keep it 100: here's nikhil!

100 words with music curator Nikhil Rajagopalan

Toronto-based Nikhil Rajagopalan is a freelance copywriter who’s been discovering diverse music for over 20 years. In his weekly newsletter, What’s Curation? he shares music from a wide range of genres and languages, with a short write-up about why he enjoys the song and how he found it. (Side Note: I’ve used many of Nikhil’s selections as writing prompts: close eyes, listen, then write the images and emotions felt—try it!)

“The goal is to say goodbye to curation algorithms that keep you firmly planted in one or two genres and languages,” Nikhil says. “The world has so much to offer and for you to discover.”

Besides copywriting and curating, Nikhil is a published Chicken Soup for the Soul author, former secretary of the university astronomy club and a fountain pen enthusiast. He’s also recently applied for a creative internship at Wieden+Kennedy, an ad agency best known for their work with Nike.

In this month’s interview, Nikhil tells us about hip-hop, a jack-o’-lantern and the dreamy Northern Lights.

Welcome to the mashup’s micro-interview! Answers can be any length, but the total word count—including my 8 questions—can’t exceed 100 words.

10-word Writing Routine

Water, coffee, walk, sit down, doom scroll, inhale, exhale, write.

Favorites    

musical genre: lo-fi hip hop

song: lost & different by Nymano

time to write: 3 PM, after a recharging afternoon nap.

Do you own any vinyl?

Sadly, no.

Current project:

Building my advertising copywriting website.

Shortest ad copy ever written

“And, spit”-- A spec ad for dental floss featuring a smiling gap-toothed Halloween pumpkin

Dream Vacation

Homestay in the Japanese countryside, experiencing the Northern Lights in Sweden, several beers under a night sky near a campfire in Ohio, and a sumptuous food tour in Oaxaca, Mexico.