Sam' of all fears, in notes

Drop beats about girls, throw in some flashy cars with a side of bling, lyrics lost to the world and boom! You’ve (unfortunately) got yourself a hit rap song.

Thankfully, every once in a while, a promising debut tells a different story – one that’s raw and real. Bengaluru-based rapper Samir Rishu Mohanty attempts to do just that with his debut EP, One Kid.

In his latest – a seven-track EP, Big Deal, as you may know Samir as, gets candid about everything from bullying and racism to pursuing one’s big dream.

The best part? Each track follows him through Puri in Odisha, Darjeeling and Bengaluru in what is the story of his life. “One Kid is the story of my life and experiences so far. I was born in Puri to a Japanese mother and an Indian father. I looked different from the other kids. My school life in Darjeeling proved tough for me as I was bullied and teased,” says the 26-year-old rapper. “I came to Bengaluru to pursue my bachelors and masters degree and acquired a job too. But eventually I quit all of it to take on music full time. All of these experiences have been put into each verse and my secrets and weaknesses have become my armour after One Kid,” he says.

Him getting real has only led to a bright start to the year – an increased fan base (he calls them ‘dreamers’), enquiries for shows across cities and more direct appreciation that an artiste so looks forward to – his video clocked 92,000 views since it was released a couple of days. “I am looking at a career of longevity if I continue to give the masses promising music like this track. Good music will stand the test of time,” he says, exuding a cool confidence.

As Big Deal, Samir puts out promising earworms, one after the other. But he believes in not crowding the scene with mediocrity. “In order to be heard globally, we need to be doing something that nobody else is doing out there. We need to infuse more Indian elements into our music and deliver more Indian rhymes, staying true to our roots. After all this, we need to release deep, impactful and ground-breaking songs that will blow people’s minds,” says the musician who was struck by the rap bug early on, thanks to Eminem and his 8 Mile.

Now basking in the EP’s success, Samir has big plans for the year ahead. “An album is definitely coming out soon, but I don’t want to put it out without a major label backing me, because I know it will be big and I want it to reach out to the masses,” he adds, practically speaking.  Where does he see himself in a couple of years then? “Where my idols are, shining on a global scale and making major moves in the USA. I want J.Cole to listen to my song and be like, ‘He reminds me of the younger me.’ I want the best, nothing less is adequate,” he says in conclusion.