From Fiji to Mumbai: Building a Musical Bridge Between NZ and India

For Shiv, the journey into music has been one of persistence, experimentation and taking opportunities when they arise. Born in Fiji and moving to New Zealand in 1996, he did not follow a conventional path into the music industry. Instead, he built his skills, explored electronic music and gradually worked his way towards opportunities that would take him from Auckland to Melbourne and eventually Mumbai.

Today, his work spans electronic music production, Bollywood background scores, collaborations and independent releases. In conversation with Sandy & Ruzbeh, he reflects both the possibilities and challenges of building a career across different music industries.

For an electronic music producer, stepping into the world of a major Bollywood production presents a different set of creative demands. It requires more than producing a track that sounds good; it involves understanding the film’s atmosphere, supporting its storytelling and working within a larger musical vision.

Before Bollywood became part of his professional life, Cymbal was building his identity as a producer in New Zealand.

A key breakthrough came in 2013 when he won a remix competition organised by George FM. The achievement gave him valuable recognition and helped establish his presence in the local electronic music scene.

In 2018, he signed a three-year deal with Universal Music across New Zealand and Australia, another important milestone in his development as an artist. His track “Best Friends” also received radio play, giving his music a wider audience.

Electronic dance music and Bollywood have increasingly influenced one another, creating opportunities for producers who understand both worlds.

For producers looking to enter Bollywood, technical ability is only part of the equation. Understanding the creative brief, adapting to a composer’s vision and collaborating effectively with a wider team are equally important.

Alongside his work in film music, Cymbal continues to develop his own projects. During the interview, he spoke about his release “Awaaz Hai” and his plans for upcoming live DJ performances.

Maintaining an independent musical identity while contributing to larger productions allows him to explore different creative directions. Film scoring, original releases, DJ sets and commercial projects each demand different approaches, but they can also complement one another.

One of Cymbal’s wider ambitions is to help strengthen connections between New Zealand and India through music.

Having experienced the music scenes in New Zealand, Australia and India, he understands the opportunities that can emerge when artists from different markets collaborate. New Zealand has talented musicians and producers who may benefit from greater access to India's vast entertainment industry, while Indian artists can explore new audiences and creative partnerships in this part of the world.

Building those connections requires more than bringing artists together for a single project. It involves understanding different markets, developing relationships and creating opportunities that benefit everyone involved.

For the New Zealand Indian community, such collaborations could also help showcase local talent on a larger stage, demonstrating that an international music career can begin far from the traditional centres of the entertainment industry.

Catch the full conversation with Cymbal on Unfiltered with Sandy and Ruzbeh, where the producer opens up about his career, his experiences in Bollywood, the realities of the music business and his vision for connecting New Zealand and India through music.

Link : https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/unfiltered-drive/episodes/from-fiji-to-bollywood-cymbol-s-leap-into-indian-music-8f83b8c06d5d