ShiShi live in concert. Photo: Adam Schneberg
In spring 2022, New York-based artist ShiShi, aka Aasheesh Paliwal, began crafting what would become Indigo, an album that defies easy categorization. Part rock odyssey, part devotional offering, the record represents an ambitious attempt by the Indo-American musician-producer to smuggle ancient Vedic wisdom into mainstream consciousness.
ShiShi, who found success with his 2017 single “Aarti” and has spent over a decade as a DJ, embarked on this project with clear intentions. “My vision was to Trojan-horse the wisdom of the Vedas and spiritual knowledge from India into something accessible to the mainstream, something that didn’t come off as overtly ‘new age,’” he explains. The result is an album rooted in Hindu philosophy that moves from vulnerability to transcendence, its artwork symbolized by the indigo color of enlightenment.
The technical approach behind Indigo reveals ShiShi’s commitment to creating music that operates on multiple levels. Every track is tuned to 432 Hz, a frequency associated with healing and the heart chakra in certain traditions. “I just adjusted the tuning in Ableton from 440 Hz down to 432 Hz,” he notes. “The result is that the music sounds slightly flat compared to the standard, but it’s imperceptible to most listeners.”
The album unfolds as what ShiShi describes as a “hero’s journey,” beginning with the vulnerable introspection of “Loser” (which references his upbringing in China) and expanding into direct spiritual dialogue with tracks like “Kali,” featuring Los Angeles singer-songwriter Shilpa, and the death-embracing kirtan-inspired meditation “When It’s My Time,” first released in 2023. He says, “As the album unfolds, the music reflects an expanding state of consciousness. By the time we reach ‘Kali,’ it’s like having a direct conversation with the goddess.” Sonically, there’s a seemingly nostalgic rock influence with a bit of electronic music borrowed from his foundation as a DJ. It’s perhaps a nod to keep at least something familiar from his 2022 dancefloor-driven album Chrysalis and the 2025 collaborative album BAHÉ with singer-songwriter Aditya Rao.
ShiShi’s decade-long meditation practice, which began with a life-changing Vipassana retreat at the age of 26, has fundamentally altered his creative process as a musician. “It feels less like I’m making the music and more like I’m a channel or conduit pulling it in from a bigger space,” he reflects. “In Vedic tradition, you could call that Brahman—the big self—or Atman.”
Traditional Indian instruments—bansuri, sitar, tabla, and harmonium—flow through the record, carrying what ShiShi calls “spiritual associations for thousands of years.” While his earlier work more overtly showcased his Indian identity through Bollywood-dance music fusions, Indigo takes a subtler, rock-driven approach. “Now, I don’t feel the need to make that an overt statement. What matters to me is sharing the wisdom of the Vedas.”
He sees himself as part of a broader movement of musicians creating what he calls “modern devotional” music—a reflection of “humanity’s rising consciousness.” This optimism about the future of meditative and spiritual music is connected to trends he’s observed over time. ShiShi says, “The industry is heavily built around selling alcohol, but Gen Z doesn’t drink as much, and people want deeper, more meaningful experiences, not just escapism.” He points to recent developments like Live Nation’s first alcohol-free event as harbingers of change. His ultimate goal? Bringing this fusion of music and meditation to mainstream festival stages. “I’d love to bring this to festivals like Coachella, because it can change how people experience music.”
The rise of conscious festivals worldwide and the growing appetite for spiritual content in music suggests ShiShi’s timing might be perfect. He says, “As more people wake up and seek spiritual knowledge and truth, more of the industry will respond. I believe it’s heading to the biggest stages.”
In the midst of that, bringing this music to India would represent a profound homecoming. “India is the motherland of so much of the spiritual wisdom that inspires me, and it’s also my heritage. It would be a full-circle moment,” he says. Plans are already in motion — he reveals the team is “in talks about putting together a small tour there next year.”
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