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1. How did you first get into performing music?  Initially, what was the music which you performed?

I grew up playing and learning indian classical Tabla, for about 20 years, I used to perform classical concerts and accompanying other classical  musicians .

2. When it started the 'Bandish Projekt' was  a collaboration between you and  Udyan Sagar.  Since then, Udyan's left BP and its become your own musical moniker.  What can you share about going solo?

Collaborations are always good for artists and  their creative growth, It was great working together ,but now m doing more stuff then I use to do earlier in the terms of sound which widens my vision to wat i think of the new bandish projekt sound is.
 
3. At what point did you start creating your own compositions?

Being a musician at heart and learning music at a young age makes u composer already in ur own thoughts,They get implemented when n where they are needed. Its always a challenge to come up with new compositions and sound scape.
 
4. What sources of inspiration do you turn to, if at all, when creating new music?

Initially when i use to think like, oh thats sounding good and i can really sound like him and add my touch to it will make wonders, but as u learn more and more u come to a point where u know wat ur sound is. So now when i create a new piece i make sure it sound'z like BANDISH PROJEKT  :)

5. Classically trained in percussion, at what point did you start incorporating software into musical arrangements?

I started using softwares in 1997, fruity loops and cool edit pro Demo versions then and now adobe audition, Its still one of my favorite software.  

6. How is your musical training reflected in the music you compose and produce?

I think it reflects a lot and makes a lot of difference in my compostions or the music i produced, coming from a rich musical culture in india i think that It changes ur vision and  perception of listening and making music , Its pity though that indian classical music is the only music which has such great history and m glad that i have gone through it in some or the other ways contributing my part to it, but the industry is dying and we need more people, schools  teaching music which will give u the basic idea of wat music is which widens your perception.

7. Over the past few years you've honed a grime/dubstep aesthetic that has your own signature sound - how would you describe it?

Since i started making electronic music , i was always inclined towards new groove patterns and twisted sound's which was coming from my percussive background playing different taals or bols, The genres are made by the labels and  to tag the product in such a way that a listener gets a distinct value and idea of wat he is buying, but as a musician i dont think like that.I dont wake up in the morning and then sit to produce and then think that " OK TODAY AM GONNA PRODUCE A DUB STEP OR A GILCH HOP TRACK".. Its just comes naturally in u  when u start the process of creating something new. All these genres are too old for me and my sound , still there are so many so called "GENRE" which people dont even know and they will be known in some or the other names in future.And people will accept it. I had created a track " EMPTY IN ME" in 2001 without realizing wat genre it was made in, If i would have made it in 2010 it would have got its mark in todays dub step sound.

8. Right now, what artists/albums are you listening to?

Currently i havent heard n e thing new ,but was there at the NOSIA album launch @fabric recently and really love there stuff,have heard some of it couple of years back.But still fresh.

9. You've been working with Arun Gosh, the Last Mango In Paris and Nathan 'Flutebox' Lee recently - what can you tell us about this collaboration and can we expect a formal release?
 
It was great working with Arun, Nathan and last mango in paris . As coming from 3 different backgrounds ,these artist are brilliant and well established in their own fields ,it was quite challenging for me to create about almost 6 to 7 tracks in 5 days of rehearsals from scratch. But it was great collaboration put together and yes we are working on releasing some material  from the tracks we had created for the festival .

When we last caught up with you in May of 2008 for an interview, you had almost spent 1 year on the airwaves at the BBC Asian Network - since then, the show has developed a loyal international following and commissioned a wealth of bespoke 'World Odyssey' mixes from the globe's premier DJs and producers.

Pathaan's Musical Rickshaw is scheduled to go off-air permanently in about a month so we thought  we'd re-cap the past 4 or so years that your show has been around.

1. What has set Pathaan's Musical Rickshaw apart from other radio shows and podcasts out there?

It’s unique nature of global beats, eclectic grooves and asian chill like no where else on the airwaves  

2. The 20 minute DJ-mix is an incredible feat to accomplish - any producer or DJ submitting a World Odyssey Mix to your show has been faced with a tricky task of exemplifying their musical style/taste in a very short period of time.  Where did the concept come from and how have artists reacted to the commission?

The concept which is a great idea came to me, when the show moved from 2hrs to 3hrs after the 1st year. Artists on  the whole have really enjoyed the task, whilst finding it some what tricky to air their sound/styles/influences in a 2omin mix. The acts have ranged from William Orbit to Gaudi, Bombay Dub Orchestra to Thievery Corporation, Gui Baratto to Ulrich Schnuass [this weekend] + many more – a great idea, indeed        

3. Any memorable anecdotes from the experience of working on your show which you'd like to share?

There are so many to mention but TOP 3 are :

   1. Interviewing Ravi Shankar
   2. Hooking up with Thievery Corporation @ The Big Chill Festival for a live recording
   3. Driving to Birmingham from London for a whole year doing the show live from midnight

4. How do you think you've developed as a live-DJ through the experience of hosting a weekly radio show?

Massively !! Considering I used to be quite reserved to speak on the mic; now I can’t get enough.

5. Now that you've been a radio presenter for 4 years, is it something you think you'll pursue?

For sure !!

6.How has being broadcast on the BBC Asian Network affected the programming of your show?

Well, obviously I’ve had to have an Asian slant, but overall the BBC Asian Network have been very flexible with regards to the music I’ve played.

7. The BBC Asian Network's listener-ship is down, (as reported by AiM) and I think this has resulted in the station's management to recently focus on protecting their core audience - the desi mainstream and 'South Asian family' stereotypes.  What do you think of this?

I would say that a fair assessment. A shame but true !

8.Bobby Friction is set to host a new Asian Charts show on the BBC Asian Network; who do you think the show's audience will be comprised of and why would the network itself attempt to establish a chart for a non-genre such as 'Asian Music?'

No doubt it’ll be for the kids.  I’m sure  a few years of research has gone into setting this up with the appropriate body to justify having the ‘Asian chart show’

9. Over the past few years, traditional broadcasters have had to cater to, and develop, audiences online - we've seen this with the BBC's iPlayer.  What do you think, musically-speaking, is the future of radio broadcasting?

Well obviously the WorldWideWeb will play a major role and no doubt more tastes will be catered for.......

1. Imran Khan — Amplifier / Prestige Records
2. Swami — Sugarless / Cigale Ent
3. Jay Dabhi & Moises Modesto — Cry For Freedom / Soltrenz
4. Engine Earz & DJ Luxy — Kaliyuga / Positive Thought
5. Phaeleh — Healing (Feat. Indi Kaur) / Urban Scrumping
6. Riz MC, Sway & Plan B — Shifty / True Tiger
7. Sahil Charaniya — Maladaptivity (Feat.Tejas Rathod) / White
8. Code Red — Jind Mahi (Feat. Sarbjit Saab) / Suga Kane Records
9. Major Lazer — Hold The Line (Audio Dakoos Remix)/ White
10. Lil Wayne vs Asa Singh Mastana — A Millionaire vs Kali Teri Cuth (DJ Chintu Mash-Up) / White
11. Tru Skool — Jag Dhe Rehnah (Feat. Gurdas Maan) / Saregama/VIP
12. Bombay Dub Orchestra — Journey (Liquid Stranger’s Slip Trip Edit) / Six Degrees
13. Cornershop — Who Fingered Rock n’ Roll / Ample Play
14. Panjabi MC — Panjaban / PMC Records
15. Jk — Chooteh Laareh / Vip Records
16. B’Bay De Munday — Bottles Of Jatt / White
17. Lomaticc — Slip & Fall (Feat. Sunnybrown) / 747 Records
18. Tanja La Croix — Habibi / Wikkid Records
19. Shizzio — I Swear (Feat. Tigerstyle) / Jo Daki Ent
20. Bandish Projekt — Sargam Breaks / Bheja Fry
21. Rishi Rich — It Can Only Be Love (Feat. Mumzy) / Moviebox
22. MIDIval PunditZ — Naina Laagey (Munty Remix) / White
23. Basement Jaxx — Scars (Engine Earz Remix) / XL
24. Balkar Sidhu — Charkha (Amarik Singh Remix) / White
25. Sukh Knight — Knightlife / Nasha Records
26. Jaz Dhami — Theke Wali / Sanchez Productions
27. Roach Killa — Pardesan (Feat. Joga) / Moviebox
28. Celt Islam & Masala — Revolution Inside Me / Urban Sedated Records
29. Panjabi by Nature — Aashiq (Feat. Ms Pooja) / Limitless
30. Terry Mardi Presents Desi Niche — If I Was Your Girl (Feat. Jin) / Terry Mardi

1. Laya Project Glorious Sun Remix [Earthsync Recordings]
2. Karsh Kale ft. Vishal Vaid Sunbeam [High Chai Recordings]
3. Munty Chasing Cobras [Munty Recordings]
4. Minimow Bollyhouse (SIS Remix) [Exploited Records]
5. Celt Islam Uprising [Urban Sedated Records]
6. Jalebee Cartel Midnite Madness [Dada Music]
7. The Nasha Experience Clotted Cream [Nasha Records]
8. Liquid Stranger Hexed And Perplexed [Interchill Records]
9. PrOmid Becloud [Liquid Grooves]
10. Cornershop Free Love '69 Ample [Play Records]
11. Omfo Arabesque [Essay Recordings]
12. Khaled Liberte [Wrasse Records]
13. The Very Best ft. Ezra Koenig Warm Heart Of Africa [Moshi Moshi Records]
14. Shantel Citizen of Planet Paprika [Essay Recordings]
15. Amadou & Mariam Ce N'est Pas Bon [Because Music]
16. MIDIval PunditZ Drifting [Six Degrees Records]
17. Dubterror Shinobi [Universal Egg]
18. Quantic And His Combo Barbaro Albela [Tru Thoughts]
19. Niraj Chag A Thousand Books [Buzz-erk Records]
20. Talvin Singh Butterfly (Murcof Remix) [Island Records]
21. Ancient Astronauts Lost In Marrakesh (With Entropik) [ESL Music]
22. Karekare Kohatu [Dubmission Records]
23. Bandish Projekt Waiting [Bheja Fry Records]
24. Phaeleh ft. Indi Kaur Healing [Urban Scrumping]
25. Bombay Dub Orchestra Strange Constellations [Six Degree Records]

2007 was an interesting and exciting year for the Indian Electronica Festival - it was our second year throwing the gig and despite this, was ambitious enough to host installments in 4 cities on 3 continents! more »

Not content with tearing up Midlands dance-floors and messing with Glastonbury-goers' heads, DJ Sonny Ji is on a one-man mission to bring his blissed-out Chicago house, spliced with sizzling Bhangra breaks, to the masses. Just don't expect his mum and dad to be body-popping to the beats.

Former resident-DJ at the award-winning club night Shaanti, Sonny Ji is used to leaving clubbers open-mouthed at his distinctive reinvention of the Asian fusion sound. But the 25-year-old admits that even he was left dumbstruck upon landing the biggest gig of his life in early 2005. more »

In this interview, Qasim Virjee speaks with Vikas Kohli - the man responsible for mastering our debut 2 disc compilation release, 'Indian Electronica /volume 001.' Vikas is the owner-operator of Fatlabs; a production/sound studio just outside of Toronto, Canada.

You own a production and mastering studio but you're a musician as well - can you tell us about your music and how it relates to your studio work? more »

On September 20th we held the first ever Indian Electronica Festival in New York and I'm so happy to say that it was a smashing success!

This was our third installment of the 2007 Festival series and I worked with our Advisory Committee to program the event uniquely compared to the previous summer sessions in Toronto and London – NYC was all about the Djs... well, we also had a couple of live acts but the plan entailed creating a comfortable social atmosphere where people could chill out, shake their rumps, chat or whatever else they felt like... more »

The Indian Electronica Festival was launched in 2006 (aka 'IE06') with two dates; one in Toronto during July and another in London, UK, for the August Bank Holiday weekend. Both were great successes at bringing together on stage a diverse selection of musicians - all of South Asian heritage from disapora communities around the world. Musically, we showcased all types of electronic music fused live with South Asian traditional instrumentation, vocals etc... through performances by live musicians and DJs programmed at both festival installments. more »

On March 2nd, 2007, Janaka Selekta of the recently defunct Dhamaal Soundsystem will host another installment of the hugely successful 'Worldly' party at San Francisco's super-club, 1015 Folsom.

The event will feature a first-ever performance of Asian Dub Foundation co-founder Dr Das alongside Karsh Kale and Ramjac. In addition, expect a top-notch roster of artists including Cheb i Sabbah with Mitch Hyare, DJ Amar, Dragonfly and many more... more »