Independent singer-songwriter and content creator Deepanshu Raj, popularly known as Iqlipse Nova, addressed persistent career self-doubt, declining streaming metrics, and his decision regarding whether to step away from the music industry in a video published on his YouTube channel.
Speaking directly to his audience, Raj explained that while social media often showcases a glamorous lifestyle of packed shows and viral hits, behind-the-scenes realities have recently been far more challenging.
He noted that after experiencing massive momentum with early viral tracks, his recent releases over the past 18 months have struggled to achieve similar streaming traction and audience engagement.
The creator shared that a sharp drop in live bookings prompted him to question whether his musical career had already reached its peak.
While he previously performed between 50 and 60 live shows in a single year across India, he has performed only four shows in the last six months.
Raj reflected on the pressure to deliver consistent hits in an era governed by streaming algorithms. He noted that combined streams across his recent four or five singles have failed to match the breakout numbers of his earlier successes.
Facing mounting family responsibilities as his parents age, Raj evaluated two potential paths forward.
The first option involved quitting music entirely to focus on his profitable educational initiatives and launch a dedicated education technology startup focused on competitive exam preparation.
The second option was to give his creative aspirations another dedicated push by overhauling his musical style and release strategies.
Raj confirmed he has chosen the latter path, committing to remain in music while continuing his business endeavours.
He drew parallels between his current artistic struggles and the academic pressure he experienced while preparing for engineering entrance examinations, emphasising that setbacks require persistence rather than surrender.
Deepanshu Raj, a chemical engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, first gained nationwide viral prominence with his 2022 indie-pop single Mera Safar.
The track inspired social media videos from prominent sports figures, including Sachin Tendulkar and Neeraj Chopra, and secured a partnership with major record labels.
Over his creative career, Raj has accumulated over 700K subscribers on YouTube and built a catalogue featuring popular indie tracks such as Khwab and Savera.
He stated that upcoming projects will feature major changes to his release formats, including his first full-length extended plays and album rollouts.
