105. RaviDrums: Emmy Nominated DJ & the Future of Electronic Music

Mar 5, 2024

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When it comes to a band, there are so many different moving parts and pieces. There are voices to sing and give words to the music. The horns provide a background, and the keyboards and woodwinds also play an important role, bringing it all together and making a wonderful sound. But the argument can easily be made that the drums bring it all together. No instrument and that includes the human voice, makes a song a hit more than the drums … it’s just that simple!

Our guest today is RaviDrums, a man considered to be drum royalty with an incredible sound that’s more revolutionary than music! He’s a man who has worked all over the music industry while living a life that is nothing short of incredible. Today, he’ll discuss his fascinating journey, the impact his family continues to have on the legacy he’s building, and the message of inspiration he received long ago that still fuels his passion. This is an awesome listen and a story of resilience and perseverance that will inspire you to fight for your dreams!

In This Episode

(2:56) – A drummer from birth is how DJ Ravidrums describes himself.
(4:30) – Honing his skills in Bombay.
(5:58) – Ted Nugent, Queen, and all the other greats are part of his young influences.
(8:10) – Ravidrums discusses his parents’ young adult lives.
(9:53) – His grandfather is embarrassed to the point of having a stroke due to a gambling debt.
(13:51) – His uncle eventually inherits the company of the man who taught him math.
(17:00) – Ravidrums outlines why so many American engineers are from India.
(18:52) – Borrowing from 50 families to get money for his father to come to America.
(20:32) – Why he named his business $8.
(30:25) – Practicing 10 hours a day to be a rockstar.
(35:26) – Winning the competition leads to offers from other bands.
(36:40) – Crimson Glory life includes world tours and magazine covers.
(37:25) – Band member begins dating a mob boss.
(38:42) – Crimson Glory goes head-to-head with Nirvana.
(39:33) – Things begin to fall apart.
(41:19) – The pivotal conversation he had with his father leads him back to school.
(49:08) – Building drumming connections in Los Angeles.
(51:12) – Small beginnings at the hottest club in town.
(52:49) – Ravidrums faces burnout, loses his jobs, but keeps his gigs.
(59:00) – Ravidrums discusses his future and new projects on the horizon.
(1:01:09) – Advice that changed his life.

Our Guest

Ravi Jakhotia also known by his stage name DJ Ravidrums, a music producer, an electronic music artist DJ and drummer. He was the music director and drummer on the 2009 NBC TV series "Howie Do It" and the 2011 CBS TV series "Live to Dance". He performed at the Oscars in 2009 for "Slumdog Millionaire", at the Mariah Carey Infinity Las Vegas show as a special guest in 2015, Coachella, and Super Bowl pre-game shows throughout the years, including this year’s Super Bowl XL in Tampa.

Resources and Links

DJ Ravidrums

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