Today we have Vikalp Kataria, a professional singer in the house of Student Stories.
Vikalp, an aspiring Singer and vocalist from Ahmedabad has faced various difficulties in his venture. He got tumor in his right ear and went through 2 major Operations and several treatments in succession. He lost his hearing completely from right ear and his studies got hampered for 2 years. But his love for music did not end over there.
Vikalp’s Journey
His journey as a Professional Singer started in 2014, since then he has been performing and doing various public and private shows. He has hands on Hindustani classical vocals and is implementing on it.
Vikalp has performed at various cities all over India including Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Vadodara, Lucknow, Bhopal, Junagadh, and off course Ahmedabad. He has opened concerts for artists and also done promotional events for some reality shows
“I just want to make everyone happy with my singing” -Vikalp
Currently he is working as a independent musician with several bands and groups. He is the official artist of a venture called The Right Brains.
Let’s know more about him in talks.
Vikalp kataria’s Interview
1.When did you inculcate a Singer in you?
I always wanted to sing. I sang in front of my friends but was not that good at it. When I came to class 11’th, I realized that my voice had become better and few songs that I sung sounded good. There was a band in school but the teachers and the band musicians and other singers didn’t find me appropriate so I got rejected. I was a very shy and introvert person back then, never expressed anyone that I wanted to be a singer. I pulled my socks up and promised myself that I have to sing professionally and started working towards my goal.
2.What motivated you to become an aspiring singer?
The turnaround came when I passed class 12, I got tumor in my right ear and went through 2 major Operations and several treatments in succession. I lost my hearing completely from right ear and my studies got hampered for 2 years. Then doctors told me that there is no solution to my problem as the nerves had been damaged, the hearing aids too won’t work and I would have to live with one ear from now and I cannot sing. Few days were terrible, I cried, I felt helpless then I went through history that people with disabilities also have achieved things that were impossible for them to do.
Then I made up my mind that if they can, why can’t I do. I would practice to listen everything from just one ear and just kept singing and working. Now I sing even at very high pitches and do it comfortably with one ear. I proved doctors wrong. I proved some teachers wrong whom I approached to learn singing but got rejected as my hearing was not strong enough and that would effect everything.
3.Whom do you follow or who is your idol? What is your short term goal for now?
I have been following Sir Arijit Singh. He’s my idol and nothing less than god to me. In spite of so much competition today he sings most of the songs. The reason being that he can sing everything and make it sound really different. The range of versatility he brings along with the feel is incomparable. I want to be versatile like him. My plans for now are to learn more and more and just want to work more. I am coming up with my professional You Tube channel very soon. Also my aim is to be among the top singers on reality shows as now I will also be auditioning for them. I haven’t given any auditions till now.
4.You said “I want to create opportunities for other singers”. So, What are you doing for that?
Right now I work as a freelancer vocalist and I am a part of many bands and groups. Whenever I get any show I try to take different artists with me and give opportunities to them and recently I have also collaborated with an event company called The Right Brains, which is owned by Varun Gonsalves who’s like a very good friend and brother to me. They are doing great work by bringing shows and opportunities for the artists. So I give information to them regarding various artists they have a list of them and they bring work accordingly for them. They have collaborated with RedBull, event companies, restaurants, lounges etc to bring work for artists.
5. What difficulties did you face in this journey. Who all were your constant motivators and Supporters.
As discussed earlier, I have faced many problems to reach till here. My father is a government employee so initially he didn’t like it as nobody from my family has done it. I faced lot of health problems, I lost my ear and I had Tumor and after effects were : I got TB, white jaundice. I have almost had a two year break from studies and then I dropped out from IHM Pusa, Delhi the best hotel management college in India to pursue music.
I have been lucky that my Mother has always motivated me in some what or the other way. She would get angry at times but she was in my support, then my younger brother Vibhor, friends always have an important role and some of them are my best Friend Harsh Parikh and Shelly who have been all there in this struggle, others being Meghna, Pearly, Kirtee, Anushrid, Animesh, Henna, Heshha, Vedanti, Ruchi, Hardik, Sanu etc the list is very long, and random people in Ahmedabad who meet me and say “Aap boht acha gaate hain apko yahan suna tha (tellling the name of the place), ap boht aage jayenge”. It helps me to stay motivated forever.
6. Few words for our youth and aspiring singers. Any Suggestions or Quote to keep them motivated.
I want to say just keep working towards your goal. Don’t give up things may take time but you need to keep going with the same zeal and enthusiasm, Practice and enjoy music. It makes your life better and heals your problems. So just do it and enjoy it. “ People haven’t always been there for me but music always has “.
