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Creativity
A Unique Path to Resilience
The inspirational journey of Sparsh Shah.
Updated March 16, 2025 Reviewed by Kaja Perina
Sparsh Shah (a.k.a Purhythm) is a 21-year-old singer, rapper, songwriter, music producer, inspirational speaker, philanthropist and Guinness World Records holder. He was born with an incurable disorder called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which makes his bones extremely fragile/brittle: even a hard handshake could break his bones. He cannot bear weight on his hands and legs, and hence cannot walk or run like other normal kids.
He has suffered more than 150 fractures and endured multiple surgeries (which have given him 8 rods and 22 screws in his body) so far. Sparsh also has a brilliant voice and a beautiful mind. Sparsh has won prizes in 9 singing competitions and given over 350 live, virtual, and TV performances and speeches.
Sparsh's vision in life is to inspire and "Sparsh" (touch) everyone's hearts around the world. I received a golden opportunity to interview him.
DS: What is your approach to creativity?
SS: I believe creativity isn’t about inventing something entirely new, but rather about how we rearrange and combine existing ideas. In other words, the best composers are really the best (re)arrangers, because true creation means making something ex nihilo, and there’s only One who can do that. So I don’t think there’s anything wrong with drawing inspiration from others’ art—as long as we put our unique spin on it.
Speaking of inspiration, I’ve realized that it can come from anywhere, so I make it a point to stay open to everything. For example, my song “This Is Me (The Rap Prince)” was inspired by an Internet meme calling 2Pac the “Rap King” and Eminem the “Rap God.” Another song (which I haven’t yet released!) was sparked by the melody of a White-Throated Sparrow. (I even used it as the song’s chorus!) And yet another track in the shed was built entirely on sounds from everyday home appliances and objects. So in other words, I don’t think it’s one’s environment that drives creativity so much as one’s outlook.
SS: How do you motivate yourself?
Accountability is my primary motivator—accountability to myself and to God. (That’s not to say that accountability partnerships aren’t helpful, but I’ve learned the hard way that no one is 100% reliable, including and especially myself!) Whether it’s something as simple as eating a bar of dark chocolate whenever I work out, or something as challenging as releasing a song on the exact date I’ve planned for it, I’m always giving myself something to look forward to when working on a task or project—or, as Mr. Stephen Covey would put it, I’m always “[beginning] with the end in mind!”
My motto, especially recently, has been: “Work hard, sweat harder; play hard, rest harder!” In other words, whether I’m working or relaxing, I’m always striving for my output to exceed my input by as large a margin as possible. That way, I can pour 110% of my effort into everything I do, and thus master the art of working while resting and resting while working (if that makes any sense XD).
DS: How did you learn to play and mix music?
SS: Music has been a lifelong journey of love for me. I’ve been singing for as long as my family and I can remember, but my formal education began at age 6 with Hiṅdustānī (North Indian) classical training, which I continue to this day. At 10, I started taking 1-on-1 Western music lessons—for voice and piano—on and off, and I was part of my school choirs from ages 6 to 18. At 15, I took the A. P. Music Theory course, and at 18, I began studying at Berklee College of Music, where I’m currently pursuing a baccalaureate in Interdisciplinary Music Studies.
Beyond formal training, I started teaching myself to rap at age 9 and to produce music on digital audio workstations (DAWs) at 13. I’ve learned these skills through a mix of my YouTube tutorials, hands-on experimentation, and sometimes, my Berklee education. All these experiences have made me the musician I am today—and I’m always eager to learn.
DS. What is the psychology behind you overcoming adversity?
SS: One of my lifelong mottos has always been “Everything happens for the greater good.” In other words, I believe strongly in Dr. Albert Einstein’s third rule of work: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” My medical condition (Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bones) has demonstrated to me that setbacks are really stepping stones towards our purposes, so whenever I’m let down in some way, I’m always looking for the lessons in it.
Moreover, I’ve always been inspired by Mr. Bruce Lee’s words: “Courage is not the absence of fear: it’s the ability to act in the face of fear.” In other words, what happens to us doesn’t define us so much as how we respond to what happens to us! So every obstacle I’ve faced, I’ve faced with head-on humility, because there’s not only a silver lining around every cloud, but even the clouds are full of blessings—if only we are courageous enough to enter them!
DS: How do you learn difficult things when it comes to music?
SS:There’s no substitute for consistent, daily effort—even if it’s small! “Slow and steady wins the race!”
I also rely on my teachers, freely asking them questions whenever I’m stuck on a task or concept. (And if they don’t have the answers, I’ll judiciously study the YouTube archives!) Finally, I love experimenting—whether with my voice, instruments, or DAWs. Exploring in a pressure-free (and healthy!) way has often been the key to unlocking breakthroughs in my musical journey.
DS: Please explain your phrase, “Impossible? I am possible.”
SS: Well, literally, “I’m possible” is just “impossible” with an apostrophe and a space. But psychologically, it’s about finding the silver lining around life’s gray clouds and the blessing within them. And metaphorically, it’s a reminder that, as Eminem proclaimed at the end of “Lose Yourself”, “You can do anything you set your mind to, man!” After all, life itself is statistically next to impossible—yet here we are! So if we can overcome the odds just by existing, who knows what else we can achieve…until we try?
DS: Do you think there is a link between music and intelligence?
SS: As the Kool-Aid Man would scream: “OH, YEAH!” I’m not sure if we need to be scientists to know that music has countless useful functions for us humans (and animals): stress and pain relief, improving communication skills, unlocking creative problem-solving capabilities…the list goes on. However, I’m by no means a psychologist/music therapist, so I won’t venture to explain further because this is NOT my area of expertise.
That said, my firm conviction is that it’s not just listening to or playing music that makes someone intelligent—it’s how one uses music to grow and relate with others that does. Eminem’s profound lyrics in “Sing for the Moment” ring in my mind.
