Roshan Gidwani: Not your average rapper
Roshan Gidwani
PROFILE by Derrick Foo
Whenever Roshan Gidwani talks about his passion for rapping, you can’t help but feel inspired by his determination to keep performing and keep writing lyrics to achieve his ultimate goal. Stardom.
On track to being a star, Roshan has already lost count of the number of shows he has performed in, which spans across Australia, China and Singapore, but fondly remembers two major events.
“I learned a lot performing for the Youth Olympic Games last year and China’s Miss Bikini Awards in 2007,” said the 20-year-old with a sheepish grin.
As an up-and-coming rap artist, he feels that being a star is not about fame or fortune. “Being a star is about inspiring and motivating people to do what they want to do because that’s what I’ve done,” he explained. Clearly, his enthusiasm has influenced others around him.
“Roshan is one of the most motivated guys I know and it’s always fun working with him even when you just want to get it over and done with,” said NUS graduate, Mohammed Khairudeen who frequently performs with Roshan on stage.
The story of how Roshan embarked on his lyrical journey is as colourful as his personality. “My sister saw that I was interested in doing rap and so she hooked me up with a deal to write the national day theme song for Guang Zhou (China),” he said. He was only 13 then, and has never looked back since.
When asked to describe his style of music, the arts and social sciences undergraduate at NUS immediately broke into a rap. “I gotta rap this out, I gotta rap this out, let the truth be told, I got to make it out!” he yelled. His style, he said, is based on the slogan ‘Let the truth be told,’ which represents directness and clarity.
Taking after his father, who runs a business in the day and occasionally does Elvis impersonations on stage at night in China, Roshan is accustomed to juggling work, school and play as well. “You have to set your priorities and work smart. So if I am writing a paper, I erase everything out of my mind. It’s like yoga,” he explained.
However, there were occasions when work and school conflicted and difficult decisions had to be made. “I just turned down a role at Channel 5 for a prime series. It hurts, but I know that I have to prioritise school,” he said.
Roshan may still be a long way from stardom, but to the people around him, his vibrant personality and positive influence has already made him one.
Whenever Roshan Gidwani talks about his passion for rapping, you can’t help but feel inspired by his determination to keep performing and keep writing lyrics to achieve his ultimate goal. Stardom.
On track to being a star, Roshan has already lost count of the number of shows he has performed in, which spans across Australia, China and Singapore, but fondly remembers two major events.
“I learned a lot performing for the Youth Olympic Games last year and China’s Miss Bikini Awards in 2007,” said the 20-year-old with a sheepish grin.
As an up-and-coming rap artist, he feels that being a star is not about fame or fortune. “Being a star is about inspiring and motivating people to do what they want to do because that’s what I’ve done,” he explained. Clearly, his enthusiasm has influenced others around him.
“Roshan is one of the most motivated guys I know and it’s always fun working with him even when you just want to get it over and done with,” said NUS graduate, Mohammed Khairudeen who frequently performs with Roshan on stage.
The story of how Roshan embarked on his lyrical journey is as colourful as his personality. “My sister saw that I was interested in doing rap and so she hooked me up with a deal to write the national day theme song for Guang Zhou (China),” he said. He was only 13 then, and has never looked back since.
When asked to describe his style of music, the arts and social sciences undergraduate at NUS immediately broke into a rap. “I gotta rap this out, I gotta rap this out, let the truth be told, I got to make it out!” he yelled. His style, he said, is based on the slogan ‘Let the truth be told,’ which represents directness and clarity.
Taking after his father, who runs a business in the day and occasionally does Elvis impersonations on stage at night in China, Roshan is accustomed to juggling work, school and play as well. “You have to set your priorities and work smart. So if I am writing a paper, I erase everything out of my mind. It’s like yoga,” he explained.
However, there were occasions when work and school conflicted and difficult decisions had to be made. “I just turned down a role at Channel 5 for a prime series. It hurts, but I know that I have to prioritise school,” he said.
Roshan may still be a long way from stardom, but to the people around him, his vibrant personality and positive influence has already made him one.