There is no greater teacher than loved worldly experience. This is something that Shrey Kaboo (KABU) is all too familiar with.
While born in India, KABU moved to Dubai at a young age before eventually coming to the United States to continue his music career.
His worldly experiences have helped him shape his own sound and influence the person he has become today.
While never forgetting his roots, his music pays homage to his Indian heritage while carrying with it an international vibe.
Born to Kashmiri Pandit parents in New Delhi, KABU was made aware of the struggles his parents endured at a young age.
Instilling in him a love for the Kashmiri culture was important, however, his childhood was marked with many relocations due to his parent’s work, giving him a unique view of Indian culture.
Eventually ending up in Dubai, where KABU’s musical journey really took off, he set a goal for himself to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
Achieving his lofty goal, the Indian musician graduated from Berklee with a Bachelor of Music in Electronic Production and Design and continued his successful career in the US.
While his style is shaped by the many places he has lived, KABU’s music hearkens back to his origins paying homage to the beautiful sounds of South Asia.
He sat down with us today to discuss his international upbringing and burgeoning career.
What does it mean to be Kashmiri to you?
KABU: To me, Kashmiri Pandits are simple, kind-hearted and intellectual people.
But there is always this feeling of unsettlement, especially for my parents’ and grandparents’ generation.
We have been scattered all across India and the world but yet hold on to the traditions we are proud of.
For me, being Kashmiri is as simple as sharing a meal with family—having Tschetschot aur Mongal Chai for breakfast, Rogan Josh and Mutsch for lunch, and Katlam aur Sheer Chai with Warimuth for dinner, all while sitting cross-legged on a carpet, surrounded by loved ones.
We are of course incredibly expressive by nature.
How have your Kashmiri roots influenced your life and music?
Part of the expressiveness of Kashmiris shows in how the energy naturally flows in my music.
Growing up I expressed myself through other forms such as sketching and artwork, always needing an outlet for my creativity.
Now I do it through my music, I am lucky to be able to express myself so freely, and thank my Kashmiri roots for that.
How about your actual upbringing?
I come from a middle-class family with a complex history, but they always encouraged me to be my best self.
I think that this is reflected in my music which is high-energy, vibrant and sometimes dreamy.
Having a family that supported my creativity has given me the ability to express myself through my music.
But India has always remained close to my heart, and thanks to moving around so much I have an appreciation for the musical elements of different regions.
I love to incorporate elements from Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, or Telugu music.
Did your parents provide impetus for your music career?
In many ways yes! It is thanks to them that I had a drum set at home, along with the lessons in Dubai and ultimately the chance to study at Berklee College of Music.
They always worked incredibly hard to make sure I could chase my dream.
I will always be incredibly grateful for their support of my goals and everything they may have sacrificed to do so.
What do your parents think of you becoming a DJ?
Honestly, at first, I think they saw it as an act of independence. It was a notion or an idea that they didn’t take too seriously.
Knowing that it wasn’t an easy career path and there would be struggles they were cautiously supportive of me.
However, they have seen my growth on social media as well as increased success on all platforms and I think this has proven to them that I am committed to making this dream a reality.
Like any good parents they still have their concerns, but they support me fully because they can tell that becoming a successful DJ is my ultimate goal!
How many cities in India did you live in growing up? Which one affected you the most and why?
I lived in Delhi and Mumbai, but I think I was shaped the most by Delhi as it was where I spent most of my childhood.
I made lifelong friends there and went to multiple schools. It is a place where I had many formative life experiences.
However, Mumbai was special in a different way. It was where I was introduced to the film industry at the age of 8.
It was so incredibly inspiring, to see the endless possibilities and know that there could be a future in a creative industry.
While Delhi has shaped me more, both cities have had a profound effect on my personality and my music in their own unique way.
Can you talk about what it was like having a global upbringing and being relocated regularly?
It was a fun ride, but definitely challenging at times! I found moving to Mumbai at 7 to be tough, and even though I eventually adjusted I was very excited to move back to Delhi a couple of years later.
But moving out of the country to Dubai was a massive change. We said goodbye to my brother who attended University in Canada, while also leaving my Grandparents in India.
It was the first time I was alone with just my parents. Overall moving as often as I did meant constantly adapting to a new culture while meeting new people and learning important life lessons. It has shaped me into the person I am today.
Did you enjoy your time in Dubai? What was school like?
Absolutely! Dubai was a great place where I made friends, met amazing teachers and even found a mentor!
School was very different there, despite attending an Indian school there, I was surprised to find out nobody spoke Hindi!
This was a bit of a shock and took some time getting used to, however being the school drummer helped me to fit in and ultimately led to some of my best memories.
Is it how the rest of the world imagines Dubai?
Dubai, for me, is incredible. It felt like taking all of India’s wealth and putting it into one city, but the city is clean, safe and ever-evolving.
It’s funny people have this view of Dubai as all gold and luxury, but it’s just like everywhere else.
There are plenty of regular people working their 9-5 jobs like anywhere else in the world!
What country or city has had the best music scene in your opinion and why?
Honestly, it’s a toss-up between Delhi and Mumbai. While Delhi is known for its Jazz clubs like The Piano Man, Mumbai is the heart of the Bollywood music industry and home to Coke Studio.
They both play a significant role in the music industry of India as most independent artists come from or perform in these two major cities.
Who is your musical idol? How has this changed over time?
This is one of those questions where my answer is constantly changing as time goes on!
I’ve had so many influences over the years, as a kid and drummer I was obsessed with rock bands such as Green Day, Linkin Park, Led Zeppelin and Guns N’ Roses.
However, later I became inspired by Indian composers like A.R. Rahman, Shakar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar and Amit Trivedi.
My focus changed again as I started to get into electronic music where my biggest influences are Zedd, Avicii, David Guetta, and Martin Garrix.
My musical journey isn’t over, I am always open to new influences, and while in the US I expanded my taste to include Jazz, Funk, R&B and Modern Electronic Pop.
Artists like Robert Glasper, Stevie Wonder, Mark Ronson, Erykah Badu, Daft Punk, and Dua Lipa have made their mark on my music tastes and style.
As I continue to evolve and grow as an artist, so too do my music tastes.
Written by David Smith
Images of KABU by Mateo Morello
