Deshan "Styler" Naidoo celebrates two milestones this year - the 30th anniversary of his music career and in July, he will be awarded the Global Maestro Award in Chennai, India, by the orchestra, Logu Inisai Geetham.
The latter achievement will acknowledge his contributions to the world of music, his commitment to nurturing future generations of musicians, and his dedication to cultural preservation through his institutions - the Guru Gopalan’s School of Drums and the Styler Music Academy.
The award comes at a significant time, said 35-year-old Naidoo, as this year marks the 30th anniversary of his career; a milestone celebrated under the banner of Styler30.
"My musical journey began at the age of three, under the guidance of my late Mahaguru Gopalan Govender. It later continued with my Paramguru, Ashley Kisten. At age 5, I performed on stage for the first time alongside my dad, the late Beema Naidoo.
"It was for a concert by touring Indian musician and playback singer, TM Soundararajan. We joined his group of musicians. I was on percussion and my dad was on keyboard. Three years later, I recorded my first song, Aum Woru Naalum," said Naidoo.
This, he said, paved the way for what would become an "extraordinary career".
"Over the years, I have produced 21 albums, garnered millions of digital streams, and captivated audiences worldwide with my unique blend of traditional and contemporary musical styles."
Known for his contributions to devotional and fusion music, Naidoo’s influence extends beyond performance.
He has shared the stage with playback and devotional singers, headlined a three-city concert tour in Chennai in 2018, and delivered a full-length devotional program at Jaya TV’s international studios.
Naidoo said being honoured by Logu Inisai Geetham at a live concert titled Styler30 was a "big achievement".
"The venue will accommodate 1 000 people. Just like there is a fanfare when Indian artists visit South Africa, the same, as I have been informed, has been planned for me. I have a lot of fans in India, Mauritius, Malaysia and Canada."
Asked how he got the name "Styler", he said: "While at a show, a child came up to me and said she liked my style. She then referred to me as 'Styler'. Since then, I have used the nickname Styler."
Despite his success, Naidoo said he remained committed to mentoring young talent through his music schools and encouraging them to embrace their cultural heritage.