Tuesday

Music

Up-Close & Personal – DJ Desiplaya

Vimal Patel, aka DJ Desiplaya, aka The International Idol (aka can we stop with the names, ha), is the founder of Xplicit Desi Vibes – hold your breath – the #1 South Asian remix and production group in the United States. When they release a new mixtape, it becomes my latest playlist for the gym! Sorry, but I can’t help to turn up the volume to XDV while hanging out at my friends’ dorm at the University of Rochester!

“We all have a strong passion for music! Everyone in XDV has a passion for music and love what they do,” asserted DJ Desiplaya. Hailing from Oregon, this young and energetic producer has got the skills, determination, and talent needed to make it in this scene!

Having started DJing and mixing at the age of 16, he knew that music was something that he would spend ample time dedicated towards. Till date, his favorite XDV memory has been, “the chance to work with such astounding talent in the Desi scene.” I could sit here and list all the artists Vimal has worked with, but then what would you read in the article!

After many compliments and positive feedback from his latest mix, “My Kinda Girl” by Raghav and featuring Lil’ Wayne, I sat down with this producer on the rise to talk about his past, present, and future and how he can balance it all in between school, work, and of course…the ladies!

Vimal, for those who aren’t familiar with who you are and what you do, give us a quick one-liner!
I love music, I’m a producer, and I run the underground Desi scene!

Confidence! I like that! I think the one thing people always want to know is how did you get involved with the music?
I got into music with my best friend back home who had a studio in his basement. His dad was a country singer, so that’s why the studio. My friend and I would go down and just play around with different beats and instruments. Then I got into remixing Hindi music; from there my music and my label took off.

Your label! Hmmm, we’re going to have to get back to that one! So tell me, what was your first experience in the music industry and what it was like?
My first experience was horrible in the music industry. I would have to say my first remix album was terrible and got horrible reviews, but the negative comments made me work harder in making the tracks better.

So I did a little research and found out you live in Oregon! What’s the South Asian population like out there? Are there a lot of “us” out there?!
We happened to have a very small population of Indian people in Oregon compared to the East coast. Recently I just found out that the world famous Dj Anjalie lives here. I am hoping she reads this article and I get to meet her!

Word on the streets is that you’ve worked with artists who are signed to Interscope Records to Times Music to Universal Records! What has that experience been like?
The experience of working with artists signed to such great labels has been an honor. I would have never thought I would get to work with such huge music labels. It just shows if you work hard and never give up, anything is possible.

If you could collaborate with any artist, whether they are mainstream American or mainstream South Asian, who would it be and why?
The artist or producer I would pick is Wyclef Jean. Wyclef has been known to put beats from across the world into his tracks. His recent track Bollywood to Hollywood really showed the creativity. I would love to spend a day with him in a studio.

Now onto this talk about your label! You’re also the founder of Xplicit Desi Vibes. Tell us a little bit about XDV and how it came about.
Xplicit Desi Vibes is an group which both myself and Prerak Patel, DjP, founded. Our main goal is to promote and bring forth the best South Asian music that today’s generation has to offer. Since it’s creation, XDV added a total of three DJs to our crew: Andrew Ramsaran of Delaware (DJ Mashup), Rahul Kedia of New Orleans (DJ India), and we even stepped onto an international level, bring aboard Abhishek Kinger of India (DJ @bhi)!

As you know this is an interview for Bravura Artist, and you have a very close relationship with them. Do you mind sharing how you got involved with Bravura Artist?
Well four years ago, I got a message on MySpace from Lil’ T, as we like to call her now, but you know her as your Editor! She was working with a Desi Hip-Hop artist and we started talking. She complimented our mixes and said we should work together. One thing let to another and here we are now. She represents us, and helps us in working with the artists we know today. It’s a beneficial relationship on both ends – Bravura Artist has always supported us and we’re like family. All the guys think of Lil’ T as a big sis, and trust me, she knows when to switch roles from publicist to sister!

Well, that’s always a good think! Alright Vimal, there has got to be some magic that you work because if I were you, there’s no way I could balance family, school, music, and a relationship all at once. How do you make time for a typical young adult lifestyle such as having a girlfriend and your friends?
There’s really no magic involved balancing school, family, music and friends. From the time I get up to the time I go to sleep I’m working non stop. Also I somehow manage to fit in two hours a day for the gym. School always comes first.

Speaking of which, is there a lucky lady in your life? And don’t say your “mom!”
No Comment! Ha! Sorry Monica! Nice try though…!

You know I had to ask you that one! I think the most important thing we need to discuss, of course, are your accomplishments. Tell the readers more about your work and what you have done so far.
Well you already know, I’m the founder and CEO of the #1 South Asian remix and production label in the United States. And I can easily say that because all our mixtapes get a minimum of 25K downloads within the first three weeks, and the max has been 50K. Our music has been played on international radio stations, not just the US. We’ve had the chance to work along side with some of the most talented South Asian artist such as Ajaxxx, Baba Kahn, Don Revo, Drilla Kid, G-Deep, IshQ Bector, Kaly, Kami K, Menis, Nivla, P. Oberoi, Ranjini, Raja Wilco, and Young Pharaoh, to name a few.

We received much recognition that our publicist, Tirusha, was featured on The Jump Off, (BBC Asian Radio Show), hosted by Mentor Kolektiv. Talk about making some moves! When our mixtape “i-Desi,” was released, the hype was also written about in the print magazine, Desi NJ, a highly circulated South Asian magazine in New Jersey.

You are one of the youngest South Asian music producers in the U.S. How does that make you feel?
It makes me feel great. I’m living out a dream. Never would I have ever thought that I would get to produce music with such huge names in the South Asian industry.

What advice do you have for those who want to make a career in music production?
Make sure you go to college and get that piece of paper first! Someone told me that no matter what you do and how big you become, remember to get that degree because you can’t be in the music industry forever. Make music your hobby and passion, and practice and learn the way music is composed. I’m really sick and tired of DJs now days even calling themselves producers when they don’t even know what BPM means. You can’t just mashup two tracks because the beats match and call it a remix. A remix is where you add a totally different feel to the original song, or you improve the original track.

Any last words for your fans and the readers of Bravura Artist Magazine?
It’s been a pleasure Monica! Make sure to keep reading Bravura Artist Magazine and keep it locked on www.xplicitdesivibes.com! Also make sure to download Urban Desi Vol. 2 in February of 2009! Peace!