The power of music - my path to self-discovery and healing

I come from a family deeply rooted in music. Even before I could talk, I was singing.

My family would often record me as a baby, capturing my little voice on cassette tapes. Music became my solace, my constant companion through the ups and downs of life. 

During my school years, I was bullied relentlessly, and music became my refuge. It helped me heal.

Over the years, I trained in various styles — Hindustani, film music, Western, contemporary — and even dabbled in Carnatic music, though it never quite resonated with me. When I lived in Shanghai, singing and acting became my source of confidence.

Even though my peers thought I was different, they noticed my talent in the arts. 

I was part of a group called ‘Sur Shanghai,’ where we performed regularly, and I began to see how the arts could empower others just like they had for me. That’s when I first considered a career in music. 

My journey took me to KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, but I quickly realised Western Classical wasn’t for me. I also didn’t feel supported there, and during the holidays, I would help my mother — an accomplished singer herself who worked with disabled children. That’s when I discovered my love for working with children with disabilities. Around the same time, Berklee College of Music visited my school, and I was drawn to their Music Therapy program. I knew that was where I wanted to be. 

To pursue this dream, I moved to Malaysia to attend the International College of Music (ICOM), which offered a transfer program to Berklee.

However, it wasn’t an easy path.

I struggled with anxiety and often felt like I wasn’t good enough. I failed semesters due to a lack of accommodations and support, and I couldn’t secure a scholarship, despite getting admitted to Berklee twice. 

But once I finally made it to Berklee, everything changed.

I became part of the Berklee Indian Ensemble, recorded an EP that was nominated for a Grammy, and performed alongside artists like Vijay Prakash and Shreya Ghoshal. I also joined The Lotus Sound, a circle singing group, and we recorded an EP and performed at the International Acapella Festival in Moscow. 

Despite these successes, I faced setbacks too.

I didn’t pass my Music Therapy major on my first try but succeeded the second time. While I was finding my footing academically, I lost my mother to cancer, and my mental health took a hit. A discouraging comment from a professor further eroded my confidence. For five years, I couldn’t pass my Music Therapy exam, which prevented me from securing a job as a Music Therapist in the U.S. 

In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I returned to India and started my own Music Therapy program at a trust in Nashik, Maharashtra. It was a step forward, but I wasn’t done learning.

In 2022, I began a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University. This hybrid program allowed me to explore all forms of art, not just music.

It also helped me rediscover my confidence. I acted in a play, sang at open mics — things I never imagined I could do. 

Now, I dream of building my own private practice, where the arts are a core part of the healing process for others, just as they have been for me.

Music has been a constant in my life, and I hope it continues to be a source of strength and healing for those who need it most.