The artist, whose name is drawn from the Sanskrit word aham—meaning “I am”—has crafted a sound that embodies identity, existence, and self-discovery.

His latest album, JAL (which translates to “water” in Hindi), is an auditory experience designed to flow seamlessly from one piece to the next, much like a river shaping its course. This dedication to fluidity and organic evolution defines his creative philosophy and sets him apart in the ever-expanding world of electronic music.

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The Journey: From Percussion to Production

AH.AM’s relationship with music began in a structured setting—playing drums in a church band. While the experience provided him with a strong foundation in rhythm and dynamics, it was jazz that first ignited his passion for improvisation. “Jazz taught me about feeling the music rather than just playing it,” he reflects. Legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Tony Williams introduced him to the concept that music isn't just about sound—it’s about space, unpredictability, and emotion.

This ethos carried into his foray into electronic music, first through DJing and then through live performance. DJing, he explains, was an education in energy—how music affects people in real time. Production, on the other hand, gave him the tools to create those moments from scratch. “The most defining part of my journey came when I embraced live electronic music,” he says.

“It brought together everything I’d learned—rhythm, improvisation, composition, and energy—into something uniquely my own.”

With JAL, he takes this integration even further, crafting an album where each track flows seamlessly into the next. “Transitions were crucial,” he explains. “I wanted the album to feel like one continuous journey, just like water—shifting, adapting, and transforming.”

A Fusion of Influences: Jazz, Electronica, and the Timelessness of Ragas

AH.AM’s music draws from a vast spectrum of influences, blending the freedom of jazz, the depth of electronic soundscapes, and the meditative qualities of Indian classical music. His experience composing a piece in Bhairav Raga—a traditional morning raga known for its intense emotional weight—was particularly transformative.

“Exploring Bhairav pushed me to think differently about melody and mood,” he says. “Indian classical music builds emotion through microtonal shifts and evolving structures, and that really influenced how I approached storytelling in my music.”

Meanwhile, electronic pioneers like Jon Hopkins, Nils Frahm, and Ólafur Arnalds showed him how texture and atmosphere could be just as expressive as melody. “Sound design is a huge part of what I do,” he notes.

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“The way a sound evolves, decays, or distorts can evoke as much emotion as a melody.”

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This cross-pollination of influences is evident throughout his work, where rhythms from jazz, harmonics from classical traditions, and modern electronic techniques merge into something entirely unique.

Deconstructing and Rebuilding: The Evolution of "Upheaval"

One of AH.AM’s most striking artistic decisions came when he revisited his own track, Upheaval. Originally released as a high-energy techno piece in 2017, the track quickly gained traction in the electronic scene. But something about it felt unfinished to him—like an emotion left unexplored.

“I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it,” he says. Rather than simply remixing the track, he decided to break it apart completely, reconstructing it from an entirely different emotional perspective. The result was a deeply introspective, ambient reimagining—one that ultimately became his most-streamed release to date.

This experience solidified an important realization: mutatio est lex musicae—change is the law of music. “A track isn’t static,” he explains. “It can evolve, carry different energies, and speak to people in unexpected ways," he adds.

"That’s what keeps me inspired.”

The Art of Live Performance: Creating in the Moment

For AH.AM, performing live isn’t about recreating studio tracks—it’s about transformation in real time.

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“My live sets aren’t just playback; they’re a fluid, real-time exploration of sound.”

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Improvisation plays a major role, allowing him to respond to the energy of the room and create a one-of-a-kind experience.

Unlike DJing, where transitions are premeditated, his live performances embrace unpredictability. “I like to leave space for things to evolve naturally,” he explains. “That’s what excites me—the idea that no two performances will ever be exactly the same.”

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However, transitioning from DJing to a full live setup came with its own challenges. “Building a live performance from scratch took nearly two years of trial and error,” he admits. “Understanding which sounds felt natural to control in real time, how to structure a set, and how to create a flow that felt alive—it was a long learning curve. But in that process, I discovered so much about myself as an artist.”

This patience and commitment to growth define his approach to music. Festina lente—make haste slowly. AH.AM understands that art cannot be rushed.

Mental Health and the Artist’s Journey

Like many in the music industry, AH.AM has faced the pressures of self-doubt, creative burnout, and the relentless demand to stay relevant. “I’ve had moments where I sat on finished tracks for months, wondering if they were worth releasing,” he shares. “Comparison is the enemy of creativity. The more I tried to force perfection, the more I drained my own inspiration.”

He has since learned to trust his artistic instincts and embrace the natural ebb and flow of creativity. “Some days inspiration flows, some days it doesn’t—and that’s okay,” he says. “The key is to be kind to yourself and remember why you started making music in the first place.”

The Road Ahead: Evolution in Sound

With JAL now behind him, AH.AM is setting his sights on two new projects—one under his existing moniker and another under his alias, Paul Josef. While AH.AM will continue to explore deep, evolving soundscapes, Paul Josef will lean into the world of melodic, downtempo dance music.

“Both represent different sides of me,” he says. “AH.AM is introspective and immersive, while Paul Josef is groove-driven and atmospheric. It’s exciting to be exploring both at the same time.”

He is also revisiting his live set, fine-tuning his approach to performance and ensuring that each show remains an evolving experience. “Live electronic music is where I feel most connected to my art,” he says. “It’s creation in real time—something fluid, something alive,” he concludes.