MEET RAVI LAD: AN AUDIO ENGINEER WITH A PASSION FOR MUSIC
This is InnovatorsBox’s “IB Backstage“ series, where in celebration of InnovatorsBox’s 6th year anniversary that’s coming up in November 2021, we are highlighting the stories of our incredible team members.
Ravi Lad is a diligent creative who loves bringing musical spirit to everything he does! Going into a different field after working on one that’s on an opposite side of the spectrum isn’t what one can expect from everyone. But Ravi has always been daring when it comes to creativity and storytelling.
I had been searching for an amazing audio engineer to work on various creative projects and was so excited when Ravi responded to a Facebook post I posted and shared his work. We started working on our podcast audio editing and quickly expanded into our music development both under InnovatorsBox Studios. Meet Ravi who helps InnovatorsBox tell musical stories with his audio and beats!
In my Q&A with Ravi, we explore several topics from why he does what he does, what made him pivot from engineering to music, where he finds his ideas and inspiration from, who inspires him, and more. I can’t wait for you to get to know Ravi who brings his love for music and life and his resilient, passionate, musical self wherever he goes.
Monica: How would you describe yourself in three words?
Ravi: Wholesome. Musical. Diligent.
Monica: Why is creativity important to you?
Ravi: Creativity is important to me because it’s a way for me to grow and improve myself. I always feel like when I’m in an environment that encourages creative thinking, there are new things to learn and get better at.
I thrive off the challenge that creativity brings with its infinite possibilities – and it allows you to always grow as an individual while challenging yourself by asking questions and not following traditional norms all the time.
Monica: What was your favorite project, experience or memory working at InnovatorsBox?
Ravi: My favorite moments thus far have been the team meetings. Meeting and getting to know Monica has made this experience so much more real for me, and also that I’m surrounded by people who are not only talented, but down-to-earth as well.
Trend about work:
Monica: What drives you to do what you do – whether it’s audio engineering or music?
Ravi: I’d say two things- (1) an inherent love for my craft of making music and working the engineering side of audio, and (2) the sense of pride I feel when my work is published- whether it be a personal project or one I completed for someone else.
I thrive off the challenge that creativity brings with its infinite possibilities.
Monica: Congrats on your recent new song release. Tell us what inspired you to write it and make the leap in your career?
Ravi: Thanks so much! My song ‘decisions’ was inspired by my feelings surrounding me leaving my 9-5 job, as well as the quote “People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do” (Lewis Cass).
Growing up, I was always involved with music. From a piano tutorial YouTube channel that has ~1.7m video views to date, to playing the French Horn for 9 years in my school band, music has always been my deepest passion. I enjoyed engineering too and was good at it, so I chose to pursue that in college– so music had to take a back seat.
I did everything “right”: “work hard, get a decent job, live a stable life”. But after a few years at work, I felt unfulfilled and was longing for a way I could combine my two passions. Deciding to quit my job and leave the comfort of stability behind to chase a completely new career of course didn’t come without its share of anxieties. Those feelings are juxtaposed with my ideas for music in ‘decisions’ and are ultimately what led to the song’s creation.
Monica: Where do you find your best ideas for your songs and music development?
Ravi: Like many artists, my inspiration mostly comes from my lived experiences- some “above the iceberg”, like my South Asian identity, and others are from those “below the iceberg” realities, like my introverted nature, for example.
Musically, my biggest inspiration is the band AJR– I love how they fuse modern hip-hop/pop with orchestral elements!
Monica: What is one podcast hack you’ll share for someone who is starting off?
Ravi: Tell a story, and not just with your words. Bring on a guest, add music, add sound effects, the possibilities are endless!
Monica: What trend are you seeing in podcasts that you are excited about and worried about?
Ravi: I’m excited about the increasing accessibility for creators. It’s never been easier for people with a story they want the world to hear to tell them through podcasts!
But on the flip side, I worry that many projects will go without seeing a proper conclusion due to the sheer volume and amount of competition. Every creator has their own unique story they want to tell; now with so much material out there competing for attention, those stories are being drowned out by “me too” versions or not getting recognized amid all the noise.
And I wonder how we can make sure those voices find an audience who wants them heard too.
Monica: Who are musicians or creatives that inspire you?
Ravi: AJR– fusing modern hip-hop/pop with orchestral elements.
- Ryan Metzger– AJR’s producer and band member who often posts videos breaking down the production process of their songs.
All second-generation South Asian musicians also inspire me deeply. Some big names that come to mind are Vidya Vox, Raja Kumari, Raveena, Naveed Ahmed, etc. It’s very uncommon to see people of the same skin color as mine pursuing a career in the arts, and my generation is finally beginning to break out!
Every creator has their own unique story. How we can make sure those voices find an audience who wants them heard too?
Getting to know Ravi
Monica: What advice would you give your younger self?
Ravi: Can I give two?
- “Hey, did you know that there’s a career path that fuses engineering and music?”
- “Bet on yourself. If you have a passion for what you do, you will find a way to create stability from it.”
Monica: What is a book that you couldn’t stop reading?
Monica: What are you listening to lately – music or/and podcasts?
Ravi: AJR’s most recent album titled “OK Orchestra” and An Arm and a Leg podcast.
Monica: What are you watching lately that you really enjoyed? Why?
Ravi: I’m a big anime geek! I recently finished S4 of ‘Attack on Titan’ and I’m currently on a nostalgia kick of the Japanese version of ‘Yu-Gi-Oh’.
Enjoyed these purely for the entertainment value/storytelling, and the nostalgia, respectively.
Monica: What is your favorite way to decompress? Why?
Ravi: Spending time with friends and family often helps me decompress. From a self-care perspective, it provides me an opportunity to get some much-needed time away from my PC. But not just that, my friends and family continue to inspire me and encourage me – and you can never have too much of that!
Monica: If someone is visiting Texas for the first time, where would you recommend they go, eat, or do? (Yes you can specify the city or do the state)
Ravi: I’d highly recommend visiting Austin, TX. Explore the food scene (there’s PLENTY of different cuisines to try and it’s very vegan-friendly), as well as 6th St for the nightlife. If you’re a music lover, plan your trip around a concert or the ACL Music Festival which comes every October for two weekends.
Monica: If you could travel anywhere and do anything, where would you go and what would you want to do?
Ravi: I would like to go to New York City and spend a few weeks with Ryan Metzger to learn how he produces his music.
Monica: Anything else you want to share?
Ravi: Just some kicks of inspiration! 🙂 These two quotes emphasize the importance of taking risks, and I hope they will help you head into your day feeling optimistic about whatever challenges come up!
“People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.”
“The comfort zone is nice, but nothing ever grows there.”
Thank you, Ravi, for being the amazingly talented creator and a beautiful soul that you are. Your passion, resilience, and determination are inspiring – and I look forward to continuing to work together!
To connect with Ravi:
Website www.itsravilad.com
Twitter @itsravilad
Instagram @itsravilad
Facebook @itsravilad
About the Author
Monica H. Kang
Monica H. Kang, Founder, and CEO of InnovatorsBox® and Author of Rethink Creativity is transforming today’s workforce through the power of creativity. She helps companies rethink culture, leadership, and team development by making creativity practical and relatable regardless of industry or job title. She has worked with clients worldwide including Fortune 500 companies, higher education, government, and nonprofits. Monica’s work has been recognized by The White House, Ashoka Changemakers, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Prior to InnovatorsBox®, Monica was a nuclear nonproliferation policy expert. She holds an M.A. from SAIS Johns Hopkins University in Strategic Studies and International Economics and a B.A. from Boston University.
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