Setting a trend through their music, Answer Music, a collaboration between Arjun Nair and Nishanth Naidu has come a long way into the electronic music scene with their fresh music and being able to set a benchmark as music producers in the industry. Team Oslava had a word with the duo artists on their music production journey and achievements. Nishanth (one of the duo) spoke about his childhood when he used to think of becoming a software engineer, as he was obsessed with computers back then. He has crossed paths with various incredible souls which has helped him develop interests in martial arts, holistic wellness, meditation, yoga and his love for wildlife. He believes that looking inward and exploring his authentic self have tremendously helped him discover his strengths and find a sense of purpose in life.
When we moved to Arjun (Nishanth’s partner in ANSWER), we learnt that his life was epitomized the classic Indian dilemma where he had of choosing between becoming an engineer or a doctor! Arjun recalls that during his school years, he was steered towards engineering and attempted every engineering exam that he could. It was during the AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam) that he realised that he craved creativity. After that, he pursued visual communication and became fascinated with design and visual arts. During this time, he experienced a nightclub for the first time and was blown away by the DJ’s ability to captivate the crowd. This was the moment when he decided to pursue DJing. Beyond his creative pursuits, Arjun is passionate about sports and fitness. Badminton is a part of his routine, and he likes to keep himself engaged in creative consulting for food and beverage spaces, music festivals, and nightclubs, where he blends his love for design, marketing, and music with his professional work.
Q1. When and how did you discover your passion for music production? What made you take it as a profession?
(Nishanth) We discovered our love for music at a young age, long before the internet era. Back then, audio cassettes were our primary source of entertainment. We would save every penny to buy new cassettes and play them until the tapes wore out.
(Arjun) In my early childhood, while living in Kuwait, I had access to an incredible English radio station that also aired many BBC shows. I remember recording new songs from the radio onto cassettes, gradually building a collection. From there, our musical journey evolved from cassettes to CDs and eventually to where we are now.
Our passion for music has transformed into our profession. It’s our flow state. The satisfaction of a great night of playing music and seeing happy faces on the dance floor is an indescribable feeling.
Q2. How was your family’s reaction when they learned about your music production? If you can share any anecdotes about when they got to know you about your music?
We were fortunate to have our families’ support as we pursued this path. Initially, they were uncertain and unsure of what we were doing. It wasn’t until they began seeing us featured in newspaper articles and hearing positive feedback from our peers that their perspective started to shift. When they witnessed us becoming financially independent and giving back, their attitude truly transformed. As we began traveling to different cities nearly every week for shows, and they watched videos of our performances online, they fully embraced and believed in our vision.
Q3. Who guided you on your musical journey? Was there a platform or track that turned out to be a big break for you? How did things change for you after that?
Experience has been our greatest teacher. We were fortunate to start our career by traveling to various cities for shows, which allowed us to meet new people, promoters, and club owners, and gain firsthand insights into how the industry operates. We also made it a point to study successful artists through YouTube videos to learn from their journeys.
A significant highlight early in our career was our IP, “Operation Dance.” Over a span of 1.5 years, we ran 20 consecutive and unique episodes that truly defined what ANSWER was all about. Each event drew around 1,000 people, helping us build a strong fan base. This growing popularity created ripples that extended to other cities, ultimately fueling our growth in the industry.
Q4. In terms of music production and DJ-ing, where do you draw your inspiration from?
Our inspiration is drawn from our travels, the festivals we’ve attended around the world, the people we meet, the internet, and everything we encounter. We have been influenced and inspired by the global electronic music culture for a considerable amount of time. We deeply admire artists such as the Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Carl Cox, John Digweed, Sasha, and Laurent Garnier, whose work has significantly shaped our own perspectives and creativity.
Q5. Talk to us about your track, “Enigma.”. How did you discover it, and what was the process behind it? Also, how is the feeling of the kind of success it has brought you?
“Enigma” began as a riff we had written and let sit on our computer for months. Eventually, we sent it to a third party, who recognized its potential and decided to sign it to their label. The track gained support from DJs around the world, earned spots on prominent Spotify playlists, and even made it to the Beatport Top 100 charts.
Q6. You have completed a decade in the industry; how do you still keep yourself motivated throughout, especially at a time when we are seeing more new artists emerge?
Our passion for music and the ability to tell stories through the tracks we play are the core reasons we entered this industry. It was never about the lifestyle, glamour, or hype. That passion remains as strong today as it was when we began this journey. Despite the inevitable ups and downs, the energy we share with our audience on the dance floor constantly reaffirms our purpose. The unwavering love and support from our friends and family are truly unparalleled and is what keeps us motivated. We also make it a priority to stay updated with the latest technology, gear, and sounds, continually reinventing ourselves. This commitment ensures that we consistently bring our A-game.
Q7. Whose work do you admire the most in the electronic music industry? Or someone you look up to in terms of their music.
We draw significant inspiration from influential figures like Laurent Garnier, Joseph Capriati, Sven Vath and Carl Cox, who exemplify what it means to be a versatile DJ. The new generation of house and techno producers, such as Avision and Tal Fussman, inspires us with their dedication to the music and their consistency. Additionally, our friends Ankytrixx, Sequ3l, Shaun Moses, Bullzeye, and Anyasa, who are all excelling in their craft, also serve as major sources of inspiration. They are making waves and putting India on the global music map.
Q8. Tell us about a show that has had a massive impact on your career.
One show that profoundly impacted our career was opening for the legendary Carl Cox. The experience of handing over the console to him and sharing that moment on stage was truly unparalleled. We received rave reviews for our set that night and gained new fans from several cities.
Q9. Can we get to know about your next project? Is there any collaboration that we can expect or anything else that is lined up?
We have a collection of unreleased music that we’re currently testing and fine-tuning, so you can definitely look forward to new tracks from us soon. We’re also developing several new IPs that will showcase our vision both sonically and visually. Additionally, we’re excited to be curating the lineup for a festival later this year, which we’re really looking forward to.
Q10. What would be a piece of advice that you would want to give to aspiring DJs and music producers?
Firstly, it’s important to have a healthy amount of passion & obsession with music, and secondly, a deeper understanding of the roots and history of the genre you choose to pursue. Study artists who are on top of their game in their respective genres and see how you can do it differently. Do what really stirs your soul and the rest will follow 😉