HYDERABAD: It is a live gig and DJ Rishabh Jain is ensconced in a party with his sound system, disco lights and headphones. When he performed at Over the Hump in SodaBottleOpenerWala on Wednesday, the energy there was electrifying. As he spins a saucy number, the crowd gets revved up. The deejay is seen dancing, jumping and mixing every track while cheering the revellers. In a profession where longevity is rare, this Hyderabadi has kept the party crowd dancing for the last 12 years
It was a sweet homecoming for Rishabh. As he recalls the early days in Hyderabad, he says, “I studied in HPS and finished my degree from St. Mary’s College. While I finished my graduation, I was deejaying as well.” Over the years, he played at almost all the clubs in the city including Bottle’s and Chimney, Excess and Poison. After a small stint in Goa, Rishabh packed his bags and went to Mumbai and there’s been no looking back ever since. Bollywood remixes are his forte and he has gotten into music production too. For four years now, he has been collaborating with DJ Aqeel and the duo has come out with an album titled Monsta Mashups for Zee Music.
For Rishabh, Bollywood reigns supreme. “It is so popular that the revellers enjoy the numbers when I mix and play. The tracks are totally made by me and I prefer playing that kind of music. I have created a Bollywood Playlist and you can call it my USP,” he points out. Having worked the party crowd for so long, Rishabh feels Bollywood music lifts spirits. “There is a lot of energy in it and the music itself gives a rush. Revellers respond only when the DJ is energetic; he cannot just keep a juke box and play the music. The adrenaline rush is infectious and people love the dance floor so much that they refuse to come out,” laughs Rishabh. He should know.
He adds, “A party is generally for three hours and sometimes gets extended to another hour. The gig begins with optimum energy and reaches its zenith. By then, the drinks are overflowing and people do not want to go home. The energy is unstoppable and that is when the DJ hides and runs,” laughs Rishabh. He recalls one such New Year’s Eve party in Hyderabad with a massive crowd. “People come out in large numbers for New Year parties and this particular party was not stopping after the stipulated time. I had to bend down and run because the crowd wanted more. These events are also satisfying because a DJ has been able to entertain the crowd for so long.”
Rishabh reveals that he has been working with Sony since he remixed the Kolaveri Di track. Speaking of the changing DJ scene, he says deejaying is a tough mix of business and art. “It is a competitive market and nowadays one sees non-deejays doing gigs at local clubs. They call their friends too and the space fills up. Nowadays Djs are expected to bring in their own crowd. One sees a peculiar situation where organisers are approaching on that basis. They say: ‘Can you play for us and how much crowd will you bring?’ This is very unfair because a DJ/ artiste is here to play good music. Another thing is, if DJs do not make their own music, they don’t get recognition. If you are playing other's music, one is easily caught because of internet. One needs to sound different; one can’t download music and play like we could earlier.”
Rishabh however doesn’t have to bring in his own crowd when he plays. “I am not asked to bring in the crowd because I make my own music and have followers. I have been in the industry for long enough for people to enjoy their night when I play.”
