‘Music itself is my wellness practice’: Salim Merchant on balance, discipline, creative joy, and 30 years in music

Music is that universal language that connects hearts, beyond borders and beliefs.

Catching up at the Global Garba Festival 2025 in New Delhi, Salim speaks about his creative process, how AI is reshaping music, his personal wellness rituals, and more.

Read the edited excerpts below:

Q. Three decades in music and countless hits later — does the stage still give you the same thrill as day one? Do the butterflies ever go away?

 

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Salim Merchant: I’m happy and blessed that I don’t get butterflies anymore. I’ve always had confidence before going on stage. I’m more excited than nervous — that excitement to play your own songs to a new audience every day gives me happiness I’ll never get over.

Q. With AI, social media, and fast-changing trends shaping the industry today, how do you innovate while staying true to your sound?

Salim Merchant: I’ve never believed that technology is a bad thing. AI, to me, is a collaborator — a tool that helps you create better music. If you use it to replace humans, then you’re killing the art. But as a creative partner, it gives us precision and new possibilities. It can never add soul — that always comes from human beings — but it can definitely enhance what we do.

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Q. Music is deeply tied to wellness, but passion can sometimes turn into pressure in a high-demand industry. How do you unwind and maintain balance?

Salim Merchant: Music itself is my wellness practice. It gives me happiness and balance. When I’m not making music, I simply rest or sleep — but otherwise, I’m always doing music. It’s not work for me; it’s art.

Q. Through your global performances, have you picked up any cultural rituals or daily habits that keep your creativity flowing?

Salim Merchant: I work out daily, practise daily, sleep well, and make sure I bring happiness to others. Those simple things keep me grounded and creative.

Q. During those late-night studio sessions, what’s your go-to snack to fuel both energy and inspiration?

The duo Salim-Sulaiman (Image: X / @SlimSulaiman)

Salim Merchant: Dark chocolate. I’m not really a snacker, but I love dark chocolate at night. Also, peanuts and cashews — those are my comfort snacks.

Q. What’s one thing about you that fans might be surprised to learn — a hidden hobby, quirk, or talent?

Salim Merchant: I like to design spaces. If I weren’t a musician, I’d probably be an interior designer.

Q. Was there ever a moment in your career that completely shifted your perspective on life or music — maybe a creative “failure” that became a hidden blessing?

A quote by Imam Ali, shared by Salim Merchant, which shifted his perspective towards life and music. (Screenshot)

Salim Merchant: There’s a snippet of a quote by Imam Ali that changed my life: “Your sickness is from you, but you do not perceive it, and your remedy is within you, but you do not sense it. You presume you are a small entity, but within you is enfolded the entire universe. What you seek is within you, if only you reflect.”

That thought — that everything you need is within yourself — has completely transformed how I view life and music.

Q. In today’s polarised world, do you believe music can still unite people?

Salim Merchant: Absolutely. Music is that universal language that connects hearts, beyond borders and beliefs.

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Q. Looking back on your three-decade journey, what advice would you give your younger self — or new artists starting today?

Salim Merchant: Never stop learning. Be a student all your life. Hard work is everything, and nothing happens without it. Even if you know music, the key to growth is staying curious and humble. No pain, no gain.