Meet Artemis: The 16-Year-Old Producer Changing Indian Hip Hop’s Sound
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by Rahul
At just 16, Artemis is already carving out a space for himself in the Indian hip hop scene — not by chasing trends, but by pushing sonic boundaries.
From experimental beats and heartfelt projects to collaborations with talents like Awedeo, his sound feels both fresh and fearless.
In this exclusive interview with Desi Renaissance, Artemis opens up about his journey from a curious teen with a MIDI controller to a young producer making waves in the underground.
We talk about his influences, creative process, pressures of social media, and the emotional weight he wants his music to carry.
Q) You’re just 16 and already putting out some seriously unique music. Take us back a bit — what first drew you to production, and was there a moment where you felt, “This is what I want to do”?
Artemis: My connection to music goes way back — I’ve been playing the keyboard for almost 9 years now. Music production always intrigued me. I remember growing up listening to a lot of EDM and wondering if I could recreate that too. On my 13th birthday, I asked my dad for a MIDI controller, and that’s how I started producing.
I never really took any formal training; I learned everything through YouTube and experimenting. I still remember dropping my first track on SoundCloud and showing it to everyone I knew at the time. It wasn’t great, but it felt like I had discovered a new way to express what I felt and what I stand for. That’s when I knew music was the right choice for me.
Q) A lot of your beats lean toward the experimental side. Outside of hip hop, what genres do you find yourself listening to? And is there one album — from any genre — that’s had a lasting impact on your approach to sound?
Artemis: I’ve always been a big fan of dark, synth-heavy RnB music — it’s one of my favorite genres. Apart from that, I listen to a lot of EDM, trap, and dubstep too. It’s hard to name just one album that shaped my sound, but a few that really had a lasting impact are Yeezus, Currents, Trilogy, and Scaring the Hoes. These projects have definitely influenced the way I approach my music.
Q) Your recent track Banana with Awedeo is a banger. The beat is wild, and Awedeo took it to another level with his verse. How did that collaboration come about?
Artemis: Awedeo is one of my closest friends in the scene. We’ve worked on a dozen songs together — most of which we don’t even put out. He’s genuinely one of the best rappers this scene has ever seen, and watching him gain traction feels like a personal win.
We also share a similar palate and taste in music, which makes collaborating super natural.
He understands the vision behind each beat and brings the exact energy and technicality the song needs. Most importantly, we have loads of fun while making music. Working with Awedeo just feels effortless.
Q) Let’s talk about Pranamya. The project feels like an introduction to who you are, both sonically and emotionally. What was the concept behind it, and now that you’ve had time to reflect, how do you feel about the album?
Artemis: I wasn’t very confident with my music while working on that album. My beats were all over the place, and I couldn’t quite establish a signature sound yet. The whole point of Pranamya was to make it sound like me. I wanted it to feel personal and expressive — that’s why I put tracks like TRXSHLOVE and YOU’RE MINE right at the start of the project.
There’s a lot of variety in terms of genres and beats because I was still exploring. It’s been a year since I dropped Pranamya, and even though I feel like I could’ve done better in a lot of areas, I’m proud I found the strength to put it out.
Q) Who are some producers in the Desi scene you’ve been listening to lately? And what is it about their work that resonates with you?
Artemis: There are very few producers in the scene I really respect and look up to. Some of them are Hadi, dox, Adil, Sez, and Paakezah.
I admire producers who don’t chase trends or try to mimic someone else’s sound. There’s a lot of respect to be given to artists who carve out their own lane and aren’t afraid to experiment.
That kind of originality is something our scene needs more of — because at the end of the day, the producer is just as important as the rapper. They’re responsible for crafting something new, something fresh.
Q) A lot of young artists feel pressure to follow trends or chase numbers. How do you stay grounded in your own sound and vision at such an early stage in your journey?
Artemis: This is a great question. The pressure to follow trends is very real. There was a point last year where I genuinely believed that making reels and remixes of trending songs was the only way to grow an audience.
But somewhere in that process, I lost my individuality — and music stopped being fun.
That’s when I realized that if you’re honest and genuine with your sound, the audience will find its way to you. If you stop enjoying the process, there’s no point in chasing results.
Since then, I’ve focused on sticking to my sound and putting out banging, original music. Numbers don’t define an artist — they’re just proof that people care.
Q) What kind of impact do you want your music to have on people? Do you ever think about legacy this early, or are you more focused on learning and experimenting for now?
Artemis: If my music makes you feel something, my job is done. If it makes you feel like you could break a thousand TVs with your fist — job done. If it reminds you of how you felt with your ex — job done.
For me, the best songs are the ones that create a feeling in the listener, whether that’s nostalgia, rage, or anything in between.
I haven’t really thought about legacy, to be honest. I just want my music to connect with people emotionally — so that whenever someone feels a certain way, they put on one of my tracks and feel better.
Q) If you could give advice to another 16-year-old just starting out, what would you say?
Artemis: Work on your sound — and yourself — before jumping into collabs. Refine your craft and never give up. I know it sounds cliché, but don’t get discouraged if your streams aren’t blowing up.
If someone you admire, or someone who doesn’t owe you anything, appreciates your work — that’s far more valuable than any number on Spotify. And above all, have fun.
In a space often driven by numbers and algorithms, Artemis is choosing emotion, honesty, and experimentation — and that’s exactly what makes him one to watch.
Keep an eye out for what’s next. In the meantime, dive into Pranamya or hit play on Banana with Awedeo — because the future of Indian hip hop might already be in the hands of its youngest innovators.
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