This week, Team Happinez had the esteemed pleasure of speaking with Ronath - a multi-talented musician who has made the successful transition from covering songs to creating high-grade original tunes.

·      Tell us little about yourself

I am 18 years old. I come from a tight-knit family that includes my mom, dad, and sister. I’m currently a Performance Marketing Analyst at a leading Digital Consultancy agency, a software Engineering undergraduate, a table tennis player and a musician. Music has always been a part of my life since childhood, and it has helped me in so many ways. Not only does it bring me joy and fulfillment, but it has also been a great way to balance all the demands of work and life. Whether I'm writing songs or performing on stage, music is a creative outlet that allows me to express myself and connect with others.

·      How did you get into the music industry?

My journey into the world of music began when I was just a little one. My dad, the music enthusiast, suggested that I take up the organ. But alas, my tiny fingers weren't quite ready for the complexities of Bach's organ fugues, so I decided to try my hand at guitar instead. It was love at first strum.

Before I knew it, I was the lead guitarist in my school's orchestra and had also become the senior brass band leader. Being the introverted singer that I was, I never quite made it to center stage to belt out a tune. But I found solace in my trusty guitar, plucking away and bringing joy to others through my melodies. Throughout my musical journey, I have learned a lot from YouTube. I watched countless guitar tutorials and production videos, soaking up all the knowledge I could get my hands on.

And then the pandemic hit. At first, I felt lost and disconnected from my music. But then a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of my dear friend and fellow music lover, Eshika. We decided to collaborate and began putting out covers of some of our favorite songs. It was the perfect creative outlet and brought us both so much joy.

As our confidence grew, we decided to take things to the next level and produce our own original music. We delved deep into our souls and poured our emotions into every note and lyric. It was a journey of self-discovery and artistic expression that we will never forget.

·      Was there any specific turning point along the way when you joined the school orchestra as a lead guitarist that made you realized that music was something you were really good at than expected?

Certainly! Being a part of the school orchestra as a lead guitarist was an incredibly enriching experience for me in many ways. Not only did I realize my own potential and skill as a musician, but I also learned so much about different genres and styles of music. The exposure to diverse musical traditions and cultures helped me broaden my horizons and develop a more nuanced understanding of music as an art form.

Moreover, being a part of the orchestra also helped me overcome my fear of performing on stage. It was initially daunting to perform in front of a live audience, but with time and practice, I learned to become more comfortable on stage. The experience instilled in me a passion for all aspects of performing, from creating music to producing it and performing it live.

Overall, being a part of the school orchestra played a crucial role in shaping my journey as a musician, and I am grateful for the valuable lessons and experiences it provided me.

·      Tell us about your transition from making music covers to producing original music. What made you produce original music?

Transitioning from making music covers to producing original music was a natural progression for me as a musician. While I loved creating covers of my favorite songs, I began to feel limited by the constraints of someone else's music. I wanted to express my own ideas and emotions through my music, rather than simply reinterpreting someone else's work.

The decision to produce original music also stemmed from my desire to leave my own mark on the music industry. I wanted to create something that was truly my own and unique to me.

Making the transition from covers to original music also allowed me to experiment with different genres and styles of music. It was exciting to have the freedom to explore my own musical identity and to try out new ideas. While it was a bit nerve-wracking to put myself out there with my own original music, the process was also incredibly rewarding and has allowed me to grow immensely as a musician.

·      What are some challenges you had to overcome while you transitioned from making covers to producing music?

One challenge I faced during this transition was discovering my own unique sound as a musician. It was important for me to distinguish myself from the original artists and create something that was truly my own. I spent a lot of time experimenting with different sounds, styles, and techniques until I found something that felt authentic and true to me.

Another challenge was learning how to write and produce music from scratch. While making covers gave me some experience with the production process, creating my own original music required me to start from scratch and develop my own songwriting skills. This required a lot of practice, trial and error, and self-education. My music pal was of utmost help in all these scenarios.

Finally, one of the biggest challenges was overcoming the fear of sharing my own original music with the world. When you create something of your own, it can be very personal and vulnerable. It was scary to put my own work out there for others to hear and critique. However, I knew that taking risks and putting myself out there was necessary in order to grow as an artist.

·      You mentioned about following a sound engineering diploma. Tell us about it.

Pursuing a diploma in sound engineering was one of the best decisions I made for my music career. The diploma program provided me with a solid foundation in music theory, composition, and sound engineering technology. I was able to learn from experienced professionals who had a wealth of knowledge to share. Through the program, I also had the opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow musicians, which was invaluable. I learned a lot about the technology and equipment used in the music industry, and how to use them to produce high-quality music.

·      Tell us about the first song you produced.

"Ride On" was an emotional and personal song for me, and it was a collaborative effort with my friend who shares a similar love for music. We poured our hearts into creating this song, and it was a truly rewarding experience to see it come to life. The song has a deep meaning that revolves around the roller coaster of emotions that come with love and relationships. It's about the struggles of letting go of someone you love, the fear of being alone, and the hope of finding love again.

We were both thrilled to see the response we received from our fans and friends after releasing the song on various streaming platforms and YouTube. It was a surreal feeling to see our hard work paying off, and we were encouraged to continue making music together. We are currently in the process of making two more original songs, and we can't wait to share them with everyone.

Music has always been a passion of mine, and it has been a fulfilling journey to create and produce original music that reflects my experiences and emotions. The process of making music has allowed me to express myself in ways that words alone cannot, and I look forward to continuing this journey and exploring new genres and styles of music.

·      What are your future plans? Are you planning to expand your album by releasing more of your music?

I have a lot of plans for the future. For one, I have a long list of covers that I'm excited to tackle, and I plan to release full versions of these covers rather than just short reels on social media. I'm also in the process of creating two new original songs that I hope to release soon.

I'm hoping to continue doing what I love, which is making music and sharing it with others. Specifically, I'm looking forward to doing more live performances, whether it's at local venues or even online

·      What’s your advice for aspiring introverted music-lovers out there just like you?

Believe in yourself and your passion for music, and let your introversion be your strength. Embrace your unique perspective and use it to create something that only you can.

PHOTO – FAHAD FAZYL