Today we’d like to introduce you to Rohan Philip.
Hi Rohan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a proud Eelam Tamil boy that was born and raised in Sydney, Australia but I think I am a honorary LA Native now. In 2019, I was 21 years old and I booked a ticket to LA and when I touched down at LAX, I honestly think it was love at first sight. I remember that first day so clearly. I left the airport, dropped my bags of and got a Double Double at the closest In N Out. This has now become my tradition, whenever I come to LA after a while the first thing I do is drop my bags off and go to In N Out (Double Double with Animal Style Fries Btw). That first night I had a Travis Scott Concert at The Forum, and I remember Drake coming as a surprise guest to perform Sicko Mode and the Kardashians were sitting in the section below me. It was a moment where I was thinking, there is probably nowhere else in the world that this would happen.
It was in this trip that I met my producer Shayan Amiri who has become like a big brother to me. Shayan’s studio is based in the Valley and me being new to LA I was staying in Glendale, so I would commute between the two for my initial stay. In the first trip, I shot a music video and recorded some music but LA had shown me enough for me to want to come back. Throughout the years, I have gone back and forth between Sydney and LA. Most recently being there a couple of months ago, completing a photshoot with one of my best friends and celebrity stylist Poshenko. The city has helped me grow as an artist and I am proud to say the majority of my team is now based out of LA.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I can definitely say that it has not been smooth. It may sound cliche but being an artist trying to find your way in LA was extremely tough at the beginning. I didn’t know many people and there were many nights of me being alone in hotel rooms, too anxious to even leave. There were some dark moments, and like many dreamers in LA, I ran out of money and one night and all I had left was a packet of chips in my suitcase. I remember being was so grateful that I packed that in my suitcase from Sydney. But in all that I can say LA has special energy and something that I can’t describe that made me want to work harder to keep coming back. And so I did.
But now I have friends in the city and it helps that one of my best friends, Poshenko is an extroverted personality who pushes me out of my comfort zone. We always have a good time and something crazy always ends up happening when we are out. The city has taught me a lot about myself and how cutthroat the music industry is as well. I learnt that you either evolve or evaporate and you need to find people who believe in your vision and will help you grow. I am just thankful now for the people that I have in LA because I am just a Tamil boy from Sydney, not everyone gets to chase their dreams in the city of angels, so for that I must be doing something right.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an artist but more specifically a rapper and singer. The genres of music that I make are Hip Hop, RnB and Pop. 2023 will be my biggest year till date with a bunch of releases and collaborations ready to go out. I just dropped two new singles ‘Call Me Up Feat. Sixx John’ and ‘Mission Feat Sabz’. Both these songs feature artists that are from LA and we shot the video for both of these projects across various locations in the city. (Venice Beach, Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills).
I think in my career right now, I am most proud of not taking no for an answer and manifesting this reality. There is still a long way to go, and the odds were against me but I have people that believe in me which is a pretty cool feeling. I have since had the chance to work with Grammy Award Winners and many people who continue to inspire me every day. I think you only realize what you have achieved no matter how big or small when you look back a couple of years.
What are your plans for the future?
First plan on the agenda would be to move to LA permanently. The 14-hour flights back and forth from Sydney to LA is good for content in songs, but it does take its toll on me. Hopefully, if all goes well I will be able to move to LA at some point this year. This year should will be the biggest for me as an artist, I have a lot of songs coming out and also have collaborations releasing established artists. It’s an exciting time. I just want to be able to make the most of it and live in the moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theboyrohan.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theboyrohan/
- Facebook: facebook.com/theboyrohan
- Twitter: twitter.com/theboyrohan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theboyrohan
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5I2B897oJiXnud0uqF2IKR?si=91BhGrLJT9u4OiZvIGp0Ww
Image Credits
Photos by Omar Guerra and Alex Ferra. Styled by Poshenko
