Setlist 04 · The man behind the band
Gladson
Peter.
Singer-songwriter. 45+ instruments mastered, up to 14 at once. 8× TEDx speaker. Founder of One Man Band — India.
The heartbeat
“Never give up”
isn't a slogan here.
It's the only reason any of this exists. A severe case of pleural effusion at the start of his career left Gladson with one damaged lung, the other at roughly 40% capacity — and a doctor telling him he might never sing again.
He answered by learning more instruments, not fewer. Today his work has been on every major Indian network, the EU Chambers of Commerce stage, the Dubai Metro, Amazon Prime's Modern Love Mumbai launch — and in boardrooms and classrooms where the message lands harder than the music.
“Never Give Up” is now the keynote, the title of the debut album, and the engine of every show.
The long way here
Timeline
- 2010
First gigs
Performs with six different bands across Mumbai — picking up a new instrument with every one.
- 2013
The diagnosis
Pleural effusion. One lung damaged, the other at 40%. “Singing,” the doctor says, “is off the table.”
- 2014
The recovery
Back on his feet and back in college — still certain the music has a purpose.
- 2016
One Man Band is born
Launches One Man Band — India in February; gives his first TEDx talk in May. The format that will define the keynote.
- 2017
China residency
An extended run of shows across China — reworking the set for local audiences, including performing in Mandarin.
- 2018
National & international
OMG! Yeh Mera India, The Kapil Sharma Show — and the first international performances.
- 2019
Dubai Metro Music Festival
One of 25 artists selected worldwide for the prestigious festival.
- 2019
UkeXperience founded
A ukulele-first music education initiative — workshops, classes and online courses that have since introduced 1,000+ people to music-making.
- 2022
Amazon Prime · Modern Love Mumbai
Performs at the launch festival in Andheri.
- 2024
Performer → creator
Begins composing and producing original music.
- 2025
The album tour
The debut album takes shape: one man, one band, one record. Booking 2026–27 worldwide now.
Same keynote · eight stages
8× TEDx speaker
- 01TEDxKIIT University · Bhubaneswar
- 02TEDxSalisbury Park · Pune
- 03TEDxSJEC · Mangalore
- 04TEDxBESC · Kolkata
- 05TEDxRambaug
- 06TEDxHR College
- 07TEDxXIE
- 08TEDxSIESGST
The rig
14 at once.
45+ mastered.
All fourteen. One stage. One person. Up to twenty more swap in across the broader catalogue of 45+ mastered instruments.
The mantra