On His Stunning Debut, Toronto’s Rising Pop Star Tushar Shroff Teaches Us to “Heal”
Tushar Shroff is a genuine citizen of the world, so it’s no big surprise that he’s always had trouble feeling as if he fully fit in anywhere. It’s to all of our edification that he’s not only learned the lessons of that protracted wrestling match with alienation but captured them perfectly on his debut single, “Heal,” which implores us to take the long view and count on our true destiny to shake itself out in due time.
“‘Heal’ is a gentle reminder that after every winter, spring inevitably arrives,” says the Dubai-born Shroff, who’s now living and plying his trade in Toronto after stints in two other countries entirely. “My journey has taught me that the key is to seek clarity on what you truly want, focus on what you can control, and trust that everything else will fall into place.”
The song makes that case beautifully, setting up a scenario of aimlessness and confusion that rings true no matter how many places you have or haven’t called home:
They say things always happen for a reason
Is that why life is always open season
And things just don’t seem to go the way you’d planned
But rather than wallow in the feeling, Shroff quickly submits his own strategy for staying one step ahead of it.
Every day I find another meaning
Take some time to do internal cleaning
Trying to be ready for whatever comes my way
The coda brings stirring reassurance that while forethought is always admirable, in the end, nothing succeeds like patience:
And when you feel like nothing you’ve ever wanted is coming your way
And it gets hard to tell the difference between night and day
And it’s so hard to break down how you feel
With time it’ll heal
Time will heal
Musically speaking, “Heal” conveys that message with a gentle sophistication that would never out it as a first effort. Shroff’s resonant vocals and layered Fender Stratocasters are so effective that you almost don’t notice as the track blossoms into a more fully orchestrated balladic tour de force. The single portends good things indeed for his forthcoming EP, Gold, which will be the culmination of a years-long struggle to cement his true identity amidst numerous changes of environment—and an ongoing attempt to balance expectations both societal and personal with the yearnings of his artistic soul.
Nineteen years ago in Dubai, he discovered a neglected family guitar and quickly realized he had both a talent and a passion for music. That wasn’t entirely cause for celebration among his family, who were hoping he would devote his life to something a little more practical. So when the time came to get serious about his future, he found himself halfway across the world at Mississippi State University, studying economics. And, not surprisingly, feeling almost totally adrift—a sensation that would dog him for years thereafter.
“At every stage, I‘ve felt pressured to mold myself into something I wasn’t, just to fit in, while social media only amplified that internal battle,” he reveals.
He wrote “Heal” during his time at Mississippi State, not fully knowing he was sending himself a musical message in a bottle that would one day amount to sweet vindication. In the meantime, he relocated to Mumbai to pursue a career in investment banking, which seemed to offer a more stable and remunerative life path than hashing out his innermost thoughts on a six-string. Yet the gnawing feeling that he wasn’t taking advantage of his true gifts persisted.
“Over time, I’ve realized that I’m not alone in these struggles,” he says. “We all face this tug-of-war between our deepest desires and the limits of what seems attainable. It doesn’t mean life is falling apart or that we’re failing—it’s simply a part of the human experience.”
Now making his home in Toronto, Shroff is sharing that wisdom with us by finally releasing “Heal” to the public, sharing the prescient worldview of his undergrad days while making a more personal statement that yes, a musician is what he really is and was always meant to be. As he sees it, those twin missions—to contribute to listeners’ well-being and to pursue personal fulfillment—run in tight parallel. His stated goal going forward is to create “work that reflects my true self and resonates deeply with as many people as possible.”
Not that he’s thrown all caution to the wind, mind you: While he’s in Toronto, he completed his MBA and now is working in finance, to maximize his chances of making a legitimate living from what he really loves to do. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? All you have to do is have faith and be willing to put in the hours.
“No matter who you are or where you find yourself, remember that tomorrow brings a fresh start, a chance to heal, and the promise of brighter days ahead,” he advises. “You’re never as lost as you feel—there’s always hope on the horizon. With time, it’ll Heal.”
Hi, Tushar! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
Hi, I’m Tushar Shroff!
I’m a singer, songwriter and a storyteller, and my journey began back in 2005. Over the years, I’ve written songs based on my own life experiences – from navigating challenging situations to exploring new horizons. Music started out as a hobby, but it has since become a significant part of my life.
Today, I am keen on sharing my work with the world and look forward to connecting with all my listeners through my music. Needless to say, I am extremely grateful for the support I have received thus far.
“Heal” reflects a deep sense of resilience and patience. What personal experiences inspired you to write this song?
It was a mix of many things happening all at once. I attended a fairly elite school in Dubai, where I was expected to end up in an Ivy League or a top 30 college in the US. My dad, however, didn’t see the value in paying international fees for an undergraduate degree – especially if I was going to pursue a Master’s, which I knew I would inevitably have to do. Pursuing music or becoming a singer-songwriter seemed like a far-fetched and impractical dream at the time. My dad’s condition was that I had to complete my undergrad on a scholarship, but when it came to my Master’s, I’d have complete freedom to choose where I wanted to go, no questions asked. I was a capable student and hence got admission into several good institutions, but sadly, I was without any scholarships.
Ultimately, I chose to attend a university in Mississippi, where I received the most financial aid – a decision that surprised everyone, including myself. Mississippi was an entirely different world. Being young, the feelings of disappointment of not securing aid at more prestigious schools, while also feeling a loss of control over my future and grappling with shattered dreams was extremely hard. This is what gave me my first true taste of life. In the end, I grew to love the place, and it was there that I wrote Heal.
You’ve lived in Dubai, the U.S., and now Toronto—how have these different environments influenced your music and your sense of identity as an artist?
Besides Dubai, the US, and Toronto, I also lived in India for almost 3 years. Each environment I experienced was drastically different from the other. The school I attended in Dubai was incredibly diverse, with over 50 different nationalities. This exposed me to a wide range of cultures and traditions from a very early age and helped me form connections with people from all walks of life. I also learned to adapt to whatever my surroundings demanded of me. While this helped me navigate different settings, it also delayed my journey toward self-discovery – something I’m still working on today!
Coming to my music, interestingly none of the places I lived-in really influenced my music. My music is more a reflection of my family’s vast musical knowledge across various genres. My mom’s playlists ranged from Eminem to Enya, while my dad’s spanned from Gordon Lightfoot to Neil Diamond and my sister introduced me to K-Pop. I began to play the piano, which sparked my love for Chopin, and as I picked up the guitar, I admired guitarists like David Gilmour and Jimmy Page. All these influences undoubtedly shape my music, some more subtly than others.
Your debut single is quite polished and sophisticated. How did you approach the production of “Heal,” and what was your vision for its sound?
Since I wrote Heal while I was in university, I’ve been exploring its sound for quite some time. Given the nature of the lyrics, I was determined to keep the track minimal, wanting to avoid electronic or MIDI elements entirely.
Typically, 90% of my songs begin with the guitar as the foundation, so I initially envisioned Heal as an acoustic piece featuring just vocals and two guitars. My concern was that a full production might overshadow the lyrics, which I felt were the heart and soul of the song. However, as the song progresses lyrically, I realized it would be more fitting to match that build-up musically and embrace a fuller production.
Your upcoming EP, Gold, is said to be a culmination of your years-long struggle to cement your identity. What can listeners expect from this EP in terms of themes and sound?
All four songs on the EP are entirely unique in both sound and theme. Heal speaks for itself, while Gold explores personal evolution and vanity. The Waiting Room delves into faith, and Changing Tides is a celebration of passion.
Above all, listeners can expect a product that is genuine. I create the music I want to create, irrespective of what is trending. I believe true greatness cannot be achieved without authenticity, which applies not just to art, but to people and products as well. My aspiration is to be original, and I trust that listeners will recognize this as I release more of my work.
Staying true to myself while making music I’m proud of is the only way to cultivate a loyal following and achieve lasting impact.
I reflect on and evaluate my work through quite an objective lens (by my personal metrics, of course), and out of the four songs of the EP, I believe “Heal” ranks number 3….that is to say, my hope is that the best is yet to come.