#RSOffStage feat. Sahil Makhija: ‘I’ve Been Able to Write Music Here Easily.’

Indian death metal ambassador Sahil Makhija a.k.a. Demonstealer has been in the music business for over 16 years now. A visit to his seaside Juhu garage-turned-studio/jam space reveals that the musician never compromises on practice and hard work.

Makhija records out of his Juhu garage. Photo: Swaraj Sriwastav

“Well, it started out by me getting a drum kit into my bedroom and my band jamming there. My brother then decided he didn’t want to sleep next to a drum kit and he moved into the living room,” explains Makhija. “Then after a few years we redesigned the house a bit and made him a teeny tiny room where he could sleep, my parents made their bedroom smaller to make that happen. Then finally I managed to move my studio and jam space into my garage in the building.”

The Demonic Resurrection frontman can either be found hunting for new song ideas in his studio, or in the kitchen, prepping up new dishes and hacks for his in-house food project.

“My interests are actually pretty much limited to music and food.” Photo: Swaraj Sriwastav

“My interests are actually pretty much limited to music and food. So I think more people are aware of my food now than my music because of [my Youtube channel] Headbanger’s Kitchen, but those are the things that keep me going,” says  Makhija. In its initial days, the web-series was shot in the living room itself.

Fans will remember the guitarist-songwriter’s in-bedroom studio series during recording sessions for his erstwhile humor metal project Workshop. However, in his promotions for his recently released solo album, This Burden is Mine, and Demonic Resurrection’s latest offering, Dashavatar, Makhija records from his garage space.

Makhija runs popular YouTube channel Headbanger’s Kitchen. Photo: Swaraj Sriwastav

“I’ve just always felt inspired and comfortable in my room/studio and I’ve been able to write music here easily. Thankfully I have a super awesome view from my room.”

Check out more portraits of artists at home in our OffStage series here.