3 Fits With Zaeden

WHEN SAHIL SHARMA CHOSE THE STAGE NAME ‘ZAEDEN’, INFLUENCED BY DEADMAU5 AND OTHERS ON THE scene, he didn’t realise that his final initial would automatically place him at the bottom of every poster. Naturally, he had to work his way up to becoming a headliner for festivals. While that happened, he would become one of the youngest DJs to be featured on the Dutch radio show Hardwell On Air—at 19. His debut single, “Lands of Lords”, would drop. Followed by acts at major festivals including Tomorrowland and hits such as “Tere Bina” and “Socha Na Tha”.

Just over a decade on, Zaeden has found a new rhythm to groove to—acting. He’s arrived at our shoot after filming 14 hours straight for Dono Mile Iss Tarah, his debut web series.

Jazz playing in his ears, he walks in wearing comfy denims and a white tee. And sunglasses to hide the after-effects of a power nap that’s refuelled him after a long day on set. We caught up with the musician to decode his choices, his personal style and what it means to evolve beyond the stage.

When did you first become interested in clothes and style?

I think when I started DJing and playing a lot of shows at 18, there was this conscious decision to have new outfits for every show. That’s when I consciously started to make an effort. But it was never an extension of myself. It was just trying to see what other DJs wore. What was cool. It was a lot of copying maybe.

But that was pretty much the first phase of me making an actual effort into getting outfits and fashion in general. Now, I like it simple, clean and classic. Initially, I was in a phase of everything oversized because I’ve always found it really comfortable and also because I’ve always been skinny. So, every time I didn’t go to the gym for months, I would drown in an oversized T-shirt.

To what extent do tattoos signal personal style to you?

I’d be lying if I said I didn't think it’s cool to have tattoos. But I never really got anything [because] the design looks cool. That’s something I’ve never done. That’s why I don't really regret tattoos. I have 11 of them.

Which tattoo means the most to you?

My first tattoo is closer to my heart. It’s a treble clef with a saw wave. My cousin Sachi designed it. I used to use this patch while making dance music and always with a saw wave on it. The triangle, kind of, represents that. And if you see it like that, (goes on to show us the tattoo) July 2, which is my birth date. Also, the date when I got the tattoo.

What was your first style splurge?

I gifted myself a Wimbledon-edition Rolex three years ago. I’ve never gifted myself anything, but it was more like an ‘Okay, you deserve this’ kind of a thing.

Who are your style icons?

I really like Jacob Elordi and the way he dresses. He’s class. In India, Virat Kohli and Ranbir Kapoor.

Is there a fashion trend from the past you’d like to never see again?

Skinny jeans and logo-heavy outfits.

Sneakers or perfumes—what’s your obsession?

I’ve never been into sneakers. When it comes to fragrances, I pick a new one for every major milestone. I think music and perfumes are somewhat similar. It just takes me back to a memory. I did have a Byredo phase. I did have Clive Christian which is the Rolls Royce of fragrances. Diptyque is class as well.

What’s your go-to soundtrack while getting dressed?

“Whiplash” by Hank Levy.

Did you always know that you wanted to be a musician?

Not really. I used to actually play tabla in school. But I realised it’s not really the ideal instrument to get attention from girls. I have the most generic story of a guy who wanted to pick up the guitar, watching someone play “Wonderwall”. That’s exactly what happened. I started playing the guitar and got entirely lost in that. Slowly, I think I had this obsession with dance music. And I still do. My DNA will always be dance music. Even with whatever little I’ve done in pop music as a singer-songwriter, there’s always that influence of dance music. I still think my first love is sports, weirdly.

Three non-negotiable music albums?

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk. I love this album called Stories by Avicii. He was a massive influence, especially when I was making dance music. And when he went country music to dance music, it was just this iconic moment in dance music history. I also love Starboy by The Weeknd.

Having reinvented a few times as an artist, what’s one thing you’ve refused to change about yourself?

Curiosity with things. And that’s not just with my profession, but with a lot of things. There’s no end to all of these things. I really look up to Virat Kohli so when I hear him talk, it’s like he is still a student of what he is doing. There’s no end to knowledge, to any form of art, so it’s curiosity that makes me switch to different things.

CREDITS

Words by RUDRA MULMULE

Photographs by KARTHIK SHETTY

Styled by KOMAL SHETTY

Hair: VIKRAM JAHAGIRDAR (TEAM DARSHAN YEWALEKAR)

Grooming: PRAJAKTA SAWANT

Bookings Editor: VARUN SHAH

Location Courtesy: PAASHH, INDIA

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