By Spandan Fulkar
26th Aug 2024
By Spandan Fulkar
26th Aug 2024
KOAD, the artist behind the viral track "Deepika," has a story as unique as his name. Born Ajay Dodani, he decided to make a change when he was just 13. "I made a list of 100 possible rap names, and they were all terrible," he laughs. "I just thought about what I like. I like myself, ‘Ajay Dodani,’ and I like koalas. So, I took the ‘KO’ from koalas and the ‘AD’ from my initials and put it together. I always wanted to keep some aspect of my name and identity in there because, at the end of the day, I’m just being me."
Signature Shade
And that’s what KOAD’s all about—being himself, whether it’s in his music, his style, or his visuals. One thing that stands out in his aesthetic is the use of green, a colour he calls "TREEHOUSE green." This isn’t just a random colour choice; it represents something deeper. "TREEHOUSE is the album I’ve been working on for the past six years," KOAD explains. "It’s basically the world my brain lives in and how I see the world."
KOAD, the artist behind the viral track "Deepika," has a story as unique as his name. Born Ajay Dodani, he decided to make a change when he was just 13. "I made a list of 100 possible rap names, and they were all terrible," he laughs. "I just thought about what I like. I like myself, ‘Ajay Dodani,’ and I like koalas. So, I took the ‘KO’ from koalas and the ‘AD’ from my initials and put it together. I always wanted to keep some aspect of my name and identity in there because, at the end of the day, I’m just being me."
Signature Shade
And that’s what KOAD’s all about—being himself, whether it’s in his music, his style, or his visuals. One thing that stands out in his aesthetic is the use of green, a colour he calls "TREEHOUSE green." This isn’t just a random colour choice; it represents something deeper. "TREEHOUSE is the album I’ve been working on for the past six years," KOAD explains. "It’s basically the world my brain lives in and how I see the world."
Dreams Do Come True
KOAD’s authenticity paid off big time when none other than Deepika Padukone herself followed him and acknowledged his track. "It wasn’t like, ‘Not in my wildest dreams did I think this could happen.’ It was literally one of my wildest dreams, and it happened," he recalls with a grin. "I was with my brother, and I was like, ‘Bro, I think Deepika just liked the video we shot,’ and we started freaking out. I’m grateful it resonated with so many kids globally; I don’t take that for granted."
A Sound That’s All
When it comes to describing his sound, KOAD keeps it simple: "Honest. Cathartic. Groovy. ILL. Romantic." His music is a blend of hip-hop, electronic beats, and Bollywood influences, making it a sound that’s uniquely his. "What sets me apart is that you’re not gonna find someone else who is moonwalkin’ and rappin’ this good, let alone at the same time," he says with a playful confidence.
Valley Roots
Growing up in suburban California, specifically in the San Fernando Valley, played a huge role in shaping KOAD’s music. "The Valley is super diverse and vibrant, but I spent a lot of time in a white, Catholic school environment," Dodani shares. "A lot of my early music was about figuring out who I was in those spaces. I think ‘home’ is the first story we tell as artists, and it shapes our entire perspective as songwriters."
Future Dreams
Looking ahead, KOAD has big plans. "To be honest, I see myself playing the biggest stadiums, rapping my lyrics bar for bar with the audience, and dancing my ass off on stage," he says. "I also see myself making grand albums for myself and producing for other people because I just love music."
Keeping it Real
And before wrapping up, KOAD makes sure to give a shout out to the people who’ve supported him from the beginning. "Hi mom, hi nani if you’re reading this," he adds with a smile. It’s clear that no matter how far he goes, KOAD stays true to who he is—just a guy who loves music, his family, and, of course, koalas.
Opening Up
KOAD isn’t shy about discussing his mental health challenges, either. "I tell stories about my life and my perspective on things, and my mental health has been through a lot, so it’s heavily tied into my music. I’ve written about times I’ve been to the hospital because of my mental health, and I’ve also written about when my mental health has been the best it’s ever been."
From Fan to Friend
With big-name artists like SZA and Isaiah Rashad giving him the nod, KOAD’s career is on the rise. "I mean, I love them," he says. "I remember playing ‘Garden (Say It Like Dat)’ by SZA every day for a long time. And Isaiah’s music sounds so good in the car, bro. It’s cool to see people I grew up listening to have heard my stuff."
Dreams Do Come True
KOAD’s authenticity paid off big time when none other than Deepika Padukone herself followed him and acknowledged his track. "It wasn’t like, ‘Not in my wildest dreams did I think this could happen.’ It was literally one of my wildest dreams, and it happened," he recalls with a grin. "I was with my brother, and I was like, ‘Bro, I think Deepika just liked the video we shot,’ and we started freaking out. I’m grateful it resonated with so many kids globally; I don’t take that for granted."
A Sound That’s All
When it comes to describing his sound, KOAD keeps it simple: "Honest. Cathartic. Groovy. ILL. Romantic." His music is a blend of hip-hop, electronic beats, and Bollywood influences, making it a sound that’s uniquely his. "What sets me apart is that you’re not gonna find someone else who is moonwalkin’ and rappin’ this good, let alone at the same time," he says with a playful confidence.
Valley Roots
Growing up in suburban California, specifically in the San Fernando Valley, played a huge role in shaping KOAD’s music. "The Valley is super diverse and vibrant, but I spent a lot of time in a white, Catholic school environment," Dodani shares. "A lot of my early music was about figuring out who I was in those spaces. I think ‘home’ is the first story we tell as artists, and it shapes our entire perspective as songwriters."
Future Dreams
Looking ahead, KOAD has big plans. "To be honest, I see myself playing the biggest stadiums, rapping my lyrics bar for bar with the audience, and dancing my ass off on stage," he says. "I also see myself making grand albums for myself and producing for other people because I just love music."
Keeping it Real
And before wrapping up, KOAD makes sure to give a shout out to the people who’ve supported him from the beginning. "Hi mom, hi nani if you’re reading this," he adds with a smile. It’s clear that no matter how far he goes, KOAD stays true to who he is—just a guy who loves music, his family, and, of course, koalas.
Future Dreams
Looking ahead, KOAD has big plans. "To be honest, I see myself playing the biggest stadiums, rapping my lyrics bar for bar with the audience, and dancing my ass off on stage," he says. "I also see myself making grand albums for myself and producing for other people because I just love music."
Keeping it Real
And before wrapping up, KOAD makes sure to give a shout out to the people who’ve supported him from the beginning. "Hi mom, hi nani if you’re reading this," he adds with a smile. It’s clear that no matter how far he goes, KOAD stays true to who he is—just a guy who loves music, his family, and, of course, koalas.
Opening Up
KOAD isn’t shy about discussing his mental health challenges, either. "I tell stories about my life and my perspective on things, and my mental health has been through a lot, so it’s heavily tied into my music. I’ve written about times I’ve been to the hospital because of my mental health, and I’ve also written about when my mental health has been the best it’s ever been."
From Fan to Friend
With big-name artists like SZA and Isaiah Rashad giving him the nod, KOAD’s career is on the rise. "I mean, I love them," he says. "I remember playing ‘Garden (Say It Like Dat)’ by SZA every day for a long time. And Isaiah’s music sounds so good in the car, bro. It’s cool to see people I grew up listening to have heard my stuff."
