You'll need to keep finding ways to reinvigorate your passions. I do that by taking breaks to travel and check out different kinds of art and music or just immerse myself in a good book for a few days.
Anyways, it's a tricky balance between passion and profession, and the truly lucky ones can pull it off.
Tell us about your background and journey.
I'm a DJ/producer based in Delhi. I was born here, but I grew up abroad - Malaysia and U.A.E, the U.S. and Canada. Music was always a passion since I started Western Classical piano classes at age 4. But I never wanted it to be my occupation, so I got university degrees in business and spent many years working on the "business" side of the "music business".
Don't do it! It's not an easy life. You will face many trials and tribulations. Especially these days, there is a lot of competition in every aspect of the music industry. Also, over time, and this is true for every form of art that becomes someone's job - whether it's acting or graphic design - eventually the passion will fade as you get more and more focused on the professional aspect.
Interviewed by - Ritika Malhotra
After moving back to Delhi in 2008, step by step, events conspired to lead me to switch to a full career in music as the local scene and domestic industry started growing beyond just Bollywood and commercial music. By around 2014, I had quit my full-time job to focus on a full-time career in music.
Is DJ'ing a mainstream and financially stable career in India yet?
Is DJ'ing a mainstream and financially stable career in India yet?
Yes and No. Definitely, when I was a kid in the '80s I could have never imagined earning a decent living from music in India. Nowadays, as the F&B and nightlife industries expanded, there was a booming demand for events and live entertainment.
But don't get confused - life as a typical club DJ (Disc Jockey) is closer to a bartender than a millionaire or filmi superstar! It's long hours, hard and often unrewarding work and the pay is not so great. The difference comes for those who can expand their role as a DJ into a brand, either via creating original music or evolving into an event promoter, or something else...
Who is your favourite artist and why?
I have taken a lot of inspiration from Diplo. He helped expand the scope of what was considered "acceptable" to play in nightclubs and introduced the mainstream to many different subcultures of music.
Who is your favourite artist and why?
I have taken a lot of inspiration from Diplo. He helped expand the scope of what was considered "acceptable" to play in nightclubs and introduced the mainstream to many different subcultures of music.
He really championed the style of "fuck genres", played everything.
And I take that attitude to heart - I listen to and play every kind of music from all over the world... It all goes into the blender and it all comes out mashed up.
What are some of the common myths about your profession?
What are some of the common myths about your profession?
Haha, the #1 myth is that life in the music industry is only about partying all the time... Ek button dabaao aur gaana tayyaar, nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, if you are really into music, after some time, the partying lifestyle gets so boring.
How and from where can one gain formal training for being a DJ?
These days there are many training academies. Sometimes they help you with job placement also. But personally, I am a self-taught DJ and electronic music producer... And the best teachers are Mr Youtube and Prof. Practice Practice Practice. These days, you need to keep developing your skills and knowledge every day - A Life Lesson.
What qualities and skills needed to be a good music producer?
In my opinion, you need to pay attention to detail and have patience and dedication to complete projects. Usually, the most difficult thing for any aspiring music producer is the basic thing of finishing a project.
How and from where can one gain formal training for being a DJ?
These days there are many training academies. Sometimes they help you with job placement also. But personally, I am a self-taught DJ and electronic music producer... And the best teachers are Mr Youtube and Prof. Practice Practice Practice. These days, you need to keep developing your skills and knowledge every day - A Life Lesson.
What qualities and skills needed to be a good music producer?
In my opinion, you need to pay attention to detail and have patience and dedication to complete projects. Usually, the most difficult thing for any aspiring music producer is the basic thing of finishing a project.
It sounds silly, but the truth is most youngsters leave their projects at 50%, a serious producer won't stop until he has completed it at 100%. Anyways, but the other side of this is that you do need to be a creative person who pays attention to trends and tastes.
Your message for people who want to make their passion their profession?
Your message for people who want to make their passion their profession?
Don't do it! It's not an easy life. You will face many trials and tribulations. Especially these days, there is a lot of competition in every aspect of the music industry. Also, over time, and this is true for every form of art that becomes someone's job - whether it's acting or graphic design - eventually the passion will fade as you get more and more focused on the professional aspect.
You'll need to keep finding ways to reinvigorate your passions. I do that by taking breaks to travel and check out different kinds of art and music or just immerse myself in a good book for a few days. Anyways, it's a tricky balance between passion and profession, and the truly lucky ones can pull it off.
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Interviewed by - Ritika Malhotra
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