Skip to content

The classically trained DJ and music producer

cicelygrace Kishan Thakrar, standing outside, holding his hooded top, standing in front of high rise buildings. He is wearing a white top, trousers and a blue hoodie, He is smiling at the camera and looking straight at the camera. cicelygrace
Kishan Thakrar said "when I'm in a nightclub and you're hearing electronic music and everyone's enjoying, there's a connection that unites people through music"

A classically trained musician who is making his way as a DJ and producer in the electronic music scene says it is OK to "break the rules".

Kishan Thakrar, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, completed a four-year degree in classical composition at the Royal College of Music (RCM).

The 25-year-old said being the only Gujarati Indian in his year was a way of representing his background as he grew up listening to Indian and Bollywood music.

During his course he was told not to separate the different classical and electronic styles he likes as "it's all essentially music".

Kishan Thakrar Kishan Thakrar in a studio, by screens, and a keyboard, producing music. Kishan Thakrar
Thakrar was born and raised in Northamptonshire but now lives in London

Growing up listening to the BBC Asian Network, Thakrar said he always loved music and was thinking of studying physics and maths, so he could become an engineer and "have a stable career".

But during his A-levels "I couldn't get off the piano".

"Then I got into writing. I didn't know it was composition necessarily. It was a hybrid between producing and composing."

He said while "gigging on a piano around Northamptonshire" a musician in residence at his school advised him to apply to RCM, which he never thought he would get into.

"It was a really useful course because we studied everything and as a producer it's helping what I do, because it's all the background fundamental information, I'm not writing an opera, but I'm still applying what I learnt.

"I'm obviously trying to make it as a producer and DJ, while I'm young and have the energy to be able to do the gigs, but I can still do composition and arrangements."

cicelygrace Kishan standing outside wearing a white top and blue hoodie, he is standing with high rise buildings behind him. He is looking straight at the camera and smiling. cicelygrace
Thakrar used to belong to the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust

He said sometimes his training did not work in his favour as "you don't have to have everything diatonically in the right chords and key".

"Along the way people may put you off or say 'you can't do this and you can't do that', but just break the rules and go for it.

"Music should excite you and whatever's exciting you, even if it's not conventional and people are saying it isn't right, just pursue it and create the art that needs to be created."

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

You might also be interested in
Related internet links