My Musical Lineage & Heritage

People ask why my sitar sounds different. It starts at Gole Market, inside Rikhi Ram’s Music, where my father Sanjay Rikhiram has been hand-shaping instruments for decades. This isn't just about playing music; it’s about understanding the instrument from the wood up. When we work together, you get that same 1920-era dedication to craft, whether we're recording a single track or scoring a full project.

My journey isn't a solo act. It’s built on four generations of the Rikhiram family tradition. Growing up surrounded by the scent of raw wood and the sound of carving tools, I learned that a great performance starts with a great instrument. My father taught me the physics of sound, while my Guru, Pt. Ravi Shankar, taught me the soul of the raga.

This background allows me to push boundaries in modern production. I don't just pick up a sitar and play; I understand the harmonic potential of the instrument in a way that modern session players rarely do. Whether you need a cinematic score, a fusion track, or a meditative piece, I bring that lineage into the studio.

I combine this classical rigor with high-end tech. We record through industry-standard Neumann or AKG mics in professional environments, ensuring that the warmth of the acoustic instrument translates perfectly into digital stems or complex arrangements. You are getting a blend of 1920s heritage and 2024 production standards. It is this specific combination that I bring to every composition, from Spotify-commissioned works to brand scores for names like Aldo or Titan.