Q. From Hip Hop to Trip Hop, Funk to Punk, Reggae to Reggaeton — howdo you balance all of that? Do you "lose" yourself in the genres ofmusic that you're trying to create?
Or can your music do without thedistinction of genres?
Haha. The funny thing is that list should actually be much larger to include everything else like Electro Rock, Electro House, Happy House, Disco, Pop, and more. The story is I don't generally play all the genres in a single set, but more gear each set specifically to my audience, venue, and preferences of the client. The truth is I really enjoy all of the music I play whether it be strictly commercial radio hit, or very obscure esoteric selections.
Q. Having dabbled with different genres of music, how would youdescribe the kind of music you do?
Well, besides the fact I actually enjoy all these different genres, whether listening at home or playing at a gig ... I can tell you the one area now that has completely captivated my attention ... and in fact is currently captivated the world's attention ... is Electro House, and in particular Electro House tinged with elements of Hip Hop ... which you would certainly hear this tomorrow (Thu) at Olive in Bandra.
Q. With the variety of music that you do, did you ever have purists crying hoarse?
I would refer you the answer of the first question. During very few sets would I span all these genres ... however, through remixes it is possible to mix in elements of all these genres and still please the purists. As a reference point, my dj consciousness was ignited in the lounge clubs of New York City some 10 years back ... and what that means is in a typical New York lounge club, which has been the movement for the last decade away from so-called mega-clubs, the dj is encouraged to move from genre to genre to please each and everyone in a setting that is more comfortable than enormous and full of dazzling light displays and glow sticks. In this context then, what differentiates a good dj from a bad one is the continuity of the mixes and the general story ... for example it's not as if I would throw on a hip hop track, immediately followed by a house track, followed up with a reggae track ... there would be subsets ... several songs of each genre tied together by remixes that bridge the genres and make sense. I think I have finally mastered this craft ... though there is always room for improvement.
Q. Your web page says "His expansive style appeals to both theunderground club scene and to the more accessible, Top 40 commercialmasses". How do you manage to do that? Does the quote imply that themasses are more accessible?
Gosh these are thoughtful questions ... more than any other Indian interview so far. Checking my watch, looking at the deadline ... ha! Um, just to say ... I believe you can adequately find the answer in the preceeding answers. It's a matter of tailoring the set to the audience always. I am never the same dj twice. That's what keep me fresh and new ... and after 10 years living in a country and city that has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) ... that's what keeps me employed.
Q. How different is your music from your contemporaries? How do youdifferentiate yourself?
Many of my contemporaries do tend to stick to one genre and go with that. The rest of answer I think you can draw from the previous four.
Q. What keeps you going as a musician? What challenges or "newer"experiences are you looking forward to?
Haha. I am incredibly self-driven ... to be honest, nothing has to keep me going ... I just have an inner drive that is insatiable. Though I suppose I could answer the question like this, by always recognizing my own humility, and my own ability to adapt and improve ... I am most driven by the need to achieve Excellence in my craft ... the need for self-improvement. As for challenges ... I am looking forward to each and EVERY one. Bring it!
Q. From performing with the likes of Kid rock, to opening for numerousacts to post events, film premieres, venues like the Pink Elephant
(phew!) — any collaboration come out of this?
Sure, but not with the stars themselves. Many "collaborations" with promoters, club owners, marketers, managers, and the like. and certainly having all these things on my Bio has opened up doors which can never again be closed. It just brings things to a whole new professional level. The gigs get bigger and better, the pay more lucrative, the energy more glamorous. Funny thing is sometimes these really high profile assignments don't pay as well ... but in the end the exposure is priceless.
Q. Which would you prefer — open-air venues or clubs. Why?
I'll go with the Buddhist in me for this one. It really depends which venue. I have worked in some glorious clubs with extravagant, thumping sound systems, the quality of which is unsurpassed and generally compromised by being outdoors where it is more of a challenge to design a pumping sound system for obvious reasons. The energy in a venue like this is often more intense, as the focus is always the dj and the music ... there are fewer distractions. That said, I have worked in outdoor venues the euphoria of which can not be matched in the best clubs of the world. An example of which would be a clifftop at sunrise in Bali. You're just not going to find that kind of nourishing and organic euphoria djing under open skies in a panoramic backdrop of excruciating beauty ... within the brick and mortar confines of a building ... I don't care how pretty it is, or how thumping the sound system.
Q. This isn't your first performance in Bombay. What brings you back?What's your take on the music scene here?
No, it isn't my first ... but it is my first in a long, long time. We started the Thursday lounge party at Olive (Bandra) back in 2001 ... which is the last time I set foot here. Since I only arrived a couple of days ago, and on slow nights at that, haven't had much of a chance to suss things out musically ... which in some way might be best. I don't want to be influenced to much by what I hear about town ... I'd like to come with a fresh perspective, it's a risk that it will be embrace isn't it ... but then again, I have always been a risk taker.
Q. What's next on your itinerary?
Well, besides shuttling back and forth between Delhi where I am the Resident DJ at AD Singh's new venture ai ... will be many more return trip to Bombay ... my favorite city in all of India. I suppose even in all its glorious differentness ... it does remind me of being home in New York in various ways. For the moment, I can't see beyond India ... as here is where I want to be for the foreseeable future. I have a 1 year work visa, so you will definitely be seeing me around!
And finally, a trivial question I couldn't resist (to help ease themundane questions…)
Q. A google search on Aaron James reveals this: Aaron James did a lotof "modeling" for the website CollegeDudes247.com. Aaron has sincebeen signed to do videos for Jet Set Men. It really is amazing forCollege Dudes 24/7 that Aaron was selected to be on the MTV True Life("I Work In The Sex Industry") that profiles people who work in theadult industry.Any take on that?
Haha ... you are thorough. Though thankfully that is NOT me. In fact of the several hundred thousand sites for Aaron James, I doubt I am even one third of that at best. Unfortunately, it is not such an uncommon name. There are even a couple other djs around with the very same name. For the most part I don't pay any attention to that stuff and just focus on honing my craft.
Or can your music do without thedistinction of genres?
Haha. The funny thing is that list should actually be much larger to include everything else like Electro Rock, Electro House, Happy House, Disco, Pop, and more. The story is I don't generally play all the genres in a single set, but more gear each set specifically to my audience, venue, and preferences of the client. The truth is I really enjoy all of the music I play whether it be strictly commercial radio hit, or very obscure esoteric selections.
Q. Having dabbled with different genres of music, how would youdescribe the kind of music you do?
Well, besides the fact I actually enjoy all these different genres, whether listening at home or playing at a gig ... I can tell you the one area now that has completely captivated my attention ... and in fact is currently captivated the world's attention ... is Electro House, and in particular Electro House tinged with elements of Hip Hop ... which you would certainly hear this tomorrow (Thu) at Olive in Bandra.
Q. With the variety of music that you do, did you ever have purists crying hoarse?
I would refer you the answer of the first question. During very few sets would I span all these genres ... however, through remixes it is possible to mix in elements of all these genres and still please the purists. As a reference point, my dj consciousness was ignited in the lounge clubs of New York City some 10 years back ... and what that means is in a typical New York lounge club, which has been the movement for the last decade away from so-called mega-clubs, the dj is encouraged to move from genre to genre to please each and everyone in a setting that is more comfortable than enormous and full of dazzling light displays and glow sticks. In this context then, what differentiates a good dj from a bad one is the continuity of the mixes and the general story ... for example it's not as if I would throw on a hip hop track, immediately followed by a house track, followed up with a reggae track ... there would be subsets ... several songs of each genre tied together by remixes that bridge the genres and make sense. I think I have finally mastered this craft ... though there is always room for improvement.
Q. Your web page says "His expansive style appeals to both theunderground club scene and to the more accessible, Top 40 commercialmasses". How do you manage to do that? Does the quote imply that themasses are more accessible?
Gosh these are thoughtful questions ... more than any other Indian interview so far. Checking my watch, looking at the deadline ... ha! Um, just to say ... I believe you can adequately find the answer in the preceeding answers. It's a matter of tailoring the set to the audience always. I am never the same dj twice. That's what keep me fresh and new ... and after 10 years living in a country and city that has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) ... that's what keeps me employed.
Q. How different is your music from your contemporaries? How do youdifferentiate yourself?
Many of my contemporaries do tend to stick to one genre and go with that. The rest of answer I think you can draw from the previous four.
Q. What keeps you going as a musician? What challenges or "newer"experiences are you looking forward to?
Haha. I am incredibly self-driven ... to be honest, nothing has to keep me going ... I just have an inner drive that is insatiable. Though I suppose I could answer the question like this, by always recognizing my own humility, and my own ability to adapt and improve ... I am most driven by the need to achieve Excellence in my craft ... the need for self-improvement. As for challenges ... I am looking forward to each and EVERY one. Bring it!
Q. From performing with the likes of Kid rock, to opening for numerousacts to post events, film premieres, venues like the Pink Elephant
(phew!) — any collaboration come out of this?
Sure, but not with the stars themselves. Many "collaborations" with promoters, club owners, marketers, managers, and the like. and certainly having all these things on my Bio has opened up doors which can never again be closed. It just brings things to a whole new professional level. The gigs get bigger and better, the pay more lucrative, the energy more glamorous. Funny thing is sometimes these really high profile assignments don't pay as well ... but in the end the exposure is priceless.
Q. Which would you prefer — open-air venues or clubs. Why?
I'll go with the Buddhist in me for this one. It really depends which venue. I have worked in some glorious clubs with extravagant, thumping sound systems, the quality of which is unsurpassed and generally compromised by being outdoors where it is more of a challenge to design a pumping sound system for obvious reasons. The energy in a venue like this is often more intense, as the focus is always the dj and the music ... there are fewer distractions. That said, I have worked in outdoor venues the euphoria of which can not be matched in the best clubs of the world. An example of which would be a clifftop at sunrise in Bali. You're just not going to find that kind of nourishing and organic euphoria djing under open skies in a panoramic backdrop of excruciating beauty ... within the brick and mortar confines of a building ... I don't care how pretty it is, or how thumping the sound system.
Q. This isn't your first performance in Bombay. What brings you back?What's your take on the music scene here?
No, it isn't my first ... but it is my first in a long, long time. We started the Thursday lounge party at Olive (Bandra) back in 2001 ... which is the last time I set foot here. Since I only arrived a couple of days ago, and on slow nights at that, haven't had much of a chance to suss things out musically ... which in some way might be best. I don't want to be influenced to much by what I hear about town ... I'd like to come with a fresh perspective, it's a risk that it will be embrace isn't it ... but then again, I have always been a risk taker.
Q. What's next on your itinerary?
Well, besides shuttling back and forth between Delhi where I am the Resident DJ at AD Singh's new venture ai ... will be many more return trip to Bombay ... my favorite city in all of India. I suppose even in all its glorious differentness ... it does remind me of being home in New York in various ways. For the moment, I can't see beyond India ... as here is where I want to be for the foreseeable future. I have a 1 year work visa, so you will definitely be seeing me around!
And finally, a trivial question I couldn't resist (to help ease themundane questions…)
Q. A google search on Aaron James reveals this: Aaron James did a lotof "modeling" for the website CollegeDudes247.com. Aaron has sincebeen signed to do videos for Jet Set Men. It really is amazing forCollege Dudes 24/7 that Aaron was selected to be on the MTV True Life("I Work In The Sex Industry") that profiles people who work in theadult industry.Any take on that?
Haha ... you are thorough. Though thankfully that is NOT me. In fact of the several hundred thousand sites for Aaron James, I doubt I am even one third of that at best. Unfortunately, it is not such an uncommon name. There are even a couple other djs around with the very same name. For the most part I don't pay any attention to that stuff and just focus on honing my craft.
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