TEDx Talks

TEDx Talks - From Rock Bottom to Breakthrough | Aniket Bhatt (Siyaahi) | TEDxSGTBKC

The speaker, originally from a small town in Gujarat, shares his journey of becoming a rapper despite societal and familial expectations to pursue a traditional career. He recounts his early exposure to hip-hop music through an MP3 player and his determination to pursue music despite challenges. Moving to Ahmedabad, he formed a hip-hop community and organized events, which helped him connect with like-minded individuals. Despite his parents' initial disapproval and the pressure to succeed academically, he continued to work on his music. He highlights the importance of perseverance, sharing how he balanced engineering studies with his passion for rap. His breakthrough came when he participated in a web series judged by a famous rapper, which validated his efforts. The speaker emphasizes the significance of small victories and the support of a community in achieving his dreams. He concludes by expressing gratitude for the journey and the lessons learned, underscoring the importance of following one's passion.

Key Points:

Perseverance is crucial; keep working towards your dreams despite challenges.
Building a community can provide support and opportunities for growth.
Balancing responsibilities and passion can lead to success.
Small victories are important and should be celebrated.
Following your passion can lead to unexpected opportunities and fulfillment.

Details:

1. 🌟 Introducing Myself

The speaker is named Siyai and is from Ahmedabad, providing a cultural context.
This is Siyai's first participation in this particular activity, indicating a new experience.
Siyai’s involvement suggests a willingness to explore and engage in new opportunities.
Additional personal insights, such as hobbies or professional background, were not provided but could enhance understanding.

2. 🎵 First Encounter with Hip-Hop

The speaker originates from Bharuch, a small town in Gujarat, highlighting the challenges and limited aspirations often associated with small-town living.
Boys from such towns typically have smaller dreams, influenced by the community's mindset, which can limit the pursuit of larger ambitions.
Despite these limitations, the speaker encountered hip-hop, a genre that expanded their horizons and inspired them to dream bigger.
The speaker's first exposure to hip-hop was transformative, challenging their perception of what was possible beyond the confines of their hometown.
Hip-hop served as a catalyst for change, motivating the speaker to pursue their aspirations more vigorously and break free from the conventional expectations of their environment.

3. 🎶 Musical Journey Begins

The speaker reflects on not expecting to choose hip-hop or for hip-hop to choose them, indicating a sense of destiny or unexpected passion.
An early memory is shared from third grade when the speaker first heard a song called 'Smack That' by Eminem, highlighting the initial exposure to hip-hop.
A classmate named Noman, who frequently sang songs the speaker didn't understand, played a role in sparking the speaker's curiosity about hip-hop.
The speaker's sister purchased an MP3 player, which the speaker would secretly take to listen to songs during a 10-minute commute to tutoring, marking the practical start of their hip-hop exploration.
The speaker's exposure to hip-hop music was transformative, eventually leading to a moment of standing before an audience to give a speech, signifying the profound impact of music on their life.

4. 🎸 Family Influence and Personal Growth

The speaker moved to Ahmedabad in 2013 from Bharuch, which was considered a big city for people from Bharuch.
The speaker's family had high educational expectations, with a mother who was a chemistry teacher for 22-25 years, expecting the speaker to become a doctor or engineer.
Despite being excellent in studies until the 10th grade, the speaker was drawn to the city life and its influences after shifting to Ahmedabad.
In 2018, the speaker formed a community called Ahmedabad HipHop, inspired by a cafe owner who suggested collaboration was necessary.
The speaker's family has a strong musical background: the brother plays guitar learned from YouTube, and the sister has 7 years of classical singing training.
Despite the family's musical inclination, the speaker did not know how to sing, unlike the siblings who could perform well.

5. 🎤 Discovering Rap

The speaker became a rapper because they couldn't sing, highlighting a strategic pivot towards utilizing available skills effectively.
Mention of Vishal Dadlani's song from the movie 'Kaminey' as a significant influence, pointing to the impact of popular media on personal growth and interests.
The speaker used their mother's Nokia phone to listen to music, indicating resourcefulness in pursuing interests despite limited access.
The progression from listening for 3 minutes to half an hour shows increasing engagement and passion for rap music.

6. 🎉 Hip-Hop Community and First Success

The 2019 hip-hop event in Ahmedabad attracted 50 rappers and 50 beatboxers, demonstrating substantial local engagement and a burgeoning hip-hop culture.
Participants shared a collective mentality and enthusiasm, highlighting a strong cultural movement within the community.
The organizer felt emotionally fulfilled by the presence of like-minded individuals sharing similar dreams and passions for hip-hop.
Ahmedabad holds a special place for the organizer due to the overwhelming support and love from the city, indicating a strong local cultural affinity.
The event laid the groundwork for future hip-hop initiatives in Ahmedabad, suggesting a potential growth in the local hip-hop scene.

7. 🎓 Balancing Education and Passion

Initiated a career in cable network GTPL in 2019, focusing on hip-hop specials despite having no prior broadcasting experience.
Successfully led a team of 10-12 individuals, managing operations without prior knowledge of TV production, sound checks, or technical setup.
Achieved a significant personal milestone by appearing on TV at age 19, marking a point of personal pride despite family expectations leaning towards engineering.
Faced familial pressure to pursue engineering, resulting in enrollment in a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, balancing family expectations with personal interests.

8. ⚽ Sports and Career Decisions

The individual dedicated 14 years to playing football, illustrating a deep commitment to the sport. However, due to injuries, a significant career decision had to be made to quit, highlighting the critical impact of physical health on career trajectories.
Despite skepticism from others, there was a strong interest in pursuing martial arts and music, demonstrating a willingness to explore diverse passions and career paths.
A significant turning point came during college when a manager predicted a future encounter with the famous figure Divine, which materialized after participating in a web series. This illustrates the importance of being open to unexpected opportunities and the potential for unexpected career developments.
Meeting Divine at age 21 was a milestone achievement, underscoring the potential for significant, unforeseen career advancements. Despite this achievement, there remains a strong drive to pursue further success, reflecting ambition and forward-thinking in career planning.

9. 🎤 Rapper's Resolve

The rapper aims to break into major venues like stadiums and arenas, emphasizing this as a key career goal.
They stress the importance of hard work and persistence, focusing on consistent effort rather than how or when success will come.
There's a belief that a higher power or the universe tests one's dedication before granting success.
Despite being a mechanical engineering student, they have dedicated 7 years to hip hop, indicating strong passion and commitment.
In 2020, they received a part-time job to teach hip hop to children, showing the value of sharing knowledge and passion.
The lack of mentors in smaller cities like Ahmedabad presents a challenge, highlighting a self-driven journey in pursuing hip hop.
The rapper's experience reflects the broader theme of overcoming geographical and resource limitations in the pursuit of artistic dreams.

10. 🏆 Gaining Recognition

In 2017, the speaker recorded their first song at Radio Mirchi, sneaking in with the help of a friend who was an RJ there.
The recording session lasted 8 hours, starting at 2 PM and finishing at midnight, with the song in hand by 12 AM.
The song, titled 'Suno 2018 Challenge' with the name 'Syaahi', was for a competition organized by a major producer named Gauri.
The competition received 1000 entries from countries including India and Pakistan, and the speaker's entry was among the top 10.
The winners were announced live on Instagram by Gauri, and the speaker's song 'Syaahi' featuring Aniket was announced as a winner.
The name 'Syaahi' became the speaker's stage name, which they found to be significant and have not changed since.

11. 🎤 Passion for Music and Career Growth

The speaker faced setbacks in 2022, including a major downfall and balancing part-time jobs, yet remained committed to music, emphasizing community and cultural thinking.
A confrontation with their father about academic backlogs due to a focus on music highlights the challenge of balancing education and passion.
In 2023, the speaker experienced the lowest song output, feeling ashamed of working part-time jobs while pursuing music.
A turning point came with an astrologer's prediction of life-changing years ahead, boosting determination.
The speaker's first major India tour in 23, performing in 12 cities, marked a significant milestone after six years of effort.
Dedication to music is evident through challenging travel conditions and collaborations, driven by pure love for music.
Despite thoughts of quitting, passion for music remains the core motivation for continuing their journey.

12. 💪 Overcoming Challenges

12.1. Persistence in Auditions

12.2. Financial and Professional Struggles

12.3. Navigating Family Dynamics

13. 🌟 Achieving Dreams

The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing small victories as a form of self-reward for hard work, illustrated by a personal anecdote of enjoying a meal at McDonald's with savings from a part-time job.
Early influences, like a hip-hop soundtrack from a movie, can ignite a lifelong passion, demonstrating how initial inspirations can shape one's career path.
Proactivity and seizing opportunities are crucial, as shown by the speaker securing a remix opportunity during a board meeting.
Visualization and articulating one’s goals, as seen in the speaker's dream of performing with a famous singer, can play a significant role in achieving success.
The journey to success demands hard work and perseverance, with collective belief in eventual rewards, exemplified by a participant in Hustle 4 who manifested his dreams through writing.
Family support is pivotal, as demonstrated by the speaker's family attending a significant event finale, bolstering their pursuit of a music career before graduation.
A deep love for music and confidence in one's abilities are essential for resilience and success, with the speaker expressing readiness to start over and succeed again due to their honed skills.

14. 🎤 Final Words of Wisdom

The speaker expresses gratitude for being invited to the event at TEDx Khalsa College, emphasizing their appreciation.
They encourage listeners to pursue their goals in life, implying that success depends on the individual's determination.
The speaker shares a personal connection with Ahmedabad, expressing pride in representing it and potentially all of Gujarat, suggesting a strong sense of regional identity.
The segment concludes with a heartfelt thank you from the speaker, reinforcing the theme of gratitude and motivation.

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