• By Mabel Pais

RISHAB RIKIRAM SHARMA is the sitarist who is redefining Indian Classical music for a new generation. On his ‘Sitar For Mental Health’ global tour, sitarist, music producer and composer, and health advocate Rishab stops at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Saturday, September 13 at 8 PM to delight his audience.

The youngest and last protégé of the legendary Ravi Shankar, he is one of the most compelling and culturally relevant voices in music today. Rishab Rikihiram Sharma is a fourth-generation sitarist from the revered Rikhi Ram family of instrument makers, great-grandson of Rikhi Ram Sharma.

Born in Delhi, Sharma picked up the sitar at the tender age of ten and began performing at thirteen. At seventeen, he moved to New York to study music production and economics.

He’s been cited as, “getting Gen-Z excited about the Sitar” by Vogue India, blending Indian ragas with hip-hop and cinematic scores alongside a mission beyond the stage which is setting  him apart.

RISHAB’S JOURNEY

Rishab founded ‘Sitar for Mental Health’ after his own personal struggle with grief, anxiety and depression. During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020 Rishab Rikiram Sharma experienced profound grief following the death of his grandfather. For a time, he left the sitar behind. But after turning to therapy and slowly reconnecting with the instrument, he discovered something powerful: music could heal — not just him, but others too.

Sharma began performing live on socials, in between songs talking about his loss and mental health. “It became this virtual room where everyone came together for each other, to share our grief,” says Sharma. “I started calling these sessions ‘Sitar For Mental Health’ (SFMH) because I was using my voice — the sitar — to talk about mental health.” “People think I’m doing something new,” Sharma says. “But I’m actually going back to ancient Indian traditions—because they have real, time-tested healing power.”

In his ‘Sitar for Mental Health’ performance Rishab uses the sitar to promote mental well-being around the world. In this performance, he blends Indian classical music with mindfulness and sound therapy to reawaken and reenergize your soul and promote calmness. It has since become a global movement.

That movement became the foundation for ‘Sitar For Mental Health’ — an ongoing global concert and conversation series at the intersection of Indian classical music, emotional wellbeing, and collective healing.

Sharma combines live sitar and surbahar, guided breathwork, and ancient raga therapy practices in an immersive two-hour experience that resonates across cultures, generations, and spiritual traditions.

His openness about his mental health journey — and how the sitar helped him find his way back — has struck a chord with fans around the world. Rishab creates a space for vulnerability, using his platform not just to perform, but to encourage others to talk about what they’re going through. Beyond music, he’s a driving force for global mental health awareness, fostering a community of musicians dedicated to both artistic innovation and mental well-being.

RECENT RELEASE

Sharma’s latest single, ‘The Burning Ghat,’ a haunting, reverent ode to the eternal cremation flame of Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi is his most introspective work to date. Blending traditional Indian instruments with electronic textures, the track draws on Sharma’s spiritual journey — from the sacred ghats of India to the fires of Burning Man, where grief and transformation are equally ritualized.

“From the dust storms of Burning Man to the sacred silence of Varanasi’s ghats, my journey has been one of sound and spirit. ‘The Burning Ghat’ is not just a track — it’s the resonance of a New India, where ancient wisdom meets modern expression. Channelling the teachings of my Guru, Ravi Shankar, and weaving them through the fabric of contemporary music production felt like stepping outside my body and into something far greater. This piece is my offering to the eternal flame of Manikarnika Ghat—a fire that has given salvation to countless souls. I believe this is the most honest and transcendent music I’ve created so far.”

Listen to it – youtu.be/iChaC_Trtto?list=RDiChaC_Trtto

In an age of noise and distraction, Rishab Sharma stands apart as a true visionary — a rare artist who fuses deep-rooted classical mastery with a fearless sense of emotional honesty. His music doesn’t just entertain; it offers stillness, clarity, and connection. Through delicate ragas, meditative textures, and a mission rooted in healing, Sharma is bringing the ancient power of Indian classical music to new generations seeking solace in a confused and fast-paced world. As both a torchbearer of tradition and a bold voice for mental wellness, he is redefining what it means to be a modern musician — one note at a time.

PERFORMANCES

Rishab Sharma is the first Sitarist to be invited to perform solo at the White House by US President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and VP Kamala Harris for the Diwali event hosted by the President.

Rishab stands as the only Sitarist of his generation to have performed solo, in front of a live audience of 60,000+ people at the NGR Stadium in Houston Texas, and 500+ million at-home live viewers.

Rishab has taken the “Sitar For Mental Health” tour worldwide in the last year covering multiple shows in India, the USA, Canada, and South America.

Rishab has performed at the Woodstock 50 Reunion (50 years of Woodstock Festival), paying tribute to the performance of the great Pandit Ravi Shankar.

PHILANTHROPY

Through Sitar For Mental Health, Rishab continues his mission to merge art and advocacy — offering cost-free music therapy online, collaborating with mental health experts, and reviving forgotten spiritual lineages through sound.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Rishab goes live weekly on Instagram and Clubhouse, entertaining audiences with reels that often reach millions of views. A master at blending modern music nuances with his classical foundation, Rishab has crafted a strong US network and garnered a substantial online following through platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Clubhouse. Learn more about Rishab Rikiram Sharma at rishabsharma.com.

Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Business, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.