Even after 25 years, I feel I am just starting out: Raghu Dixit

When musician Raghu Dixit looks back at his 25 years in music, he doesn’t dwell on accolades or milestones. Instead, he reflects on a journey of self-discovery. “So much time, so little accomplished, so much to do,” he laughs. For Raghu, his early years as a musician were all about living the dream of being a rock star; commanding the stage, thrilling audiences, and enjoying the adrenaline rush. But somewhere along the way, he felt like the purpose was missing, he admits. That clarity only came in recent years. “I had to ask myself why to keep playing the same songs again and again? What gives it meaning? Finding that purpose changed everything. It gave me new energy to step on stage without feeling jaded,” he tells us.

‘Now, it’s about making up for the lost time’
This sense of purpose reshaped his life, both personally and professionally, he tells us and adds that he had to cut out the noise, keep a smaller circle of people, and devoting himself to “meaningful collaborations”. “A lot of time was wasted in the last 25 years. Now it’s about making up for lost time and creating music that lasts,” he says. For Raghu, his journey has been marked by defining moments, as he recalls his very first show with his band Eclipse. “It was also the day my father passed away. After the funeral, I was ready to cancel, but my mother insisted I perform. She told me, ‘Do what you have to do, then come back and we’ll grieve together.’ That one push shaped my lifelong commitment to the stage. Years later, when my mother also passed away, I finished the funeral in the morning, came to Bengaluru from Mysuru for a show, and went back for the rest of the rituals,” he reveals.

A throwback from 1993: Raghu’s first band, Eclipse, performing on the evening his father passed away. “I stepped on stage with a cap over my freshly shaven head, carrying him with me,” says Raghu

‘The last 25 years were just the prelude. The journey starts today’
From his breakout in 2008 with his debut album and the soundtrack for the Kannada movie Psycho, to today Raghu sees longevity as one of his proudest achievements. “Not many musicians sustain for 25 years. The fact that my music still matters is a beautiful accomplishment.” Humbled by mistakes, grateful for his fans, and excited for the road ahead, Raghu Dixit believes the real story is only just beginning. “The last 25 years were just the prelude. The true journey starts today,” he shares.
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