We had the good fortune of connecting with David Sharma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’m sure every person who’s drawn to making music, at some point, thinks about making a life out of it– growing it from a hobby into a vocation. Music was never a hobby for me TBH– when I was younger it was literally the only thing I thought about. When I got to college, i’d joined a band before I’d even started classes. That band ultimately became successful enough for me to drop out of school for 2 years and tour. It’s not for everyone, but that was definitely the single most formative time of my life. When I went back to school and ultimately began working, music again became a “hobby,” although i finally had some $ to investigate other instruments, other methods, and ultimately how to use computers and digital instruments as a percussionist. That was the case until I was asked to audition for a Broadway show over 20 years ago– and ever since then music has indeed been my calling, my vocation and yes, my career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I never had a choice to become a musician– it was pretty much destined from the start, from banging on pots and pans to convincing my dad to build me a drumset out of buckets when I was 5 or 6. Couple that internal drive with growing up around both 90s’ alternative music and the classic Hindi music that my dad would play around the house, and you’ve got a good mix of what makes me… well, me… . While never easy, I’ve had some great musical experiences as a performer– playing dhol at Madison Square Garden, headlining Montreal Jazz Fest with Escort, playing tabla at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, playing with Moby at Wembley Stadium…

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is still relatively new to me, but the Pit Room always delivers for basic BBQ– and breakfast tacos. If we’re getting take out, you cannot beat Aga’s, and if you want to splurge– yes, go to Musaafer. I’m also partial to Aya Sushi in Bellaire, which punches WAY above what you’d expect. Izakaya Wa too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many folks who have set up big forks in the road for me, leading to new opportunities. Beyond my folks, a big one is my tabla guru, Samir Chatterjee, in NYC– he reccomended me for a gig over 20 years ago and it literally changed my life. His organization, Channdayan, continues the tradition of North Indian Classical music in NYC and beyond, and the world is immesurably better for it.

Website: https://karmadjs.com

Instagram: @davidsharmamusic

Other: https://tiktok.com/davidsharmamusic

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