Spotlight Series | Meet Shikhar, a viral Instagram star and rising Hindi-Bhojpuri singer

While most of us dive into Instagram for quick entertainment or endless reels, for some, the app is a powerful platform for building dreams. Take Shikhar Singh, for instance—a talented singer from Lucknow who, with his remarkable voice, has gained a loyal fanbase. In just a year, Instagram has helped him turn his passion into a full-time pursuit, proving how this social media stage can truly amplify talent and opportunity.

Well, Shikhar Singh’s musical journey started long before Instagram came into the picture. Always drawn to singing from his school days, he further honed his craft while pursuing his higher studies at Lucknow University; where he also learned to play the guitar with help from friends. While working on his passion, Shikhar also worked in the event management sector post-college to make ends meet—up until last year.

But then, serendipity struck! While in Banaras, Shikhar recorded a video of himself singing on the ghats of the Ganga and posted it on Instagram. The video quickly gained traction, inspiring him to share more. Hailing from Gorakhpur, Shikhar is fluent in Bhojpuri music, and one of his most viral videos has already crossed 8.1M views!

Before this, Shikhar had just around 3,000 followers on Instagram. But with his consistent content that people have been appreciating, that number skyrocketed to an impressive 70k within just 8-9 months.

Speaking to Knocksense, Shikhar shared, "After my videos went viral, I started getting calls to perform at various events. I've been singing at local and statewide gigs ever since." He proudly added, "I was able to quit my job and earn a steady income through these performances."

At Knocksense’s recent event, La Flea Affair - Diwali Edition, Shikhar took the stage as a featured local performer. Known for his mastery of challenging Bollywood rock tracks, he delivered a powerful performance that left the audience in awe. Reflecting on the experience, he said, "It was my first time performing with Knocksense, and I loved it. The stage was massive, and the crowd was incredible."

Shikhar draws musical inspiration from legends like Arijit Singh for Hindi melodies and admires Bhojpuri sensation Pawan Singh. He recently recorded his first original single and is on the lookout for the perfect platform to release it. With dreams of becoming a recognized indie artist from Lucknow, Shikhar aspires to carve his own path in the music scene by sharing his original work with the world.