Nikhil Bagga – Seattle Based Artist

 

Biography, 2025
At just 16 years old, Seattle-based artist Nikhil Bagga is already carving out a place among the next generation
of rock guitar greats. Born in Toronto and raised on a steady diet of AC/DC, Ed Sheeran, and Queen, Nikhil
picked up the guitar at nine years old and never looked back. What started with busking on the corners of
San Diego’s Pacific Beach and Pike Place Market in Seattle, has turned into a whirlwind journey, taking him
from Tokyo’s Ruby Room to the center stage of some of the world’s most iconic venues and earning him the
2025 YoungArts Award as well as inclusion in 425 Business Magazine’s “30 Under 30.”

By age 12, he was performing the National Anthem before 17,000 fans at a Seattle Kraken game at Climate
Pledge Arena. Two years later, he electrified over 50,000 attendees at the 2024 NHL Winter Classic, with
millions more watching around the world — earning acclaim from outlets like NHL.com and Barstool Sports,
who tweeted “hard to imagine there’ll be a better rendition of the national anthem in 2024.” Most recently,
Nikhil performed the National Anthem at T-Mobile Park in Seattle for Game 1 of the American League
Division Series (ALDS) between the Mariners and the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the
personal request of the Mariners’ president.

In 2022, Nikhil recorded his debut album Leap of Faith at Seattle’s legendary London Bridge Studio with
producer Eric Lilavois (Ayron Jones, Saint Motel). Featuring Ben Smith (Heart) on drums and Jeff Rouse
(Loaded) on bass, the record has been praised by Glide Magazine for its “thick bleeding guitar tones and ‘90s
punchy alt-rock energy,” echoing influences like Teenage Fanclub and Matthew Sweet.
His musical evolution has since been shaped by icons including Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John
Mayer, and Billy Strings, inspiring a dynamic sound that blends ‘90s grunge with modern rock and blues.
Along the way, Nikhil has shared stages with legends like George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic,
performed at Nashville’s Bluebird Café, and opened for Ayron Jones.

Nikhil has also studied at Berklee College of Music’s Aspire program and trained at an elite guitar
masterclass in Loch Lomond, Scotland, under the mentorship of Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Robbie
McIntosh, and other world-renowned players.

“In the five years since I started calling myself a musician, I’ve been lucky to experience some incredible
things,” Nikhil shares. “I’m so grateful for the guidance and support that’s helped me grow as an artist,
guitarist, and person. It finally feels like I’m stepping into who I’m meant to be, and I’m excited for everything
I’ve accomplished so far, and everything to come.”

Looking ahead, Nikhil will serve as the “Emerging Artist” for Guitar Dreams 2026, an exclusive retreat
bringing together world-class and rising guitarists. He’ll also represent the WA Blues Society at the
International Blues Challenge in Memphis this January and is set to perform at the 2026 NAMM Show in
Anaheim. With an expanding list of accolades, Nikhil Bagga is an artist whose music transcends generations,
genres, and borders, always anchored by the guitar.