Singer Bhumik Shah, active in the music industry for the past two decades, is known not only for his singing but also for his expertise in tabla and rhythmic arrangements.
A finalist on the reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge in 2005, he was also a runner-up in the Zee College Campus competition. He is a 'B' grade artiste with All India Radio.
Shah has lent his voice to Bollywood and Gujarati films, served as a lead singer on various Gujarat government projects, and sung for independent and devotional albums, Gujarati television, and more. His version of Dakla has also received a positive response.
Known for his distinctive mashups and energetic performances, Shah has performed more than 3,000 live Bollywood shows. He and his band have performed across India and the globe. In 2022, he performed at the opening ceremony of the National Games in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to Mirror about Garba and his own performances, Shah said...
The X-factor in Garba & Gen Z
"Our biggest speciality, and what I consider our X factor, is our 45-minute dakla session. That is what draws people to our performances and sets us apart from other artistes.
Raas is another speciality, particularly in the second half of the programme. Many revellers spend the first half playing Garba elsewhere and then come to our event specifically to play raas in the second half.
I believe Gen Z is far more connected to our traditions than we give them credit for. They are also much more practical than we think. Today, they wholeheartedly enjoy betha Garba and Garba jamming. They want to understand the meaning of the lyrics, as well as the stories, significance and context behind our traditions and rituals. It is up to us how we package this music and present it to them in a way that appeals to them. What matters is how we encourage young people to carry our culture and heritage forward.
As for social media and its influence, it depends on how much you let it influence you. As an artiste, I haven't let it change me, and that matters. I perform the same way I did 10 years ago. Social media has certainly changed how artistes reach people and promote themselves.
A jam-packed year
We travel constantly, and ensuring that revellers enjoy our performances just as much at every event takes years of hard work. Every year, we begin preparing three to four months in advance, thinking about changes we can make, what we can improve and how we can give people an even better experience. But none of this would be possible without the efforts of our entire team. Our technicians, fellow artistes and musicians all put in tremendous effort to ensure that we deliver the best possible performance."