Raag Sethi never planned on becoming a music producer. Until 2019, he was a full-time high school literature teacher with a degree in education – not exactly the typical origin story for a studio owner. In his late teens he taught himself guitar, but he had no formal training in music production or audio engineering. 'YouTube was my best friend during those early months,' Sethi recalls of learning the technical side of recording on the fly. That year, driven by passion and a lack of local practice spaces, he took a leap and opened Compass Box Studio in Ahmedabad. What began as a DIY jam pad for his band and friends soon evolved into a professional recording studio. Sethi quit the classroom to follow his dream, building a space where artists could 'make original music… together.'
Building a Creative Hub in Ahmedabad
Over just five years, Compass Box Studio has become more than a room full of equipment, it’s a community hub for independent musicians. Sethi initially started the studio out of necessity, noting that in 2019 there were 'not enough good jam rooms' for bands in Ahmedabad. He taught himself about microphones, interfaces, mixing and mastering by doing it. Today, Compass Box Studio 2.0 is a state-of-the-art facility (even boasting a Dolby Atmos mix room), but Sethi remains grounded.
One big lesson he learned early on is that 'the gear does not make the music.' What truly matters to him is creating an open, nurturing environment for artists. The studio regularly hosts workshops, jam sessions and even intimate gigs, doubling as a creative space for listeners and musicians to come together. Sethi prides himself on Compass Box being a one-stop solution for artists, from recording and arranging to session musicians and mastering, all under one roof.
The Compass Box Live Sessions
One of Sethi’s most exciting initiatives is the Compass Box Live Sessions, a YouTube series he likens to 'our Coke Studio, but for indie artists.' In these sessions, artists perform their original songs live in a single take, backed by quality production. 'People don’t do live recordings anymore because it’s hard,' Sethi explains – which is exactly why he embraced the challenge. Since 2019, Compass Box Studio has produced live session videos featuring a plethora of talent from across India.
Notable indie artists like Tejas, Meera Desai, Hanita Bhambri, Mali and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya have all recorded in Sethi’s studio, spanning songs in English, Hindi, Tamil and more. Each session reimagines the artist’s song with fresh arrangements suited for a live band, capturing the energy of a concert in a studio setting. This labor of love is offered to artists at no cost, as Sethi’s way of supporting passionate musicians who may not have the means or know-how to put their music out there. Now, he is gearing up to release the next season of Live Sessions under a new music label he’s launching to further amplify independent voices.
Championing the Indie Music Scene
Working closely with so many independent artists has given Sethi a front-row seat to the evolving Indian indie music scene. He is optimistic about the creativity out there but also observes that the scene remains very fragmented. 'There are lots of different players trying to do something… if they don’t get the support, they get disheartened,' he says. Despite running one of the more successful indie platforms, Sethi admits that most of Compass Box’s followers are fellow musicians rather than mainstream listeners. Bridging that gap is a challenge, especially when Bollywood’s film music dominates the Indian market in sheer numbers. Still, he notes positive trends: major festivals like NH7 Weekender and even the new Lollapalooza India are showcasing more homegrown indie acts, and audiences are finding it 'cool to know if somebody indie is playing.'
Big brands have also begun taking risks on non-film music projects. Sethi believes more such platforms and face-to-face interactions between artists and audiences are needed to really propel the movement. He remains hopeful as new music properties and initiatives seem to be 'popping up almost every other day.' In fact, Sethi and his team are dreaming big themselves – planning a Compass Box Music Festival in Ahmedabad. Their goal is to draw music lovers from all over India to a city not usually seen as a music hotspot and showcase the thriving talent of Gujarat’s independent scene.
Collaborations, Creativity and What’s Next
Over the years, Raag Sethi has collaborated with an array of artists, and a few have become regular partners. Ahmedabad-bred singer-songwriter Meera Desai stands out as one of his favorites, she entrusted Sethi with producing her debut EP in 2019 when he was just starting out. 'I had no idea what I was doing, but she trusted me,' he says gratefully. Since then, he has worked on songs with genre-diverse indie voices like Dot (the multi-talented singer-songwriter), pop artist Kamakshi Khanna, and even contributed guitar and bass parts to rapper Dhanji’s acclaimed Gujarati hip-hop album.
When asked what kind of artists he most loves working with, he says he’s drawn to those willing to 'push the boundaries a little bit' rather than chasing trends. In his view, the term 'indie' should be about independent expression not a formula. It’s a philosophy he applies in his studio: encouraging originality and experimentation. Despite his rapid transition from educator to producer, Sethi hasn’t left behind the spirit of learning and sharing knowledge. He still performs occasionally with his jazz/funk band when time allows, and he remains a devoted music fan himself.
Words Harita Odedra
Date 22-07-2025