Vishal Kansotia
Vishal Kansotia is a passionate and expressive musician known for his soulful voice and versatile musical abilities. As a Vocalist, he brings depth, emotion, and connection into every performance.
The Biography
Vishal Kansotia is widely regarded as one of the most deeply expressive vocalists and multi-instrumentalists in the Jaipur music scene. He has captivated audiences with his rich, soulful timbre and an uncanny ability to connect emotionally with any lyric he sings. Specializing in genres that demand high emotional resonance—such as acoustic ballads, R&B, and Sufi fusion—Vishal's voice is his primary and most powerful instrument.
His musical foundation is built upon rigorous classical training, which he has spent years seamlessly integrating with modern pop sensibilities. This unique blend allows him to execute complex classical vocal ornamentations (murkis and harkats) over contemporary Western chord progressions, creating a sound that is both deeply rooted in Indian tradition and globally accessible.
In addition to his extraordinary vocal prowess, Vishal is an accomplished pianist and guitarist. This multi-instrumental capability allows him to compose, arrange, and accompany his own music with a holistic understanding of harmony and melody. Unlike many vocalists who rely entirely on producers for musical direction, Vishal brings fully conceptualized arrangements into the studio.
At 12NOTEZ, Vishal is known for delivering incredible studio vocal performances. He possesses a rare understanding of microphone technique, knowing exactly when to pull back for an intimate, breathy verse and when to step in and belt a powerful chorus. He frequently collaborates as an elite session vocalist, laying down lead vocals, complex multi-part harmonies, and vocal arrangements for commercial projects.
Beyond the studio, Vishal is a mesmerizing live performer. Whether he is sitting alone at a grand piano under a single spotlight or fronting a full acoustic band, his performances are characterized by an intense, almost spiritual connection to the music that invariably leaves audiences spellbound.
Musical Journey
Vishal's journey began with early training in Indian classical music, instilling in him a profound sense of discipline and pitch accuracy. However, as a teenager, he found himself drawn to the emotive storytelling of Western pop and soul music. He began spending hours at the piano, trying to marry the vocal agility of his classical training with the lush harmonies of jazz and R&B.
He started his professional career performing at small, intimate venues, where he quickly learned that a powerful voice means nothing if it doesn't evoke an emotion. He stripped down his performances to just a piano and his voice, focusing entirely on lyrical delivery and dynamic control.
His reputation as a vocalist with unparalleled emotional depth quickly spread, leading to high-profile gigs and studio session work. Joining 12NOTEZ provided him with the perfect creative sanctuary to not only perform but to begin professionally recording and producing his own original compositions.
In-Depth Q&A
Q: How do you maintain your vocal health?
A: Vocal health is a lifestyle, not just something you think about on gig days. I drink plenty of room-temperature water, avoid dairy and caffeine before recording, and do strict lip trill and siren warm-ups every single morning. Rest is just as important as practice when it comes to the vocal cords.
Q: What is your process for writing a vocal melody?
A: I usually play a chord progression on the piano and sing gibberish over it until a certain phrase catches my ear. I look for melodies that have natural peaks and valleys, allowing for dynamic emotional expression. The melody must serve the emotion of the chord beneath it.
Q: Why is studio singing different from live singing?
A: In the studio, the microphone hears everything—every breath, every slight pitch variation, every mouth click. Live singing is about energy and projection to reach the back of the room, but studio singing is about intimacy, precision, and micro-dynamics.
Q: How do you approach singing classical runs over pop music?
A: It requires restraint. It's very easy to over-sing and clutter a pop song with too many classical murkis. I use classical ornamentations specifically to highlight important lyrics or transition between sections, ensuring they add flavor rather than distraction.
Q: What is the hardest part about playing piano and singing simultaneously?
A: Rhythmic independence. Your hands often need to play a completely different rhythm than what your voice is singing. Once you build the muscle memory for the piano part, you have to completely forget about your hands and focus 100% on delivering the vocal emotion.
Q: Who are your biggest musical influences?
A: I draw a lot of inspiration from artists who treat their voice as a lead instrument—like Arijit Singh for his emotional depth, and John Legend for his seamless piano-vocal integration.
Q: What advice do you have for singers who get nervous in the recording booth?
A: Close your eyes and pretend the microphone is the person you wrote the song about. Forget about the engineer behind the glass. A technically imperfect take full of raw emotion will always be chosen over a perfectly pitched take that sounds robotic.
Q: What makes 12NOTEZ a great place to record vocals?
A: The acoustic treatment is flawless, which means my voice sounds exactly like my voice. Plus, the producers here know how to create a relaxed, low-pressure environment, which is the secret to capturing a great vocal performance.
Expertise
Soul & R&B Vocal Performance
Vishal excels in genres that require a smooth, agile, and deeply emotive vocal delivery. He is a master of vocal runs and melismas, executing them with precision and taste rather than simply showing off.
Vocal Arrangement & Harmonies
He has a brilliant ear for harmony. When hired as a session vocalist, Vishal can instantly conceptualize and record complex 3-part or 4-part backing vocal stacks that make a chorus sound massive and polished.
Piano Ballads
As a pianist, Vishal specializes in writing and performing deeply moving ballads. His playing style is highly dynamic, serving strictly to support and elevate his vocal performance.
Studio Microphone Technique
Studio singing is a completely different skill than live singing. Vishal understands proximity effect, breath control, and micro-dynamics, ensuring that his raw studio takes require very little compression or EQ to sound incredible.
Studio & Live Gear
Studio Microphones
"Vishal loves the Shure SM7B for its warm, broadcast-like quality, which perfectly complements his smooth R&B vocal style and tames any harsh high frequencies. For more delicate acoustic tracks, he prefers the crisp detail of the Neumann TLM 103."
Keyboards
"The Korg Kronos is his workstation of choice in the studio due to its incredibly detailed piano engines. For live, stripped-down gigs, the Yamaha P-125 offers the perfect balance of portability and realistic weighted key action."
Monitoring
"When recording vocals, monitoring is crucial. Vishal uses open-back Sennheiser HD650s when tracking (when bleed isn't an issue) because they provide a perfectly flat, natural representation of his voice."
Notable Work
- Soul Reflections (EP) 2024Lead Vocalist & Songwriter
- Corporate Ad Campaign (Confidential) 2023Session Vocalist
- Acoustic Evenings Live 2023Vocalist/Pianist
