Weaving passion and data into music, one song at a time
From Data to Drama: Abhishek’s Creative Journey
Abhishek Pandit’s world is one of patterns, logic, and creativity. By day, he works as a data scientist, meticulously analyzing data and uncovering insights through complex algorithms. But when the sun sets, his mind transitions into a different realm—one of storytelling, melody, and emotion. Writing has always been his refuge, a passion he rediscovered during the pandemic. Now, he pours his creative energy into crafting musicals, seamlessly blending his analytical skills with artistic expression.
His love for languages, much like his love for music, stems from his innate ability to recognize and decode patterns. To Abhishek, language is music, and music is a language. The same structures that define syntax and phonetics also exist in melodies and harmonies. This unique perspective has allowed him to master multiple languages, approaching them with the same curiosity and precision that he applies to music and data science.
A Creative Spark in Oaxaca
It was in the vibrant town of Oaxaca, Mexico, that Abhishek stumbled upon a tool that would change his creative process forever. While chatting with a local guitarist, he was introduced to a group of musicians who had a way of explaining music theory in the most digestible way. Up until that moment, music had been something he admired but never fully understood. But through their conversations, he began to grasp the foundations of music theory, and soon, he discovered Hookpad and other Hooktheory products — providing tools that would help him structure his songwriting and allow his creativity to blossom.
Hookpad became his gateway into the creative side of composition, allowing him to experiment with chords and progressions in a way that made sense to his analytical mind. With these tools, he found structure in creativity, a balance between the rigid frameworks of data science and the fluidity of musical expression. What started as casual experimentation soon turned into a deep passion. Within a month of immersing himself in Oaxaca’s rich musical culture, he found himself composing his first pieces—boleros, inspired by the soulful melodies he had encountered.
Scoring “Closure Cafe”: A Cross-Cultural Collaboration
Abhishek’s creative journey took an exciting turn when he collaborated with independent UK-based musician Lawrence Warner on a short film called “Closure Cafe”. The film’s story, set in the afterlife of three characters from Russia, Afghanistan, and Japan, required a diverse and evocative musical score. The duo used Hookpad to plot out chord progressions, crafting unique musical themes for each character’s cultural background. Their work resonated deeply, earning recognition at multiple film festivals, including The Southern Shorts in Georgia, where they won an Ameriprise award for Best Background Score.
The project with Warner extended beyond the short film. For a month and a half, they rented an Airbnb, immersing themselves in songwriting sessions to refine the musical compositions for a play called Earth Icon. One of the songs from this collaboration became a centerpiece of a theatrical play addressing climate change. The play premiered at Oxford University on Thanksgiving, marking a significant milestone in Abhishek’s creative evolution. You can get tickets to see Earth Icon in The New Musicals Festival in PA here.
Looking back on his journey, he credits Hooktheory for enabling him to explore and push the boundaries of his creativity, transforming his passion for music and storytelling into a profound artistic expression