Page 19 - The score

humongous amount of content available out there in I’ve done so far was done keeping that in mind. When
the open. I realized that I like composing tunes, I taught myself
how to produce. Next, I needed a way to play my music
As a music producer how confident or optimistic you are with to people so I taught myself how to DJ.
the internet, especially with a host of free looping websites
and tools lying around to explore for the new comers; is it What is the most flattering comment you ever got in an
good or is it too scary that literally anyone with a musical ear after party?
can end up producing an album? I’m not much of an after party guy so am still wishing
That is exactly how I learnt how to produce and I for this..haha..
would encourage others to do the same.
If there is one thing you would want to change in your life and
What would you love to call your music, other than 'original' music what would it be?
of course? Nothing really.
Classical / Hindustani
What is with your attire, you of course, look phenomenally
Also tell us the process of creating the aura that your different from a person who gets people head banging in
music, a lot of musicians today are equally psyched about clubs, pubs and bars on late night weekends? Why did you
the technicalities of producing some thing which is high feel it is important to dress the way you do, has it got anything
on bass and electronics, how important do you think it is to do with the music or is it the philosophy behind it?
balance the form and the contents, the aesthetics and the It’s quite simple actually – I love Kurtas! It’s not just
technical aspects? an on stage attire, I wear kurtas all the time, no matter
where I go. I’m all about Kurtas and cool sneakers 
Every song has its own process and I personally believe
that there’s no one way to go about producing music. I Your music is sprinkled with Eastern references, tell us
prefer to concentrate on the aesthetics while creating about your background in classical? Is it a value addition or
the song and once the song is ready, I fix things up on
the technical end. The second part is super important in a necessity for the Indian dance music producers to have a
order for the song to sound good while the first part is a faculty for the classical?
more personal process that one should try and develop I took formal training in two different forms of
for themselves. I also have an additional step in between Hindustani classical vocals called Dhrupad & Khayal.
which is to get feedback from my manager, Rahul. He I learnt Khayal from Ma when I was 5 years old, and
understands me and my music really well and gives me Dhrupad under Pt. Uday Bhawalkar at the age of 10. I
completely honest feedback, which is very important trained because I enjoyed it and not because I wanted
for me. to make a career in it. And I don’t think it’s a necessity
because everyone has their own way of doing things.
The next generation of independent music producers will One should do something only if they like doing it.
look forward to icons like Nucleya, Su Real and Ritviz but
how difficult was it for you to dig in inspiration from a country What is the biggest difference between the EDM scene of
whose staple music is mostly romantic playbacks which India and the West?
regimented throughout on a heavy duty of melody lip synced I feel there’s a lot more openness to collaborate in the west.
on bare chest young men in cold deserts (visualize Bollywood
song picturisations)? Whom did you look up to as icons for Is it not challenging that artists like you are finding a niche
pulling up your music? market while the rappers from north India are storming
The best part about the internet is that one doesn’t need Bollywood like they are playing at their backyard? Do you
to only listen to what is staple. Because of the internet, envy this mainstream attention? Do you dream of playing for
we have access to all kinds of music – popular or not. any genre of movie, kind of directors or actors?
So in that sense I’m never tied down by anything in I’m an independent musician and I pretty much chose
particular, I listen to everything from hip-hop to pop to this path for myself. Also, I always want to make music
trap and bass music. Nucleya & Su Real are definitely that I’m proud of, irrespective of how many people
on my list of icons as well, I believe what they have appreciate it. When it comes to Bollywood, I don’t
done for the scene is clearly unmatched. have a major inclination yet, but maybe I will chip in
if something interesting comes my way.
You are almost ghosted out in the internet amidst the flyers
and banners of your own shows, share some memories you Recently, Divine busted the charts with Raja Kumari, which
cherish about your childhood that you treasure in your career are the artists you look forward to collaborating with, in the
and life today? future globally as well as in India?
Singing with Ma. She is just amazing and I recollect I have a few collaborations in the pipelines but
as a child I would never hesitate to join her as she unfortunately I can’t talk about those right now 
practiced every morning. I was only six years old at
the time. What is up next, should we expect an album right away in the
new year, or is it going to be a long wait?
Did you always wish to earn your bread being a dance music We’re planning to release few more singles first. These
producer or you dreamt of becoming somebody else when will be songs from the album itself. Stay tuned!
you were growing up?
I wouldn’t say dance music but music in general is
definitely all I’ve ever wanted to do and everything The Score Magazine 17
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