BENGALURU: A Bengalurean artiste is looking for votes to power his win at a global music contest, and fund his education with the prize money.
Keerthi Srinivasan is representing the country in Global Rockstar contest, which awards the winner $25,000.
The online music contest provides artistes from across different countries a platform to promote their work. Keerthi is pitted against participants from 166 other countries, and a few more from India.
“I am happy I am representing India. I have big dreams. Winning this contest will help me fulfil those,” he says. “I want to study music further in the US. I have already enrolled for a course in a Hollywood institute.”
A dance performance in Global Village in 2011 was a transition moment for Keerthi aka Keith. After several gigs in dance shows, music videos, other cultural programmes and acting in Tamil films, he chose to work independently. He got together with three friends and started a rock band, BLUERAYS.
The band came to a standstill when one of its members passed away in 2012. A year later, Keerthi and his other band-mate, Naveen, decided to work together again. The duo collaborated with a recording studio in US, Mekmuse Records, and released the album Today, about a new beginning, earlier this month.
Opportunities do not come independent artistes’ way in India unless they join Bollywood or the Tamil film industry, says Keerthi Srinivasan.
“Their music doesn’t sell as well here as it does in the West. They have to wait long and it’s not always rewarding,” he says. “That is why I want to go abroad, pursue my music career there.”
Persuaded by his parents, he completed an engineering degree but soon realised music and dance were his calling. Inspired by Michael Jackson and various music channels coming up, he decided to pursue his passion.
He has participated in several contests, and the audience encouraged him to keep going. “You can reach people’s hearts through music. It has no language or barriers,” he says.