Questions
Q1. How did you first discover psytrance music, and what drew you to incorporating it into your own musical style?
So I grew up in the psychedelic culture of New Delhi, where ‘chillums and psytrance’ went hand in hand. I was also training in classical Indian music at the time, so when I’d chill with my friends listening to psytrance, they’d ask me to play the tabla or sing over the music, and they loved it. So after I learned how to produce music from A.R. Rahman’s KM College of Music & Technology, I thought that I should start producing similar music that I was playing for my friends, and the rest is history.
Q2. Can you tell us about the process of blending Indian classical music with psytrance? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
So I believe that the damru, or the drum that Lord Shiva himself plays, is the source of all rhythm. To me, it came very naturally, as the damru had always been that one sound that I had always heard in my head whenever I heard psytrance music. It reminded me of the sacred dance of the Natraj’s ‘Tandav’, and at the same time, when I would hear Indian classical music, I could also hear the origins of psytrance music, so it was really just a matter of laying those layers of sound together on a timeline, and as I rightly thought, it just blended seamlessly, and people seemed to have really loved the amalgamation of the two cultures. I think ‘Damru’ the project is the very place where this could be possible because I’ve trained extensively in both genres. But at the end of the day, it’s music after all, and the point of music is to be heard as one and not separate entities, and I consider music to be a single massive entity.
Q3. What message or feeling do you hope listeners experience when they hear your music?
When I put my music out there, I hope that my listeners experience the ‘trance’ and the joy of the music that I create with the intention that they can enjoy the magic of the ‘here & now’ by living in the moment, experience the pure ecstasy of something as rare as existence, and resonate with my philosophy of oneness while taking a deep dive into their minds and souls. The message of my music is peace, love, joy, wonder, and much contemplation.
Q4. How do you approach live performances and DJ sets differently as Damru compared to other musical projects you may have?
So Damru is by far my most successful project, and I think that the reason is because I sing and play live instruments in my set—that too Indian classical, which is rather rare to find in a DJ set and perhaps the only Indian classical psytrance act. Hence, I call my music ‘Ragatrance’.
Q5. Where was the best gig that you ever had?
Kolkata Mahashivratri ‘24. It was in the iconic Roxy in the Park Hotel of the happening Palk Street. It was a full house and man, Bengalis know how to party! The energy that night was electrifying, and the response was the best that I’ve ever gotten. Not a single soul was static that night. Full of vibes! It’s the love and times like these that stay with you forever and really keep you going as an artist.
Q6. What sets Damru apart from other electronic music projects in the scene?
I think my music is deeply rooted in Indian culture and philosophy, which most Indian acts have forsaken and are trying to imitate western music and culture, hence failing to do justice to the same. Art is born out of lived realities, and it’s important for art to be relevant in the context of physical spaces so the listener is somehow able to relate to your music, and that relatability, in my view, is my so-called ‘USP’.
Q7. What advice do you have for up-and-coming electronic music producers who are looking to carve out their own unique sound and style?
Just be true to yourself and to your art, and the rest will follow. And while inspiration is crucial, one has to try not to copy and trust one’s original ideas that arise from time to time. It is great ideas that have shaped the world we live in today and continue to do so. Who you are as a person is what needs to shine in your art; only then will there be a sense of individuality that sets you apart from the cattle herd.
Q8. How do you stay inspired and motivated to create music in such a rapidly evolving industry?
Inspiration can come to you at any time. I get mine whenever I listen to something that deeply moves me, or simply when I’m in the shower. It’s important to listen to one’s mind and heart, as that is the brewery in which all art takes place! Whereas my motivation comes from the thirst to create something that the world will remember, one that I can call mine, to which people can keep going back and derive peace or some kind of meaning in their lives. I guess that’s the purpose of art—it’s pure survival!
Q9. How do you see the future of psytrance and electronic music as a whole evolving, and where do you see yourself fitting into that landscape?
I think that the future of psytrance and electronic music in particular is very bright, as we’re living in an insane time with some insane technologies like AI, which, if used in the right direction, can be really profound, and I’m always on the lookout for the magic that can be achieved with them. I have heard some really talented young artists play at festivals, and I hope to see many more in the coming years.