Shreyas Patkar – Kashish by Shreyas

‘Some artists sing to impress.
Some sing to entertain.
And then there are a rare few who sing to connect.

Shreyas Patkar belongs firmly to the last kind.’

Born and raised in the cultural heart of Mumbai, Shreyas grew up surrounded by creativity yet walked the familiar “accepted” path of stability… corporate roles, oversea job, and a well-defined 9–5 life. But beneath the polished routines and professional milestones lived a voice that refused to be confined. While the world saw a travel professional navigating Doha and Mumbai, music quietly became his parallel universe… one built on relentless riyaz, emotional honesty, and an unshakable bond with live audiences.

That bond eventually found its name: Kashish by Shreyas… an intangible pull, a magnetic emotional connection that listeners began to feel long before it became a brand. Whether through nostalgic ghazals, semi-classical explorations, soul-stirring unplugged sessions, or high-energy celebrations, Shreyas didn’t merely perform songs… he crafted unique experiences. Experiences where time slows, memories surface, and generations sit side-by-side, united by melody.

With over 18 years of Hindustani classical training under Pt. Suresh Bapat, and performances alongside legends like Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Sukhwinder Singh and Shivamani, Shreyas has carved a unique space in India’s live music landscape… one that balances discipline with spontaneity, and tradition with contemporary expression. His journey from intimate house gigs to international folklore festivals across Europe, from corporate stages to original compositions released at iconic venues like the Taj, reflects not ambition alone, but purpose.

Today, Kashish by Shreyas is more than an identity… it is a philosophy. One that believes music must first speak to the heart before it moves the feet. One that treats every performance as a responsibility, every audience as a collaborator, and every note as a chance to tell the truth.

In this soulful conversation with Sumita Chakraborty, Founder & Editor-in-chief, TheGlitz, Shreyas Patkar opens up about the leap from security to self-belief, creating Kashish by Shreyas, the moments that shaped his artistic awakening, the power of live connection, and the evolving journey of an artist who chose fulfillment over familiarity… and found his truest voice in the process.

Over To Shreyas Patkar

From 9–5 to the Stage: You made the bold decision to leave a stable 9–5 job and follow your passion in music — a risk many dream about but few take. What was the moment that made you realise music wasn’t just a pastime, but your true calling?

 I was raised in Mumbai in a happy artistic family from Dadar, surrounded by creative art and a house full of music interest. But at the same time, a career in performing arts was never really considered a viable full-time profession. My lineage was rooted in commercial and fine arts, and creativity, but no one before me had ever pursued music as a career. So, with the typical society career norms to get a settled work-life balance, I began my journey in airline and travel management, but at the same time, I began my formal Hindustani classical music training in 2003.

After completing my B Com with IATA, I worked with major tourism companies in India and was for several years in Doha, Qatar, employed by one of the leading travel companies in Qatar. Even there, I continued with my Riyaz and improvisations in my spare time. In fact, I became the weekend singer for many Qatar-based Indian communities and performed a wide range of genres from collaborating with local Asian artists to Ghazal, semi-classical to retro and so on…

The appreciation from all my listeners was encouraging, however, renowned Indian artists visiting from India for a performance in Qatar would often advise me that if I truly desired to discover my place in music and explore further, I should return to India, as the depth of art resides there. In Doha within a small expatriate circle, one can easily feel like the “best and only” entertainer, but after a point, exploration ceases when one is away from their motherland.

Though I noted these much-valued advice, I still didn’t immediately shift towards Music – I wanted to explore more until I gained full fledge performing abilities.

I came back to India in 2013 and joined one of the biggest Mumbai based travel companies, giving up almost 50 per cent of my salary which I had earned in Qatar… only because of my family and my dreams of becoming a professional musician in India. 

The real turning point came when musical opportunities began to come my way. At that point, I noticed a clear difference: during Riyaz and rehearsals, I felt completely alive, time seemed to melt away and I experienced a rare sense of wholeness.

At work, despite work commitments and Mumbai-style travel (Local train, BEST Bus, share rickshaw, Metro during peak rush times and completing work tasks), I often felt that I was doing things half-hearted, and was worried that I wasn’t doing justice to my corporate role or to myself. 

But on stage, there was only joy and connection.  Audiences used to share that my melodies helped them revisit nostalgic lanes of their own lives and that feedback awakened something powerful within me… the realisation that music wasn’t just a hobby; it was my language.

The defining moment came when my live shows specially through corporate and private events,  began earning more than my salary. Yet I was forced to refuse weekday performances because of office commitments. I felt an ongoing conflict between my brain and heart… one promising stability, the other peace. Eventually I chose to listen to the inner call.

The decision was bold, even risky, but after phases of struggle, I discovered that following music brought a consistency of a different kind of purpose. Looking back, that leap of faith remains the most honest note of my life.

The Birth of Kashish by Shreyas: Can you tell us the story behind the name Kashish by Shreyas? What does Kashish signify for you creatively and emotionally?

KASHISH = Attraction, a magnetic or alluring quality, mainly associated with the representation in any form of music 

The word Kashish entered my life much before it became the name of my band – it came through the voices of my audiences. After my performances, people would often tell me that while listening to my songs, they felt something shift within – forgotten memories resurfaced, unspoken emotions found space, and they experienced an immediate sense of connection.

That feedback made me realise that my creative purpose was not just to sing correctly in sur and taal, but to create that magnetic pull between hearts through live music experiences. Creatively and emotionally, Kashish signifies this very force -the ability of music to draw people closer to their own feelings.

As an artist I strongly believe that everyone carries a unique style of expression. Mine happens to be multi-genre and commercial, yet my best version emerges when the presentation begins with soulfulness. Of course, upbeat music has its own charm, and I enjoy performing it, but for me nearly 75 percent of any live concert must first speak to the heart. When nostalgia meets pure notes shaped by sincere Riyaz, the experience automatically rises to its peak. The name therefore reflects my philosophy: music as an emotion-first dialogue.

My foundation in Hindustani classical music, which I have been learning for over 18 years, exploring the divine path of music under the guidance of my Guru Pt. Suresh Bapat, gives real meaning to this word. With the grace of my Gurus, many senior legendary artists and my inspirations, exploration and learning remain non-negotiable; I cannot give them up.

Whenever I craft unplugged shows or original compositions using classical music techniques, the term ‘Kashish’ acts like an inner booster, encouraging me to collaborate, to go deeper and to stay honest to the art. For me, Kashish is multi-dimensional, it is my most comfort zone, creative compass, emotional promise and the signature of my musical journey.

Many listeners know me simply as ‘Kashish,’ unaware of my real name… and I find that deeply endearing.

Collaborating with Legends: You’ve performed alongside artists of immense calibre, including singing with Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharanji and Sukhwinder Singh. How did these collaborations come about, and how have they influenced your artistic growth?

I have been privileged to perform and share the stage with legendary artists such as Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan ji, Padma Shri Hariharan ji and Sukhwinder Singh. 

My first encounters with renowned artists have almost always occurred during my live performances. They discovered me in the moment of a live performance and felt the spark, inviting me for collaboration only then. The stage became my introduction and my testament. That organic connection, born from my live music and shared energy with the audience, is what I cherish the most. 

Singing alongside artists of such immense calibre places you in a completely different musical zone. Every note you deliver, reflects the sincerity of your journey, your Riyaz and your honesty towards the art. When legends listen to you, sing with you or invite you to collaborate, it becomes a silent validation that your exploration is moving in the right direction. These moments have always filled me with deep gratitude and humility.

Observing them profoundly influenced my artistic growth. Despite their success, their passion for music remains unwavering. They’re always ready to sing, listen and connect. Their discipline, simplicity, respect for others and commitment to their voice and values, taught me that greatness lies in consistency and one should surrender to the creative process. Even absorbing a small percentage of their qualities can transform aspiring singers and guide them toward their musical purpose. These collaborations reminded me that as artists, our responsibility is to be prepared, honest and deliver our best when the moment arrives.

Defining Your Sound: Your performances are known to span genres and moods. When you choose songs or craft a setlist, what guides you — emotion, audience connection, personal experience, or something else?

I have always favoured a personalised approach to my sound and set lists. Over the years, my opening songs have become almost a signature, helping me settle into the space and establish my expertise as an artist. The direction of the performance is then largely guided by the ambience and the mood of the audience. Experience has taught me that no venue or occasion behaves the same way, so I prepare myself for surprises rather than assuming that a fixed set of songs will work. My performances are built as an emotion-first conversation that gradually evolves into different moods.

With a preparation of nearly 500–600 songs across genres, I have learned the technique to move flexibly between various genres like Ghazal, semi-classical, spiritual, retro, Bollywood, and upbeat music. I welcome recommendations and dedications, usually in the second half, but the first phase must come from my strengths to create a connection with many unknown faces.

By the second or third song, they stop being strangers and become my audience. I ensure variations so the presentation never turns monotonous… some moments emotional, some peppy, some rhythmic -because that blend of experience, occasion, and human connection truly defines the sound of ‘Kashish by Shreyas.’

In a separate and very personal dimension, I often see three or even four generations sitting together… grandparents, parents, and children occupying the same dance floor. This fluctuation between genres and eras is what truly defines my sound… an experience designed to connect generations and emotions together through my performance.

I have also shared my original compositions, and they have been met with such enthusiasm that people have asked me to perform more in that style.

For corporate events, I see entertainment as a responsibility, not just a performance. Top bosses expect me to create moments where colleagues, subordinates and teams from different regions come together detached from targets and work pressures, singing and dancing hand-in-hand with only music as the focus. I feel truly privileged when organizers tell me that my music builds synergy among workaholic employees and even inspired some colleagues to reconsider their resignations.

That feedback reaffirmed my role as ‘a corporate entertainer’ who helps people rediscover interpersonal connection beyond the corporate world through the simple tool of song.

I have specially designed the concept called  – Cafe Kashish – Pause, Jam & Applause 🎶 which is an Interactive musical experience designed to bring people together through the joy of music. 

It’s not just a collective performance. It’s an immersive journey into rhythm, melody and harmony where every participant becomes a performer!

I’ve always believed that a performance should carry the power to turn any ongoing casual party into a music concert. Hosts often invite me to sing for their event, but I see it as a moral responsibility to transform the ambience into the personalised musical concert experience. 

Early Challenges: Every artist faces doubt, hesitation, and resistance in the early days. What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered when you first stepped into music full-time, and how did you overcome them?

When I stepped into music full-time, the biggest challenge was social acceptance. Our society is still not conditioned to see performing art as a mainstream earning source. Many believe an artist is “real” only after becoming a playback singer or entering Bollywood. I faced constant doubt and judgments about my lifestyle because of this misconception. I had to rebuild conviction – first within my known and then in the outside world – that an independent live performer too can run a household with precise planning and discipline

In today’s world, an artist can build a long and successful career as a live performer, while also creating original music and independent compositions, which can be a side project that grows and changes with your learning and practice. As an artist, it’s more important to stay true to what you do best than to try to fit into someone else’s idea of what it means to be an artist.

The industry brought its own tests – cost and price management and at times, dealing with some unfortunately unethical event coordinators who treated live music like just another service. Some managers never recognise musicians as the backbone of an event’s success. 

To get around this, I manage my own shows except for big shows. My 9 years of experience in corporate settings has naturally given me a structured and professional way of engaging with clients. While managing my shows take more time and effort, it gives me peace of mind and lets me have direct communications with clients.

This way, my requirements and performance style are understood clearly, without any filters, misinterpretations or misunderstandings. This transparency ultimately creates a more harmonious experience for both the organisers and the artists on stage.

As a professional artist, I run with two mainstreams of the music world – 1. Live performer 2.  Music composer, Song writer and Producer 

Commercially too, the early days have tested me. I didn’t have a strong support system as a composer then, so I relied on intimate gigs, house parties, and small impromptu stages across Mumbai. 

I realized that these shows are equally significant even if they are not “big-ticket” events.  Overcoming them meant focusing on audience connection and my professional identity.  Live shows support my day-to-day routine and my house, while composing originals and releasing independent music continues simultaneously as the artistic future of Kashish by Shreyas. 

Mumbai holds immense potential for music, but it demands patience, consistency and the humility to meet people and keep refining one’s performance. 

I was born a Mumbaikar, yet I initially didn’t realise how powerfully this city welcomes dreamers who surrender their lives to build careers here. 

The key is to stay flexible, genuine, ‘go get it’ type yet humble and accepting. especially in the early stages to perform at every level without getting too choosy about resources or audiences. 

Music always remains with us… what truly matters is how humbly and honestly, we present it, with the belief that… ‘The show must go on.’

Milestones That Changed the Game: Looking back, which performances or achievements stand out as defining milestones in your career — moments when you felt, “This is where the journey truly began”? Talking about milestones, could you tell us a bit about your original compositions?

The first defining moment was when I got invited along with my band by Shri Shankar Mahadevan ji to perform overseas, an opportunity that gave a powerful booster to Kashish by Shreyas and expanded my perception of live music. Singing in front of legends like Hariharan ji during that phase and collaborating with stalwarts on drums – Sir Shivamani, pulled the artist in me out in a much larger way. When we returned from that tour, I felt a new conviction that this journey had genuinely begun and that I must engage with music with deeper responsibility and discipline.

The second game-changing milestone came through my identity as a composer and independent artist. During the COVID-19 pandemic I revisited my incomplete creations.

In 2022, my original composition, featuring me as an independent artist, was launched at the Hotel Taj Mahal, Mumbai. The event was inaugurated by dignitaries including Mr Puneet Chhatwal, CEO and MD of IHCL, Mr Bhaskar Sharma, former CEO of Red Bull India and supported by community partners such as Neha Kare, UNIMO, my well-wisher and event sponsor Mr Dinesh Ochani, New Era.

The event enabled many of my clients and audiences to recognise the composer side of me. This led to the creation of the first-ever exclusive hospitality brand album LOYA for IHCL, which was launched by singer Papon at the Delhi Taj Palace in 2023.

I am currently completing its third phase, which will be launched in mid-January 2026.

As an Independent Artist, I have published approximately 20-22 original independent music tracks on leading streaming platforms such as Spotify and iTunes. I am also working on producing 10-12 more tracks. 

Another significant milestone in my career was participating and performing as a lead ‘Indian musician’ at ‘The International folklore festivals, several times in France, Italy, Poland, Netherlands and Belgium, where I represented authentic Indian cultural music on acoustic stages using traditional instruments. Performing alongside 10–12 culturally rich countries, I realised that even listeners who did not understand our language could deeply connect with the music and appreciate it as a universal soul connection.

A defining moment occurred in St. Maixent, France in 2018 before 1,500 European audiences when the renowned French band ‘Celtic Social’ approached me for a collaboration during their Live Concert. I merged my – own composed Indian rendition – based on ‘Raag Darabari Kanada’ by which I opened their iconic piece ‘After the Fall’. The enthusiastic applause following that 10-minute performance reaffirmed my belief that region, religion, language or genre are irrelevant – only music matters.

Audience & Experience: Many describe a Kashish by Shreyas performance as an immersive experience rather than just a gig. How much does audience energy guide your performance, and how has that relationship evolved over the years?

Many call Kashish by Shreyas an immersive experience rather than just a gig… Well, yes, I absolutely agree because that realisation came from audience feedback itself. I’ve always believed that true performances must be delivered wholeheartedly. If my heart & soul is not present in the music, it can never reach the hearts sitting in front of me.

Audience energy definitely guides and ignites my next move on stage, yet I see it as two-way traffic. I may be a good singer, but the magic is complete only when I can read involvement on their faces – hums, hands waving gently and most importantly, the intensity of their applause after each song. Those claps become an immediate mirror of what I have delivered.

Over the years, this relationship has evolved beautifully, with some audiences hearing me more than 10-12 times and associating with Kashish for nearly a decade. That loyalty makes me morally responsible to offer something new in every encounter. So even if I sing the same song, I approach it with a different rendition and emotion. As notes mature with time, my singing style too becomes more layered through daily Riyaz and exploration. This bond with genuine musical souls keeps me refreshing with new dimensions – and what you hear from me today will always sound different a year from now yet shall be connecting. 

What’s Next?: As you continue to grow creatively and expand your musical footprint, what’s next for Kashish by Shreyas? Are there new genres, collaborations, or projects you’re eager to explore in the coming year?

My composed song with lead vocals by Shankar Mahadevan sir, is on the edge of worldwide release.

Also, a few collaborations with amazing artists are lined up and I am waiting for right production opportunities to get it published.

Right now, I want to kickstart this phase by spending more engaged time creating new music as an independent artist and releasing my conceptual tracks. Down the line, I hope to reach a point where I’ll be performing only my original songs for my audiences …and take my music to different regions of the world.

As I continue to grow creatively and expand my music footprint, the next steps for me are about creating experiences that go beyond just performing. I want to host and introduce some of the finest artists, collaborate with them, and bring their creative work to a wider audience.

Alongside this, I wish to travel to different places with my music, explore new cultures, and deliver performances that connect with audiences across the world.

“For me, it’s not just about music, it’s about sharing emotions, discovering inspirations, and creating memorable experiences wherever I go.” – Shreyas Patkar (Kashish by Shreyas)