“Our Music choices are very Instinctive rather than being only Market-Driven”-Himanshu Shekhar, Co-Founder, OSM Records

Himanshu Shekhar, a true visionary who has deftly juggled various roles to create a name for himself. From a passionate litigator to a soulful poet, a prolific lyricist to a relentless explorer, Himanshu has pursued his passions with zeal and perseverance. Himanshu is a self-made entrepreneur, lawyer, and creative powerhouse who has pursued his passions with unwavering commitment. His impressive legal career, content creation ventures, and music label showcase his varied interests and his ability to excel in each of them, a true inspiration for those who seek to pursue their dreams and passions, no matter how diverse they may be. 

OSM Records has become a platform known for introducing and nurturing new artists and showcasing experimental music and videos to audience. Our music choices are very instinctive rather than being only market-driven and we have been acknowledged and hailed for that by our peers.

In an Exclusive Interview with Loudest.in Himanshu Shekhar talks about his own Label OSM Records,Here are some edited excerpts:

Q1.Can you tell us something about your journey?

Born in Varanasi to central-govt employed parents, I grew up in a rooted environment and was intrigued with the workings of the government and judiciary since childhood. However, my love for theatre and the creative arts never took a back seat. During my time in Symbiosis law school, I led the drama team and founded a not-for-profit youth magazine called 'Yuva' with just my monthly allowance. The magazine became an overnight sensation and grew to employ 180 volunteer students from multiple colleges.

After completing my post-graduation, I founded a full-service law firm where we handled several high-profile cases. While I gained respect and fame in the industry, my creative side yearned for more. It was then that I teamed up with my longtime friend, Manpreet Kaur, and launched Vipra Dialogues, a full-fledged content creation company. As pioneers in the industry, we quickly gained massive success, capturing the attention of fans and renowned media powerhouses. OSM Records is the organic evolution of Vipra Dialogues.

Q2.How did the idea of OSM Records come into existence?

During a difficult period in my personal life, I found refuge in the art of poetry and writing. It was through this creative outlet that I was able to find solace and began to explore my passions further. As I continued to hone my craft, I thought of creating a platform for aspiring artists to showcase their talents. That’s when Manpreet, and I decided to start our own music label - OSM Records - as an extension of our existing content creation company, Vipra Dialogues.

With the release of our first song Saaya, we knew that we had struck a chord with audiences. Saaya quickly became a chart-topper, and we were overwhelmed by the positive response from fans all over the world. What began as expression of my emotions has now transformed into a lifelong passion for creating music that speaks to the soul.

Q3.How do you manage being a lawyer as well as running OSM Records?

I consider myself lucky to have two passions - law and creative arts; and feel privileged to have the opportunity to pursue both. Maintaining a balance between the two is certainly challenging, and as a lawyer and co-founder of OSM Records, time management and delegation are key for me.

Fortunately, I have a great team and partners at both, my law firm, and OSM Records who share my vision and work ethic. Together, we've been able to make a real impact in both industries. Of course, there are times when it can be overwhelming, but having a supportive system and learning to prioritize my time has helped me maintain a balance.

Q4.You have also written lyrics for some of the songs released by your label? Tell us more about it.

As a poet at heart, writing for our label is an opportunity to combine my love for music and poetry. My foray into songwriting was a happenstance, the first song I wrote – 'Humko Kuch Naee Malum', was born out of a playful banter between my younger brothers during Covid lockdown. Since then, I have written and produced popular tracks such as 'Single Hai Jee', 'Sun Bikky ke Munna', and '5G'.

More recently, I experimented with rap for the first time, with lyrics for our chart-topping track 'Ek Thi Raat'. A peppy number that was shot with a 'noir' cinematic aesthetic and starred renowned OTT actors Shivankit Singh Parihar and Badri Chavan.

More than songwriting, I am passionate about poetry/ ghazals and have penned over 200 couplets that I hope to publish soon.

Q5.What challenges did you face while setting up and running OSM Records?

Entertainment industry is very competitive and can be ruthless. Establishing OSM Records in the industry and positioning it as a game changer for experimentative music has been an uphill task.

Despite the industry's cut-throat competition, our label has managed to thrive and make a name for itself. The most significant challenges we faced was creating a unique identity in a market with established brands and crowd favorite artists. To stand out, we had to offer something different, and that's where our innovation and creativity came into play. We have worked hard to create the perfect mélange of singers, lyrics, music composition, videography and promotions that resonate with current trends while standing out from the crowd.

Q6.In a competitive Indian music industry, what do you think makes you a game changer?

As a label, we pride ourselves on being trendsetters, not afraid to experiment and produce unconventional content that pushes boundaries. We take pride that OSM Records has become a platform known for introducing and nurturing new artists and showcasing experimental music and videos to audience. Our music choices are very instinctive rather than being only market-driven and we have been acknowledged and hailed for that by our peers. Through OSM Records, we have been fortunate to provide a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

Q7.What's your vision for OSM Records? What can we expect in 2023?
We are committed to producing chart-topping releases and setting new standards in the music