Shivan

Every performance should be the best it can be. I believe in that above all else, but such a goal is far from simple. Performances can differ greatly between artists and venues, and they should be tailored to fit the purpose of their hire; the “best” performance in one setting will not always be the best in another. In order to properly tailor a set to fill the desired style, it helps to acquire as much information as possible about the venue and the setting before I perform. In this way, I know whether the booking agent is looking for a high-energy center-of-attention performance as the primary entertainment for an event, a soft singer-songwriter playing cover songs in the background at low volume for a corporate mixer, or something in between. Having performed music in a wide range of settings for over a decade now, I know how to deliver a great show in a number of different contexts. I have played with many bands at headlining and supporting-role shows on big stages with extensive amplification and mixing, to wineries with a single acoustic guitar and singing microphone, to medium-sized venues with a loop pedal and several instruments to create full-bodied music as a solo performer. If you book me for your event, you can be assured above all else that I will work with you, from start to finish, to deliver the experience that you are looking for. If you want happy, upbeat pop songs, I can create a set list that draws from recent radio hits to original songs and entertain guests for hours. If you want background music that will not intrude on the conversations at an event, I can entertain with slower and softer songs from instrumental pieces to well-known folk music. Finally, if you are looking for a truly entertaining and lively performance, I can create a big sound that will grab everyone’s attention and have them singing along and enjoying themselves more than they might have predicted. To speak more specifically about my strengths, I love to play cover songs (with interesting, yet recognizable arrangements) of radio hits from the last decide spanning from Nelly to Britney Spears, to Ed Sheeran and everything in between. I have a deep catalogue of older rock and pop songs as well, from Led Zeppelin to The Beatles, to Stevie Wonder and one-hit-wonders of the 80’s. With such an extensive catalogue of cover songs and original music, it is usually an exciting challenge to whittle down a long list of possibilities to create the best set list for the audience at hand. I think I can provide a lot of fun for nearly any event you may have in mind, and I would love to discuss options with you to provide the best service I can!

Shivan is a singer/songwriter from California, born and raised near San Francisco, and relocated to LA five years ago. Always yearning to share his music with as many interested listeners as possible, he has not stopped producing music since he started 12 years ago, though he has dedicated his time to several other pursuits in the past. Like many artists, he started playing guitar and writing in his teenage years and has not stopped since then, though his music spans a plethora of genres and influences. First enraptured by The Red Hot Chili Peppers when he was in high school, Shivan developed a deep love for popular music composition, songwriting, and production, and dove into learning about the music industry from top to bottom. First recording with a jerry-rigged setup in his friend’s house, his high school band created several demos and treasured their practice time above all else each week. Gigging as often as they were able as teenagers, and receiving growing encouragement from friends and family, the band grew more and more excited about writing and playing live. Eventually, the band members went their separate ways, and Shivan has played mostly solo ever since, though he still continues to collaborate with those original friends and has recently formed a band with very talented musicians in Echo Park, called Driftwood Daydream. No matter the weather and through the years, though, Shivan has remained thirstily active in his songwriting, composition, recording, and performance, innovating and looking for ideas at every turn to address the challenges of filling a room with the sound made by a single musician. Currently, Shivan prefers a setup of a single acoustic/electric guitar, with a loop pedal, which can transform a beat tapped on the wood of a guitar, a few chords, and a guitar riff into a full-bodied song, and makes for a fantastic show when playing live.
Through his career, Shivan has played in many bands and jammed with countless musicians – a pastime that still tops his list of favorites – and he has worked with several producers and sound engineers. Recently, he has been using all his free time to work on his solo career - he plays all instruments and sings on his recorded tracks himself, as well as mixes them in his home studio. Shivan has recently taken great strides to improve the quality of his recorded work to professional levels, and regularly releases new original and cover songs and videos on social media and major music distribution platforms. This all forms part of a complete package; Shivan is a performer and a songwriter at heart, and he promotes his work by playing to as many new audiences as he is able. He is currently hard at work on two projects: one filled with electronic and pop sounds, and the other softer and more sensitive, based in acoustic guitar and creamy vocals.
Shivan’s music is best described as indie or alternative, though it draws on soulful singing and its quasi-revival through more recent artists such as Ed Sheeran, as well as classic-rock driven guitar work, and piano sounds inspired by Elton John, Billy Joel, and Andrew McMahon. Shivan’s approach to songwriting is to always write from the heart – to make poetry speak in a code that is decipherable to anyone, applicable to many variations on a common human theme, and with a sincere attempt to bear the soul of his music without embarrassment. Shivan loves to experiment with new sounds, new musical architectures, and themes, but is always dedicated to making music that is listenable, catchy, and effortlessly approachable. His music is driven by many different melodic structures, and can evoke many feelings, but the common feature is always the distinctive sound of his voice, and the way it sits in the mix next to meticulous song structure.
Shivan is quickly nearing the end of a Ph.D. in neuroscience at UCLA – a discipline that he always found intriguing and ripe for discovery. Biomedical science will always play a role in his life, and though he won’t claim to understand its role entirely in his music, he has learned an immense amount about discipline, hard work, persistence, dedication, and passion through his studies (not to mention a fair amount about the brain). He is ready to soon dedicate his life, without looking back, to his career as a singer/songwriter and looks forward to the coming year for many exciting new musical opportunities – from producing more material, to playing live more frequently and organizing showcases in his community, to playing at larger festivals and pursuing licensing for his music. Thank you for your consideration!

My technical requirements are very adaptable to the venue at hand. I own a lot of musical amplification equipment, microphones, and instruments – everything that I would need to put on a show. However, I usually use in-house PA systems for at least some of the sound I create, simply because these systems are usually already setup by the organizer of the event and are logistically streamlined. That said, I am open to playing any event – from a park without any amplification or power outlets available, requiring me to provide all of my own equipment – to a fully-equipped venue with a PA system and in-house audio engineer. In short, I will rarely be limited by technical requirements, and can adapt my setup to fit nearly any that you provide!