By Spandan Fulkar
19th Jan 2024
By Spandan Fulkar
19th Jan 2024
If you happen to be from Pune, Mumbai, or any corner of India with a keen interest in music, particularly the realm of guitars, chances are you're well acquainted with the virtuoso known as Siddharth Kota. Recognized among the seasoned and revered by ‘purists’, boasting an impressive 11-year journey with the guitar, Siddharth initially embarked on this journey as a self-taught guitarist. However, fuelled by a desire to refine his craft, he eventually sought formal guitar lessons.
His journey unfolded in the Pune music scene, where Siddharth immersed himself in the local bands. As the years progressed, his passion for the guitar deepened, propelling him to venture beyond familiar shores. Recognizing the need to explore the profound edges of music, Siddharth took a bold step and travelled continents, landing in Canada with the ambitious pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in music.
Siddharth Kota recently unveiled a musical gem titled 'Arcade Wizard,' and it stands as nothing short of a masterpiece. Describing this creation proves a challenging task, as it seamlessly weaves together musical genius, visual excellence, and interesting storytelling, all while ensuring an uninterrupted and thoroughly entertaining experience.
If you happen to be from Pune, Mumbai, or any corner of India with a keen interest in music, particularly the realm of guitars, chances are you're well acquainted with the virtuoso known as Siddharth Kota. Recognized among the seasoned and revered by ‘purists’, boasting an impressive 11-year journey with the guitar, Siddharth initially embarked on this journey as a self-taught guitarist. However, fuelled by a desire to refine his craft, he eventually sought formal guitar lessons.
His journey unfolded in the Pune music scene, where Siddharth immersed himself in the local bands. As the years progressed, his passion for the guitar deepened, propelling him to venture beyond familiar shores. Recognizing the need to explore the profound edges of music, Siddharth took a bold step and travelled continents, landing in Canada with the ambitious pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in music.
Siddharth Kota recently unveiled a musical gem titled 'Arcade Wizard,' and it stands as nothing short of a masterpiece. Describing this creation proves a challenging task, as it seamlessly weaves together musical genius, visual excellence, and interesting storytelling, all while ensuring an uninterrupted and thoroughly entertaining experience.
The accompanying music video for ‘Arcade Wiazrd’, a 4 minutes and 27 seconds animated film, unfolds a narrative centered around Siddharth himself. The storyline kicks off with the protagonist, in a post-jam slumber, only to find two mischievous monsters emerging from a nearby video game console. Their daring escapade involves stealing Siddharth's cherished guitar, propelling the storyline into a thrilling challenge. The monsters retreat into the digital realm, prompting Siddharth to re-enter the game, conquer each level, and reclaim his prized possession.
The brilliance of 'Arcade Wizard' lies not only in its musical prowess but also in the intricately designed animated narrative. Siddharth's character embarks on a guitar battle within the digital confines, each level escalating in difficulty. The dynamic shifts in solos and riffs, complemented by a subtle yet entrancing bassline, showcase a meticulous attention to detail. The inclusion of video game chimes and subtle effects adds an extra layer to the immersive experience. In this audio-visual experience, the drums maintain a commanding presence, contributing to the overall audio landscape without disrupting the vibe and the ‘thumpy’ beats infuse energy into the narrative, ensuring a blend of auditory and visual treats.
In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kota about the inspiration behind his latest track, 'Arcade Wizard,' he shared a captivating narrative. During the peak of the lockdown, facing a creative block and struggling to find inspiration, Siddharth found peace in a band that became the loop soundtrack to his days during the pandemic. This musical influence sparked the initial melody for the track until he encountered a creative standstill.
Amid the mid-lockdown phase, Kota found himself struggling with the challenge of inadequate practice due to a lack of inspiration and it was during this period that the concept for the song took shape. The storyline revolves around extraterrestrial beings stealing Siddharth's guitar as a consequence of his diminished practice routine. In a bid to motivate him to play more and enhance his musical prowess, the aliens devise a unique challenge for him in the world of video games.
The accompanying music video for ‘Arcade Wiazrd’, a 4 minutes and 27 seconds animated film, unfolds a narrative centered around Siddharth himself. The storyline kicks off with the protagonist, in a post-jam slumber, only to find two mischievous monsters emerging from a nearby video game console. Their daring escapade involves stealing Siddharth's cherished guitar, propelling the storyline into a thrilling challenge. The monsters retreat into the digital realm, prompting Siddharth to re-enter the game, conquer each level, and reclaim his prized possession.
The brilliance of 'Arcade Wizard' lies not only in its musical prowess but also in the intricately designed animated narrative. Siddharth's character embarks on a guitar battle within the digital confines, each level escalating in difficulty. The dynamic shifts in solos and riffs, complemented by a subtle yet entrancing bassline, showcase a meticulous attention to detail. The inclusion of video game chimes and subtle effects adds an extra layer to the immersive experience. In this audio-visual experience, the drums maintain a commanding presence, contributing to the overall audio landscape without disrupting the vibe and the ‘thumpy’ beats infuse energy into the narrative, ensuring a blend of auditory and visual treats.
In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kota about the inspiration behind his latest track, 'Arcade Wizard,' he shared a captivating narrative. During the peak of the lockdown, facing a creative block and struggling to find inspiration, Siddharth found peace in a band that became the loop soundtrack to his days during the pandemic. This musical influence sparked the initial melody for the track until he encountered a creative standstill.
Amid the mid-lockdown phase, Kota found himself struggling with the challenge of inadequate practice due to a lack of inspiration and it was during this period that the concept for the song took shape. The storyline revolves around extraterrestrial beings stealing Siddharth's guitar as a consequence of his diminished practice routine. In a bid to motivate him to play more and enhance his musical prowess, the aliens devise a unique challenge for him in the world of video games.
Kota expressed that the concept of an animated approach emerged from his desire to craft a narrative centered around a video game theme. The complexity of the storyline, involving aliens and a digital quest, would have been challenging to execute in the real world. Hence, the animated format provided the perfect canvas to bring this imaginative and visually dynamic concept to life.
In essence, 'Arcade Wizard' not only stands as a musical achievement but also reflects Siddharth's ingenuity in storytelling. The fusion of musical inspiration, lockdown reflections, and a creative journey manifested in an animated narrative showcases Kota's ability to transcend conventional boundaries and create an immersive experience that resonates with both the challenges of the times and his own artistic evolution.
He further dismisses the notion of hidden or cryptic messages within the song and its accompanying video but delves into a more profound interpretation of the concept, revealing that the antagonists in the video symbolize nothing other than laziness, procrastination, self-doubt, and the general negativity that can hinder creative pursuits. “The inspiration for the visuals were drawn from iconic gaming entities like Mario and Nintendo, infusing the video with a nostalgic yet innovative aesthetic. I didn't envision the song in a visual context or foresee it culminating in a game-like battle in the video. Instead, the concept organically evolved as a question-and-answer interplay between the musical composition and the visual narrative.” Says Kota
A distinctive aspect of 'Arcade Wizard' lies in its intentional choice to remain an instrumental piece without lyrics. Siddharth emphasizes that this decision rewards him the autonomy to oversee every aspect of the project independently. The scoring of the video itself became a collaborative effort, with Siddharth Kota partnering with Rishikesh More to bring the sonic landscape to life.
The creative process behind 'Arcade Wizard' was a time-intensive project, taking approximately six months for the video to materialize and the entire project spanning nine months. The careful orchestration of this animated journey, coupled with Siddharth's hands-on involvement in both the musical and visual sides, underscores the deliberate and thoughtful approach taken to craft an immersive experience for audiences.
Kota expressed that the concept of an animated approach emerged from his desire to craft a narrative centered around a video game theme. The complexity of the storyline, involving aliens and a digital quest, would have been challenging to execute in the real world. Hence, the animated format provided the perfect canvas to bring this imaginative and visually dynamic concept to life.
In essence, 'Arcade Wizard' not only stands as a musical achievement but also reflects Siddharth's ingenuity in storytelling. The fusion of musical inspiration, lockdown reflections, and a creative journey manifested in an animated narrative showcases Kota's ability to transcend conventional boundaries and create an immersive experience that resonates with both the challenges of the times and his own artistic evolution.
He further dismisses the notion of hidden or cryptic messages within the song and its accompanying video but delves into a more profound interpretation of the concept, revealing that the antagonists in the video symbolize nothing other than laziness, procrastination, self-doubt, and the general negativity that can hinder creative pursuits. “The inspiration for the visuals were drawn from iconic gaming entities like Mario and Nintendo, infusing the video with a nostalgic yet innovative aesthetic. I didn't envision the song in a visual context or foresee it culminating in a game-like battle in the video. Instead, the concept organically evolved as a question-and-answer interplay between the musical composition and the visual narrative.” Says Kota
A distinctive aspect of 'Arcade Wizard' lies in its intentional choice to remain an instrumental piece without lyrics. Siddharth emphasizes that this decision rewards him the autonomy to oversee every aspect of the project independently. The scoring of the video itself became a collaborative effort, with Siddharth Kota partnering with Rishikesh More to bring the sonic landscape to life.
The creative process behind 'Arcade Wizard' was a time-intensive project, taking approximately six months for the video to materialize and the entire project spanning nine months. The careful orchestration of this animated journey, coupled with Siddharth's hands-on involvement in both the musical and visual sides, underscores the deliberate and thoughtful approach taken to craft an immersive experience for audiences.
Kota expressed that the concept of an animated approach emerged from his desire to craft a narrative centered around a video game theme. The complexity of the storyline, involving aliens and a digital quest, would have been challenging to execute in the real world. Hence, the animated format provided the perfect canvas to bring this imaginative and visually dynamic concept to life.
In essence, 'Arcade Wizard' not only stands as a musical achievement but also reflects Siddharth's ingenuity in storytelling. The fusion of musical inspiration, lockdown reflections, and a creative journey manifested in an animated narrative showcases Kota's ability to transcend conventional boundaries and create an immersive experience that resonates with both the challenges of the times and his own artistic evolution.
He further dismisses the notion of hidden or cryptic messages within the song and its accompanying video but delves into a more profound interpretation of the concept, revealing that the antagonists in the video symbolize nothing other than laziness, procrastination, self-doubt, and the general negativity that can hinder creative pursuits. “The inspiration for the visuals were drawn from iconic gaming entities like Mario and Nintendo, infusing the video with a nostalgic yet innovative aesthetic. I didn't envision the song in a visual context or foresee it culminating in a game-like battle in the video. Instead, the concept organically evolved as a question-and-answer interplay between the musical composition and the visual narrative.” Says Kota
A distinctive aspect of 'Arcade Wizard' lies in its intentional choice to remain an instrumental piece without lyrics. Siddharth emphasizes that this decision rewards him the autonomy to oversee every aspect of the project independently. The scoring of the video itself became a collaborative effort, with Siddharth Kota partnering with Rishikesh More to bring the sonic landscape to life.
The creative process behind 'Arcade Wizard' was a time-intensive project, taking approximately six months for the video to materialize and the entire project spanning nine months. The careful orchestration of this animated journey, coupled with Siddharth's hands-on involvement in both the musical and visual sides, underscores the deliberate and thoughtful approach taken to craft an immersive experience for audiences.
