By Aparmita Das
Walking into the tent near the backstage after a performance that left everybody mesmerised and asking for more, Nikhil D’Souza, still riding the wave of applause, exuded the same humble charm that defines him. The tent, with its warm glow and a symphony of laughter from fellow artistes, provided a welcome respite after the open-air stage on that chilly December night at Umbir.
Amidst the lingering energy of his soul-stirring melodies, Nikhil’s team approached him, their concern evident in a simple question, “Nikhil, are you feeling cold?” The camaraderie painted a heartwarming picture of a team that looks out for each other.
The makeshift green room was a homely space, with cosy couches, but it soon became a cocoon of shared stories and laughter, as on one such couch, Nikhil settled down, and from the moment he began speaking, his humility and boy-next-door charm enveloped the atmosphere.
“Performing at festivals in the North East is like coming home for me,” Nikhil’s face lit up, a smile playing on his lips. “Be it in Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim or any other state, we’ve had some of our most magical gigs here because people don’t just hear, they truly listen.”
“It’s all about having a crowd that’s tuned in. A crowd that absorbs what you’re throwing at them.” Nikhil’s connection with the audience resonated in his words, capturing the essence of a shared musical experience. “Even today, when I threw out some brand new songs nobody had heard, I could feel people tuning in, catching the lyrics, and reacting to them. It’s downright amazing.”
Describing the beautiful exchange of energy, he animatedly explained, “It’s like a dance, this give-and-take. Their energy amplifies what we give, and what the audience throws back at us, we soak it up, magnify it, and throw it right back. It’s a loop of positivity.”
“When the chance to play more Indie music in Meghalaya came up, I jumped on it. I’ve been itching to share these songs. It’s been too long.”
In the quiet corridors of memory, Nikhil vividly recollected the roots of his musical journey, one that commenced in the innocent days of childhood. “Music was always within me,” he mused, the nostalgia evident in his reflective gaze.
Flashback to a time when Nikhil, a mere five or six-year-old, found himself plucked from obscurity by his class teacher. “I never thought much of it,” he chuckled, reflecting on the simplicity of those impromptu performances that unknowingly sowed the seeds of music. His classmates, unwittingly, became the first chorus to his childhood serenades.
As life rolled on, music patiently awaited its encore. Navigating school and college corridors, Nikhil found himself entangled in the practicalities of education. The dream of a musical career lingered in the background, overshadowed by more tangible pursuits. “I did my school, my college, and I didn’t think there was a career for me in this,” he admitted, a familiar struggle for many caught between dreams and life’s realities.
Then, enter the corporate world—a three-act play of jobs as different as keys on a piano. “I realised that the corporate world was not for me,” Nikhil confessed. Those three jobs, diverse as they were, served as a wake-up call. “I wanted to do something that made me feel alive,” he declared.
“So, I started doing my music, and there was no looking back,” he shared.
The conversation seamlessly flowed into Nikhil’s perspective on the impact of his music, despite the audience not always knowing his face. Taking it all in stride, Nikhil responded with a touch of self-deprecating humour, “Well, it’s cool because I don’t consider myself particularly good-looking. So I just hope my voice picks up among everyone.”
“As an artiste, it is the greatest feeling when your songs move people, when your lyrics mean something to someone,” he shared earnestly. Nikhil believes in the timeless power of lyrics, acknowledging that if a song holds meaning for someone today, it will continue to do so even two decades from now.
The idea of anonymity, with people recognising his voice without attaching a face to it, seems to be a welcomed aspect of his career. “That way I can be anonymous. I can walk around wherever I want and no one disturbs me. I can go to a coffee shop and no one cares,” he quipped.
However, amid this casual anonymity, Nikhil admitted to the occasional encounter with fellow musicians or aspiring singers who approach him for advice or to share their thoughts on his music. “And I appreciate that too. So I like all of it. I like where I am right now,” he said.
When asked about his support for independent musicians, Nikhil displayed a realistic and supportive approach. “Well, I mean, whenever independent musicians message me, I try and be as realistic and as supportive as possible without falsely propping up someone,” he shared.
His advice was straightforward and grounded. “You’ve got to tell somebody if they need to work on certain areas, you need to tell people what they should do to get ahead,” he emphasised, his tone carrying the wisdom of experience.
Despite his success, Nikhil humbly admitted, “I’ve not reached a stage in my life where I’ve become a mentor to a lot of musicians. I’ve not reached that yet.” This acknowledgement of personal growth added a relatable touch, making him appear less like a distant celebrity and more like a friend sharing his journey.
In a moment of introspection, he said, “Maybe in a few years, I think, I feel like I might get there. It’s that feeling that soon I might want to guide people a little more in detail.”
The conversation meandered through Nikhil’s awareness of the music scene in Meghalaya. Recounting his experience during the sound check at The Hills Festival, Nikhil said, “We were here during the sound check, and we came across musicians from a village who make their own instruments that the tribe plays.”
Expressing a touch of regret, he added, “We were looking forward to seeing them on stage, but that didn’t happen because we had to come back quickly and play the show and leave.”
Shifting focus to the local music scene, Nikhil highlighted the prominent names he was familiar with. “Soulmate, for example, is a huge name in the entire music scene in India,” he remarked, recognising the significant contribution of Shillong to the nation’s musical landscape.
Anoushka Maskey from Sikkim earned his genuine appreciation too as he noted, “I really like what she does as well.”
In a candid admission, Nikhil said, “There are some other musicians whose names I’ve heard just on and off, but I’ve not had a chance to listen more.” However, he was hopeful. “But I would love it if they sent me some music. I would really appreciate that.” It was a genuine invitation extended to local musicians, creating a bridge for potential collaboration and the shared joy of musical exploration.
On stage at the festival, Nikhil kept teasing the crowd, insisting that his songs weren’t about love. But, let’s be real, every word he dropped spoke of love. And the talk isn’t about romantic vibes here…his lyrics were drenched in an emotion that touched everyone in the audience, making it feel like he was singing just for them.
Reflecting on the exhilarating yet nerve-wracking experience of performing on stage, Nikhil acknowledged the stage’s dual nature, where the thrill of empowerment coexists with the potential for paralysing fear. “Well, it can be terrifying if you let it be terrifying,” he admitted with a hint of laughter, demystifying the vulnerability that precedes an artiste stepping into the spotlight.
Nikhil painted a vivid picture of the symbiotic exchange of energy between the performer and the audience. This reciprocal exchange, he noted, contributes to the unique magic that unfolds on stage.
Acknowledging the universality of nervous moments, Nikhil said, “There’s a chance you might falter, you might get nervous, and every artiste gets nervous at some point during a show.”
With a touch of self-awareness, Nikhil addressed the moments of jitteriness in his performance. “I don’t know if you noticed, but there were moments when I got a little jittery too. But with experience, those become less, but you always do get nervous a bit.”
“For me, being up there, I come into my own in a way that I don’t in normal life,” Nikhil revealed, highlighting the transformative power of the stage persona. “I’m a different person in my daily life…at home, at a coffee shop, outside with friends, but on stage, I am somebody else.”
As the musical notes still lingered in the air, Nikhil urged the musicians of Meghalaya to keep the music alive. “Keep doing what you guys are doing. You have such a beautiful music culture here. You guys are some of the best musicians in the country,” he expressed, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration for the local talent.
“Just do what you do and don’t let the music die. Remember, make music because you’re feeling it. That’s where great songs come from,” he added, leaning forward as if passing on a secret to success.
Turning his attention to the younger generation, he spoke with earnestness, “And that’s what I think the younger generation needs to understand more increasingly these days. Because it’s an age where it’s easy come, easy go.”
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