My Story
Music has always been a part of my childhood. Growing up and listening to music on the radio and playing my dad’s LP records made me a music lover.
The early stages of a journalist’s life often shape their career in profound ways. For me, influences from family, early exposure to writing, and mentorship experiences played a significant part in fostering a passion for journalism.
From a young age, music was an integral part of my life. Listening to songs on the radio and enjoying my father’s LP records nurtured my passion for music early on.
In 1989, while still in senior college, I took up a part-time job as an audio recordist, where I transferred music from CDs and LP records onto audio cassettes. This period also marked the beginning of my journey in journalism when I began submitting news snippets to a local Bandra newspaper, The Bandra Star, published by the late Mr. Vincy D’Mello. I later contributed to another publication, The Front Page, run by the late Mr. Alexius Pimenta, where I handled a music column. Although I enjoyed these experiences, I had to step away upon graduating from college. Nevertheless, these were my earliest forays into the field of journalism.
My assignments from the Editor primarily involved covering music news and events across the city. I even had my own music column titled Pop Talk beginning in June 1992, which featured profiles of both international and Indian artists each month.
My family was initially unsupportive of my pursuit of journalism, preferring that I follow the airline career path embraced by my siblings. Despite this, I am confident that my choice was the right one, as I have since built a successful career as a music journalist.
My first written piece appeared in the annual college magazine of St. Andrew’s called Andra annual. During my final year in college, I was offered a three-month temporary position as a Trainee Assistant Editor at The Teenager magazine (later renamed The Teenager Today). I was selected to join the magazine’s Editorial Board, marking the official start of my journalism career in May 1992.
After earning my BA in Psychology from St. Andrew’s College in Bandra, Mumbai, I secured my first professional role as an Operations Executive at a courier company from 1992 to 1997, occasionally taking on onboard courier duties.
In the absence of the internet at the time, I sourced information by picking up foreign music magazines from the streets of South Mumbai. I visited music shops like the now-defunct Rhythm House at Kala Ghoda and Hiro Music House on Hill Road, which were among my favorite haunts. Additionally, small shops near Victoria Terminus sold imported music cassettes that I eagerly collected.
I built connections with record labels, soon landing on their mailing lists for press conferences and music launches. They sent me audio cassettes and CDs for review, growing my collection to over a thousand CDs and a substantial number of vinyls. Executives even reserved imported 12” dance singles just for me.
Mumbai became a hotspot for international music concerts. Record labels and PR firms began inviting journalists like me to cover them. One highlight was meeting Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply, who were so impressed with my article that they gifted me an autographed letter, CD single Daybreak, and signed photo.
Over time, I’ve interviewed a long list of global icons: Richard Clayderman, Akon, Alan Parsons, all members of Iron Maiden, Anoushka Shankar, Buddy Guy, Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), Vengaboys, Herbie Hancock, Joe Satriani, Ian Anderson, Kenny G, Michael Learns to Rock, Shaggy, Steve Vai, and many more.
The job came with perks: attending world-class concerts and capturing close-up photos of artists like Michael Jackson, U2, and Katy Perry.
My career progressed when I joined The Secular Citizen magazine, becoming Associate Editor on a freelance basis from August 1994 to September 1997. In January 1998, the magazine shifted to a tabloid format and dissolved the editorial board.
A skilled crossword creator, I began crafting music-themed crosswords for BMG Crescendo (India) Pvt. Ltd., which were featured in their quarterly newsletter distributed worldwide.
In 1998, I joined The Record music magazine, writing music features and interviews until its closure in 2007. I also contributed to Bombay Times, West Side Plus, Ngage, and The Free Press Journal.
From there, my freelance journey took off. I wrote for many publications including The Coastal Observer, Bandra Samachar, The Examiner, Vision (Goa), MatchMaker, Pathfinders Weekly, The East Indian Journal, Mangalore Today, Youth Action, Ad World, Raga to Rock, The Advertising Brief, Industry – In Touch, Upbeat, Better Photography, AV Max, G magazine, BTW, and Yuva.
In 2000, I contributed a chapter titled Somewhere Over the Rainbow… to the book Reflections for the New Millennium (released Sept 2000). At the Bandra Book Fest that November, I was honored for my contribution by then Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Chhagan Bhujbal.
Also in 2000, I served as a panel judge for The Teen of the Year Pageant.
Blending journalism with aviation, I curated inflight playlists for South African Airways, Air India, and Jet Airways, and contributed to Jet Screen magazine.
As the new millennium began, I joined music websites like ragatorock.com and musicabsolute.com as an E-Content Executive, where I handled music news, interviews, features, bios, and editorial duties.
With a Fuji Film camera in hand, I entered photography. A breakthrough came in 2010 when a bullock cart race photo I took was published as ‘Pic of the Week’ in HT Café. The image, titled “Race Against Time,” symbolized urgency with a clock design on the bull.
This opened doors to covering events visually. My work appeared in The Teenager, Vision (Goa), The Coastal Observer, The Secular Citizen, The Examiner, G Magazine, Ngage, My Doctor, The Free Press Journal, Business India, and The Afternoon Despatch & Courier.
By 2010, I had built a large archive of music content, which led to my first book: The Great Music Quiz Book, published in 2013 by St Pauls. Launched by Gajendra Verma (Mann Mera), it included a foreword by Rahul Sharma and quiz sections on Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and more.
In 2012, I contributed a chapter on the Christian Contribution to Music and Entertainment to A Concise Encyclopedia of Christianity in India, released in 2014 at the Papal Seminary in Pune.
To preserve my stories and images, I launched www.musicunplugged.in in October 2013. It quickly became one of India’s top online music platforms.
In 2018, I released my second book: The Great Rock Music Quiz Book (Story Mirror), with a foreword by Lesle Lewis. The cover photo, taken by me, featured Slash performing in Mumbai.
In 2024, my concert photography gained attention. Smart Photography ran an 8-page feature, The Sunday Free Press Journal spotlighted me, and Business India included me in their People Column.
Then came the highlight: India’s first Music Concert Photography Exhibition, held at the Bombay Art Society in Nov 2024. Featuring 64 photos, it was inaugurated by Louiz Banks and widely acclaimed.
On 29th Nov 2024, I was awarded the Kaka Baptista East Indian Star of the Year 2024 at the East Indian Community Awards (EICA), recognizing 42 achievers.
My most recent work is a chapter titled Indian Christians and the Exhilaration of Music in the forthcoming encyclopedia Christians in India – The Nation’s Vital Asset, set to release in 2026.
Today, I continue to contribute to The Free Press Journal and manage www.musicunplugged.in. When I’m not working, you’ll find me relaxing by the beach at our family farmhouse, near Mumbai.
