BUILDING A JAZZ LEGACY

The vision and voice of Arjun Sagar Gupta.

- 

Your time as a Fulbright scholar was transformative. How did it shape your philosophy as a musician and entrepreneur?

It was less about shaping my philosophy as a musician and entrepreneur at that point, as I had not even considered the possibility of becoming an entrepreneur yet. Rather, it was about how the experience expanded my worldview. Living in Delhi at the time, we all were somewhat confined to a silo. I played what I played and thought, wow, I am really good at this.

Then, when I traveled abroad and saw the higher standards of music there, it was a wake-up call. I realised how much more there was to learn and just how vast the world is. From that perspective, the trip was incredibly eyeopening. More than anything, it was a journey that enhanced my perspective on life and music.

What was the inspiration behind converting a bakery into Delhi's nowiconic jazz venue?

I believe the jazz venue would not have come to fruition if the bakery had not happened first. It was the initial step, the catalyst that got me into the industry. It was not a particularly well-thought-out move on my part; when the opportunity presented itself, I simply seized it. Once I was involved, I began to think, Okay, how do I align this with something I understand better and can build upon more effectively?