me a lot uh on the design, I love them. Then another is I think Anshmara's um uh uh title sequence that is also a title sequence for a video series called the playbook. Okay, uh, where they teach uh they where we teach a lot about uh you know uh life skills as in how these are the videos of case studies, and for that we created a title sequence that okay, this is uh playbook and uh it's powered by Zeroda Zero One Network, and I I just love that project because Anj gave me full freedom to spend how much ever money you want on this project and create something good. So it was so much fun that someone, if someone gives you the freedom to spend how much money on you want on the studios and get the best product out of it, it's just a breeze to just you know create that. You you it's not something that you every day you uh uh get to go to the studios, the best studios in in the country, and just uh create uh and book the best uh you know uh best artists, musicians out there, and call them and record them in the best possible environment. So, yeah, there are some projects which just stands out in terms of the journey of it, but not a not as a favorite kind of a thing, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:28

Right, right, right, right. I I get that. I I get that, and see, Suj, it's so amazing, you know, talking to you, your vibe is so exciting, right? So, as like because but yes, we have time limitation, right? So, as final words, you know. So, if a young listener dreams of making it in the music and sound design, yeah, what's the one piece of advice you would give them today?

SPEAKER_05 1:09:02

I think the one the most important piece of advice is to be a student all your life, to be be a lifelong learner, be a lifelong learner and don't take take yourself so seriously because it kicks in the a lot of ego. I think that's that's the the the the the one advice I give for myself and to others as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:36

This is really very profound, very deep. Of course, I'm sure the Gen Z would definitely be able to relate to it, and this is actually very, very important to understand that that if you are being creative, you are doing something that you love, right? So you you should one should enjoy that, and as you rightly said a little while ago, that enjoy the journey, yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:03

So it's all about journey. If you are, I think if if someone is not enjoying what he's doing in general, at every single moment of every single time, I think one should thrive or just work towards that uh I'm not sleeping for 12 hours now, as in now. I have to be awake from morning to even evening. How this every single minute is going to be interesting. Because that's it. If every if you are able to achieve that maza in all 12 hours, I think that's the happiness.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:51

Right, right. So true, so true. So, Sushma, this was actually lovely talking to you, right? And no, I actually want to talk more, but yes, I'm sure I'm going to invite you one more time because it's really exciting, and this podcast is coming out really well. And I'm sure the listeners will also agree with me. So, thank you. Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:18

Thank you so much, thank you so much, Kapil.

unknown 1:11:20

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:21

Yeah, thank you. Wow, what an incredible conversation with Sushmit. His journey is proof that when passion meets persistence, magic happens from stepping away from engineering to working with some of the biggest names in the industry. His story reminds us that the following your heart and owning your craft can open unimaginable doors. So for all the young dreamers listening, whether you want to be a music producer, sound designer, or an independent artist, remember what Sushman said. Consistency, network, and continuous learning are the real game changers. So if you have a passion for music, don't let it stay as a hobby. Learn, experiment, collaborate, and create. Who knows? Maybe one day you will be the one inspiring millions. So if you love this episode, make sure to share it with friends who are passionate about music and sound design. And don't forget to subscribe to the Couple Gupta Career Pod Show for more inspiring stories and expert advice from unconventional careers. So follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more amazing content. And if you have a career-related questions, reach out to us on Instagram or Linda. So until next time, keep chasing your dreams and making noise that the world will remember. Thank you.