For
KSHMR,
Dharma has both a
personal and
musical meaning.
The meaning of "Dharma"
The word
Dharma (Sanskrit: धर्म) is a central concept in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It can mean:
- one's true purpose or life path
- duty and living according to moral principles
- the natural order of the universe
- doing what is right and remaining true to yourself
There isn't a single English translation—it encompasses all of these ideas.
Why KSHMR chose the name
KSHMR (Niles Hollowell-Dhar) has Indian heritage through his father. When he launched
Dharma Worldwide in 2017, he explained that he wanted the label to represent more than just EDM. His vision was to create a home for music from artists around the world while celebrating culture, storytelling, and authenticity.
The label's name reflects:
- staying true to your artistic identity,
- following your own creative path,
- bringing together Eastern and Western musical influences,
- supporting a global community of producers.
This philosophy is evident in many KSHMR tracks, which blend electronic dance music with Indian, Middle Eastern, orchestral, and folk elements.
Dharma Worldwide
Dharma is also the name of KSHMR's record label, which has released music from artists such as:
- KSHMR
- 22Bullets
- MARNIK
- R3SPAWN
- Tim Hox
- Vini Vici (selected collaborations)
- and many emerging producers from around the world.
So, for KSHMR,
"Dharma" symbolizes following your true creative purpose while embracing cultural diversity and meaningful artistic expression, rather than being just a record label name.