We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dhruv Mittal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dhruv below.
Hi Dhruv, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
First and foremost, from my parents. I am super proud of the way they brought me up, and the older I get, the more I see it being reflected in my personality. Prior to being a musician, I was in academia. I did my Bachelor’s in Engineering from IIT Kanpur, a very prestigious and highly competitive university in north-central India. To give you an estimate, only about 0.4% of some 1,000,000 candidates appearing for the entrance examination will make it to this particular university. I was a sincere student, and was very much into sports and music. Needless to say, being in such an environment and juggling a bit of everything everyday made me very self-aware and calculative. When I shifted to pursuing music full-time, I realized the true importance of a professional work ethic. In a city like Los Angeles, you need to bring something in addition to your skills as a musician to the table. In my very limited experience, being punctual, being a team player, being respectful of others’ time, and being disciplined always highly contributed to making a project successful, and also towards building a reputation for myself.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Originally from Kanpur, India, I am a drummer based in Hollywood, Los Angeles and specializing in instrumental jazz-fusion music. I do a bunch of session work (live, studio and more recently, theater), play regularly with artists such as Michael Sims (Dr. Dre, N.W.A), Natasha Vora, and Atharva Phadke, and also work as faculty at Musicians Institute (MI), where I went to school myself. My story could be considered a bit avant-garde by Indian standards, mainly owing to my educational background and the dramatic shift in professions. Growing up, I did not have much to do with music professionally, and was self-taught. I started pursuing my love for drums and music seriously during my undergraduate days, playing in university ensembles and participating in national level competitions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I developed a keen interest in recording and mixing my own drums. I spent countless hours practicing hard and collaborating with musicians across India, mainly for social media content. One of my videos was featured by the renowned Canadian cymbal manufacturer Sabian on their Instagram handle, and I still remember how elated that made me feel. With the support and love of my family, I was able to move to Los Angeles in late 2021 to pursue my Associate’s degree in Drum Performance at MI. Since my very first formal drum lesson, there has been no turning back. I love performing and composing with other musicians, and keep pushing myself to study and learn more about music. When asked how I pronounce my name, my go-to is “Dhruv tries to gruv on the dhrums”. I am currently in the process of writing the debut EP for a new project I have with some very dear friends, and we hope to be able to put music out very soon.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As a drummer, my role is a supporting one. I have to serve the music and the artist, which is why number one would be receptivity. I learn and get inspired the most by going to shows and watching other musicians perform. Number two would be self-awareness. This is very open-ended, but for me, it boils down to having realistic expectations in a particular situation, and knowing when to take a step back. Everyone has their own pace, and being at peace with that enables me to give my best. Number three would be attention to detail. Again, this can be extended to different contexts, all the way from tuning your instrument right to being able to read the room.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I have always believed that being able to pursue something like music is a privilege, and having the support of your loved ones, an even bigger one. My parents love and support me unconditionally, both emotionally and financially. Dad is the reason I picked up an instrument to begin with. Mom decided to stay at home while I was growing up with my younger sister. My parents never pressured me into doing anything. On top of that, they have always done their best to guide me, and bless me with life advice whenever I feel lost. They take active interest in my musical endeavors and watching them being proud of my accomplishments makes it so much more worthwhile for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhruv.mi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dhruv.mi.fb
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruvmi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DhruvMittalOnTheDrums
Image Credits
Faizan Siddiqui, Kayleigh Urban
