Two young musicians who dreamed of performing with Drake told a friend they were desperate to stop using drugs, before they were tragically found dead inside a family home.
The lifeless bodies of Sawandeep Singh Chhokar, 20, and Ethan Sfetcopoulos, 19, were uncovered at property on Kinchega Drive in Shepparton, northern Victoria, at 11am on Monday.
Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious and said an autopsy would confirm the exact cause, but heartbroken friends revealed the young men had a drug overdose.
‘I only found out that they were struggling a bit with drugs after Ethan dropped his latest album and mentioned he’s not about that life,’ close friend Jonathan Safari told Daily Mail Australia.
Sawandeep Singh Chhokar (pictured with close friend Kaitlin Edwards at their school debutant ball) and Ethan Sfetcopoulos were found dead on Monday morning
Friends believe Sawandeep Singh Chhokar, 20, (left) and Ethan Sfetcopoulos, 19, (right) had a drug overdose
‘They both definitely wanted to stop using – I know that for sure.’
The pair had big dreams of becoming international music stars – Mr Sfetcopoulos wanted to perform with renowned rapper Drake, and Mr Chhokar wanted to be ‘the greatest Punjabi artist in Australia’, and was inspired by Canadian rapper Nav.
‘Ethan always said, ‘Imma do this music thing until the world knows Sfet’,’ Mr Safari recalled.
‘We had plans to make a song together and maybe in the future make an album together. Now they’re both gone without even a warning.’
The aspiring musician said the young men went out of their way to support and encourage their friends – ‘they basically wanted the best for everyone they came across,’ he added.
Mr Chhokar wanted to be ‘the greatest Punjabi artist in Australia’, and was inspired by Canadian rapper Nav
Ethan Sfetcopoulos (pictured) was determined to become a famous musician, friends say
Kaitlin Edwards grew up with Mr Chhokar and partnered with him for their school debutant ball.
She confirmed they were found dead inside Mr Chhokar’s family home, but said no one knows exactly what happened in the hours before they died.
‘No one thought this is how they would past,’ she said.
Ms Edwards wrote on Facebook: ‘Drugs don’t love you. The pain I’m going through is something I don’t wish on anyone. Get clean and go be with the people that love you.’
‘My heart is broken, can’t believe it.’
Ethan Sfetcopoulos had big dreams of performing with renowned rapper Drake (pictured)
A friend remembered Mr Chhokar (pictured right) as a ‘kind-hearted kid who meant no harm and was struggling with demons’
The young woman said the pair were a big support system for her when she was a teenager, revealing they wanted to be ‘happy and remembered’.
‘Ethan always had everyone’s best interest at heart and always knew how to make someone smile,’ she said.
‘They had goals and big dreams and loved there music if you ever needed someone they were always there.’
Another friend said the men were ‘widely loved’ in the community.
Other friends and fellow musicians flooded social media with tributes to the young friends.
Tyson Cameron said they were ‘two great kids who had a whole lot ahead of them, lost their lives to drugs.’
Friends said Mr Sfetcopoulos (pictured) always took the time to support and encourage others
He remembered Mr Chhokar as a ‘kind-hearted kid who meant no harm and was struggling with demons’.
‘I am glad I was able to talk you through what you were going through, I am thankful for the times we had hanging out making beats and just talking about life.
Mr Cameron said Mr Sfetcopoulos was ‘a great person to be around, lots of great energy and so much talent.’
He also encouraged his friends to ‘be safe with drugs’ and ‘check on your friends’.
A memorial will be held at Wanganui Oval in Shepparton at 6.30pm on Thursday.
Police said a report will be prepared for the coroner.