Ramesh Srivastava

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Ramesh Srivastava

| image = Voxtrot 254 (870744761).jpg

| caption = Srivastava performing with Voxtrot, 2007

| birth_name = Ramesh McLean Srivastava

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|06|26}}

| birth_place = Austin, Texas, U.S.

| death =

| genre = {{hlist|Indie rock | indie pop }}

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 2003–present

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|piano}}

| label = {{hlist|Beggars Banquet Records| Austin Town Hall}}

| associated_acts = Voxtrot

}}

Ramesh McLean Srivastava (born June 26, 1983){{Cite Instagram |last= Srivastava |first=Ramesh |author-link= |user=rameshinspace |postid= CQoRmnlFWMM |date=June 27, 2021 |title=Thank you to all who reached out or spent time with me on my birthday yesterday. So interesting to have been born as a half-Indian gay man in Austin, Texas in 1983. There was a time when I thought I would have to change my name, get plastic surgery and pretend to be straight to ever have a career (or a life at all!). But every year I live, I understand more concretely that it is our individuality that makes us valuable...|script-title= |trans-title= |language=English |access-date= |link=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQoRmnlFWMM/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240106074323/https://www.instagram.com/p/CQoRmnlFWMM/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D |archive-date=January 6, 2024}} is an American singer and songwriter. He is perhaps best known as the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Voxtrot, active from 2003 to 2010. After the dissolution of Voxtrot, Srivastava has also released solo material under his name, including his debut album, The King, in 2014.

Early life

Ramesh Srivastava was born on June 26, 1983, in Austin, Texas,"Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDQV-447 FamilySearch] (1 January 2015), Ramesh Mclean Srivastava, 26 Jun 1983; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services. {{closed access}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/06/25/voxtrot-plays-last-show-singer-ramesh-srivastava-looks-back/|work=The Wall Street Journal|title=Voxtrot Singer Ramesh Srivastava Looks Back Before Last Show|author=Wall Street Journal Staff|accessdate=January 10, 2017|date=June 25, 2010}} {{closed access}} to Patricia Noel Goettel and Rajendra Kumar Srivastava. His father is from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,{{Cite web|url=https://niralimagazine.com/2006/10/music-thats-not-a-myspace-blog/|work=Nirali Magazine|title=Music That's Not a Myspace Blog|date=October 2, 2006|accessdate=December 30, 2016|author=Mantri, Maya}} while his mother is American, from New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://tanechoes.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/ramesh-srivastava-formerly-of-voxtrot-releases-debut-solo-album/|work=Tan Echoes|title=Ramesh Srivastava (formerly of Voxtrot) Releases Debut Solo Album|date=February 25, 2014|accessdate=January 10, 2017}} He attended Leander High School in Leander, Texas, and later attended the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland, majoring in literature.{{cite web|url=https://www.allthingsgomusic.com/life-after-voxtrot-an-interview-with-ramesh-srivastava/|work=All Things Go Music|title=Life After Voxtrot: An Interview with Ramesh Srivastava|date=November 8, 2016|author=Mowry, Megan|accessdate=January 9, 2017}}

Career

In 2002, after graduating from college and returning to Texas, Srivastava formed the band Voxtrot in Austin.{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11861-raised-by-wolves-ep-mothers-sisters-daughters-wives-ep/|work=Pitchfork|title=Voxtrot: Raised by Wolves EP|accessdate=January 8, 2017|author=Howe, Brian|date=March 28, 2006}} They recorded one extended play and released a self-titled album, which garnered critical acclaim. In 2010, the group disbanded, with Srivastava stating that their career trajectory had been one of "long, simmering build, explosion, and almost instantaneous decay."{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/38565-voxtrot-call-it-quits/|author=Breihan, Tom|date=April 21, 2010|work=Pitchfork|accessdate=December 29, 2016|title=Voxtrot Call it Quits}} The band played their final show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City on June 26, 2010, Srivastava's twenty-seventh birthday.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/06/25/voxtrot-plays-last-show-singer-ramesh-srivastava-looks-back/|work=The Wall Street Journal|title=Voxtrot Singer Ramesh Srivastava Looks Back Before Last Show|author=Staff|date=25 June 2010|accessdate=January 10, 2017}}

In 2014, Srivastava released his first solo record, The King.{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/01/former-voxtrot-frontman-ramesh-srivastava-releases-debut-album-the-king/|work=Consequences of Sound|title=Former Voxtrot frontman Ramesh Srivastava releases debut album, The King|author=Coplan, Chris|date=January 17, 2014|accessdate=January 10, 2017}} The record was performed live as a four-piece on a nationwide tour of Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/events/ramesh-x-the-watanabes/|work=Tokyo Weekender|title=Ramesh x The Watanabes|date=November 10, 2017|accessdate=November 10, 2018}} On May 6, 2022, the group announced they were embarking on a reunion tour through the latter part of the year, along with the release of archival recordings.{{Cite web |title=Voxtrot Announce Reunion Tour and New Archival Releases |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/voxtrot-announce-reunion-tour-archival-154442581.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.yahoo.com |date=6 May 2022 |language=en-US}}

Personal life

In 2007, the Dallas Voice published an article in which it was implied that Srivastava was gay, though a subsequent article by the same publication stated that this was unsubstantiated.{{cite web|work=Dallas Voice|url=https://dallasvoice.com/hot-to-trot/|title=Hot to trot|date=September 27, 2007|author=Garcia, Gilbert|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200626181729/https://dallasvoice.com/hot-to-trot/|archive-date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}} In June 2020, Srivastava confirmed publicly in an Instagram post that he is gay.{{cite web|publisher=Instagram|author=Srivastava, Ramesh|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CBdmokVlI5W/|title=FUCK YEAH. A victory for all of us in the LGBTQ+ spectrum. A victory for humanity. It's crazy, growing up gay, how you learn to believe that your life is worth-less, and you accept violence coming at you in different forms as a natural and even justified reaction to your existence. It takes a lot of strength to rise above that and reprogram your brain...|date=June 15, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200626181616/https://www.instagram.com/p/CBdmokVlI5W/|archive-date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}