Upasak Mukherjee
Pronouns Used: He/Him/His
Hometown: Kolkata, Bengali
Principal Instrument: Guitar
Majors: Film Scoring
Minor: Music Technology
Languages Spoken (other than English): Bengali, Hindi
Describe your favorite Berklee experience so far.
Being at Berklee, there have been quite a few moments I have been grateful for. The most recent favorite moment was right after my good friend Nishant and I performed in the BPC for the convocation show to welcome the incoming students for fall 2022. After our show was done, we went outside to talk to some friends, and while we were talking to them, so many people came up to us and congratulated us on the performance! The love we received that day was overwhelming and this is what keeps pushing me to be a better musician. Luckily, there's a lot of encouragement and love for good music in Berklee!
When you think about your favorite class so far, what is one example of why you enjoyed it?
I really love being a part of the Contemporary Indian Ensemble! By the time we get on stage, our mentors Yoel Genin and Harshita Krishnan help us get so ready to be on stage, that we don't have to think about the charts and we can just flow with the music and have the time of our lives! Being free on stage and enjoying the process of making music is one of the most rewarding things as a musician and this class has provided this opportunity to me multiple times!
What is your favorite part about studying and living in Boston?
Coming from the particular parts of India where I have lived, I have never experienced fall and winter as intensely as in Boston. I love how the trees change color during the fall and how distinctly different the winter months are from fall. I remember coming out of the practice rooms one day during the end of fall and seeing snow for the first time. I got together with some friends and we had a snow fight; it was really fun! Also, since Boston has a huge number of students, I feel that it is one of the liveliest cities in which I have lived.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone applying to Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee?
I would suggest that they stay open to new ideas when they come into Berklee. They will probably not gain exactly what they were expecting out of Berklee, but it is very likely they will gain something even better if they stay open to newer possibilities!
Where is your favorite place on campus?
Cafe 24 is one of the lesser appreciated places on campus and definitely one of my favorites! The food is great and the piano in the space is perfect for having a chill jam with your friends after a long day of classes.
Why did you choose Berklee?
Berklee was the only college I applied to when I was looking to get into a music school. In my research I found that it is the number one school for contemporary music. I later discovered that most of the musicians I idolized are from this school, including Ramin Djawadi, Steve Vai, John Mayer, and the list goes on. I talked to musicians from other colleges as well and realized that no other music college has as many diverse opportunities as Berklee and it seemed to be a place that supported my need for musical exploration. Once I am in Berklee, I am even more convinced that I have made the right choice!
What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation, I want to work as a composer for films, either in L.A. or in Europe. I dream of scoring for a Marvel movie and with some effort on my part, this might as well come true! I also want to keep performing while I work on movies because I also love the feeling of getting up on stage and "musicking."
What have you enjoyed most about the live shows you’ve been involved in at Berklee?
The love and appreciation I have received after the shows I have played is certainly one of the greatest feelings a musician can ever feel. The people I have come in touch with through my music have stayed in my life as a family and will continue to be a part of my musical journey and that is a blessing in itself.
Where do you hope to perform this coming year?
I want to travel and perform all over Europe this coming year. With plans to be at the Valencia campus in spring 2023, I feel like the time has come to make this dream come true!
Your social media channel/web URL?
Instagram: @upashock.wav
Youtube: Upasak Mukherjee