Rising Stars: Meet Gaurav Bali

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gaurav Bali.

Hi Gaurav, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in New Jersey and I’ve been playing the guitar since a week before my 10th birthday.

I started teaching when I was 17 because my teacher had opened a school and needed someone to cover beginners because he couldn’t fit any more students into his schedule. I loved it right from the start and knew it was something I’d want to do for the rest of my life.

In 1999, I joined an original Rock band from NYC called “Eve to Adam” and played with them until 2014. We had a few major label record deals, made a few albums, and did a lot of tours. I’ve been lucky enough to perform at some iconic venues all over the country. In fact, I’ve performed in every state except Hawaii… so far!

In 2016, I moved to Nashville and started with various country artists, and started teaching again. I played in a great band called 30 Vice for a few years and I recently started playing with an amazing (and well-known) Rock singer named Tony Harnell. I also play in an awesome original Rock band called Dixie Horsepower.

I also do writing and recording sessions and just did some guitar tracks for a great singer named Jill Webb.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never a smooth road, especially in the entertainment business! Don’t get me wrong – I’ve had some amazing “once in a lifetime experiences,” for sure.

I’ve performed at venues that I never thought I’d play at and met people that I never thought I’d meet in a million years! I think if someone is going to be a musician they have to have thick skin and decide whether the good outweighs the bad.

I definitely would have done a few things differently over the years, but on the other hand, those experiences brought me here and made me who I am… So overall, no regrets!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I teach guitar, I perform live and I also record guitar tracks for other artists.

Teaching is a priority and my long-term goal is to open a music school someday. There’s nothing better than having your own business and bringing the joy of music to others. I’m really proud of the fact that I’ve developed a method over the years that works for students and helps them to progress.

As far as live playing and recording, those balance out my life and provide me with a creative outlet. I love performing and recording guitar and hope to do both of those things for as long as I can along with teaching.

So basically life revolves around music and the guitar – which is exactly what I’ve been working for since I was literally a teenager!

Contact Info:

• Website: allinmusiclessons.com
• Instagram: @allinmusiclessons

Image Credits
Kara Marie for The Pure Rock Shop and Luis Espaillat