DJ BPM (Beats Per Minute), a name given by his mentor, DJ Ankytrixx, performs mostly electronic music, though he isn’t averse to playing other genres if they match the mood of the crowd. He has performed in more gigs than he can count, yet is still roaring to go.[break]
“The night is still young!” he says.
How did you get into deejaying so young?
I’ve always been a music lover. My mother tells me that when I was a baby I would only stop crying when I heard music playing near me. So music is a very important part of my life. My introduction to the world of deejaying started with DJ Ankytrixx, DJ Payal, and DJ Kranti playing awesome music at the Peace Project Festival in 2006. The music was great and the crowd seemed to love it, feeling the beat and the energy perfectly. That’s when I thought to myself that it would be great to be able to do something like this. So, in 2007, I trained in the basics of deejaying for three months with DJ Ankytrixx and DJ Jay Naidu and started commercially playing from 2008. I hardly ever have any Fridays off.
What does a DJ have to prepare for?
A DJ better be prepared to invest a big amount of time and money. You need good headphones, a good player, and these things cost a lot of money. Also, with the products updating every year, it’s difficult to shell out money to buy the best. And to be a good DJ, you need to really know and understand music. You can’t just play what’s popular at the moment. You need to explore and find out all the amazing music there is in the world and bring them to the audience.
What are you currently involved in?
Electronic music is creating waves in the world right now. Everyone, from artists like Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears to newer artists like Rihanna and Nicki Minaj are leaning towards electronic music. My goal is to heighten the Electronic Dance Music culture in Nepal. I mostly play electronic music, and my show on Image FM called Tranceporter also promotes electronic music.
Anyone here that you consider competition in the present scenario?
No. I’m not here to compete with anyone. The day I start to do that, my music will lose the reflection it has of me. I believe that once you get competitive, you lose track of the music that inspires you and the kind of music that actually works.
Do you see a good future for DJs in Nepal?
Frankly, it depends on the state of our government. Parties end at midnight and the police cite security reasons. So how can the party culture flourish in such a situation? If there are security concerns, maybe they should double the security instead of simply shutting down.
Our country already has poor economic growth and if some people are generating income through parties, then the government should not put any barriers. At present, I have no one else to support but myself. Hence I’m comfortable with the pay I receive. But for those who have to support their families, it’s tough.
Pick your five best DJs/ Producers
1. Armin Van Buuren
2. Andrew Bear
3. Above and Beyond
4. Deadman
5. Umek
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