Born in Guwahati, Assam in India, Jitwam grew up in Sydney, Australia. He was introduced to electronic music whilst living in London, where his songwriting turned, allowing him to use the rock influences he grew up with and melding them into tightly melodic, luxuriously layered production. Threads of universality and one consciousness thread themselves neatly throughout his work. He is also the co-founder of the seminal label ‘The Jazz Diaries’ and helped establish arts collective and label, Chalo. dirty chats with him to explore his passion for music, his latest release and how being from the diaspora has impacted his work.

Q. How did you get started in music? And what made you want to pursue it as a career?

A. MUSIC IS RTHM.

MUSIC IS LIFE.

Without music, I don't know how I would survive in this world. After a mystical experience in the depths of the Amazon jungle in Peru, a spirit told me to sing my way into consciousness. I saw it as a sign to pursue what brings me joy in this life. I've never seen it as a career... I see it as therapy. A way to express my (true) self.

Q. How do you want your music to be perceived?

A. My music is for me. My music makes me wake up in the morning. My music makes my life worth living. My music gives me purpose and something to struggle for. I couldn't care less how people perceive my music.

Q. You’ve recently released a new single ‘Stranger Danger’ along with a music video, what can we expect to hear in this song?

A. Stranger danger is a psychedelic journey through the streets of NYC. Where jazz punk meets psychedelic bollyfunk and rock n roll.

Q. How important is collaborating with the right people to you?

A. Music is like photographs to me. It serves as a timestamp of the feelings I feel, the people I meet and the dreams I dream. People inspire me, and collaborating with musicians, artists, stylists... is a blessing that I don't take for granted.

Q. Your music is reminiscent of several different stylistic eras and genres. Do you draw from a pool of musical influences when you are making music? What are they?

A. I draw from life itself. My childhood, my memories, the sounds of the radio, long Uber drives back home, friends taking over the Spotify and getting lit on a Friday night. I take it all in. Being from the diaspora, I like to mix things that shouldn't be mixed together and see where the cookie crumbles. The disparate and out-of-context is what excites me and what influences me the most.

Q. What has been the most rewarding thing about playing for an audience? Do any of your recent performances stand out as particularly special?

A. I love playing in India. And even though I don't really have a home, It feels like home. That's the greatest experienceI could ever ask for as a human being on this earth.

Q. What motivates you to keep grinding?

A. The endless chatter in my head. My friends, my family, my endless pursuit for something more... it's both a blessing and a curse.

Q. What's next for you?

A. So many things. Locking down the love in my life. Both spiritually and physically. I got a new album out as of last week! Got a remix package on the way. Mainly playing shows around Europe, US and Asia-Pacific... but also excited to collaborate with some new folks and some new sounds from both here and abroad.
 Always on to the next.

‍

‍