In Auckland's music circuit, Kartik Arora, a 25-year-old vocalist from New Delhi, is emerging as a crowd favourite. Since making the move to Auckland last year to pursue music full-time, he has been captivating audiences with his performances at Jalsa, Auckland, every Friday and Saturday.
Arora's musical journey began at a young age, singing devotional songs with his father. Despite lacking formal training, he developed a deep passion for music and began his professional singing career in 2014.
Kartik’s big feature event called “ Ibadat” is this month at Vogue, Auckland.
"My family has always supported my passion for composing, playing, and singing new songs," Kartik shared with The Indian Weekender.
His interest in percussion instruments such as the tabla and dholak blossomed during a Jagaran celebration at his Delhi home in 2012, where he was inspired by the musicians' performances. This event marked the inception of his professional singing career, leading him to perform at over 2000 events in India and more than 25 events in Auckland, where his unique musical style has been well-received.
Around two years ago, Kartik shifted his focus to Sufi music, drawing inspiration from legends like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He began composing his own songs, blending traditional Sufi elements with his style, attracting a diverse audience in Auckland.
"I listen to everything for inspiration. I am a fan of John Mayer's music, Alicia Keys, Linkin Park, and also Norah Jones. I believe every budding singer should listen to every artist there is," Arora emphasized.
Despite his brief tenure in Auckland, Kartik has already performed at more than 25 regular music events, showcasing his talent and spreading the joy of Sufi music. His aim is to introduce this genre to mainstream audiences, hoping to cultivate a new appreciation for its depth.
"I want to convey to people that music is all about the feeling. If you do not understand what I am saying, that is okay. I just want people to close their eyes and listen to how I am conveying," he expressed.
With his soulful voice, compositions, and performances, Kartik Arora is making a mark in Auckland's music scene, bringing the essence of Sufi soul to audiences across the city by also writing his own poems. Kartik is gearing up for more shows in the future and hopes to connect with people through one of his own Shayaris, which is scheduled to release soon. Here is an excerpt from his upcoming Shayari:
ek din kuch ban kar dikhaunga
jo roye hai mere liye unhe zaroor hasaunga
phil haal main kho gya hu is duniya ke khel main
lakin jaldi yaha se nikal jaunga
dhoka dene wale dhoka dekar chle
lakin pyaar karna unko bhi sikhaunga
logon ka kehna hai bhagwan pe bharosa rakh sab thik hoga ,
lakin sab kuch thik main karke dikhaunga
waqt de raha hu sab chijo ko
shayd kuch bachpana bhi kar raha hu
lakin apne ap par vishavash todne nahi dunga
toh haan tum sab ko kehna hai
ek din kuch ban kar dikhaunga
To book your tickets for "Ibadat", click here.
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