What's your take on the current lot of remixes?

It's quite good at the moment. Some quality stuff is coming out. But having said that, the trend seems to be peaking. The market is fast getting saturated. That's why I am doing a lot of experimentation and trying to do original tracks. I am working on an album that has three original tracks.

Purists say, Remixes = Old Hindi Classics + New English tunes. Little creativity. What do you say?

Definitely. There is indeed a lot of plagiarising going on. But then there are also DJs who are coming out with great stuff. They don't tamper with everything and murder the tracks totally. Surprisingly many from the younger generation don't even know some of the old tracks that have been remixed.

They think they are brand new tracks. So it's like reviving golden oldies. However, as long as the credit goes to the composer and they get something out of it, there is nothing wrong with working on old tracks.

There are remixes that have been ripped from Spice Girls, Shaggy, even Arabic tracks and tunes. When are we going to get 100 per cent original music?

That's true. There are some who are doing it. Blatant ripping off of lines is not my scene. I'm not into it. Though I believe taking samples is fine. It gives some colour to the track.

But I am not for straight copying of other artistes' work. It's about time we started producing more original stuff. 

How long before you think the remix trend becomes passe?

I don't know why people make a big deal of it. Remixes have always been there in the West. They have been doing it for donkey's years. But when we started doing the same here, some people are complaining that we are murdering old tracks.

But the trend is here to stay. I don't see it getting outdated anytime in the near future.  It won't die, it will diversify. After Bollywood, people will remix songs from other languages. They will remix Tamil tracks or may be Rajasthani folk music. So, you see, the scope is really vast and that will keep the trend alive for a long time.

What is the story behind your unusual name DJ Nasha?

The rationale is quite simple really. Nasha is Hindi for high. And I give a high to my listeners through my music, hence the name. It's simple as that.

Tell us something about your famous Flute Fantasy.

I love it. When I was given the chance to do my first album, I knew I had to do something different. I didn't want to do the run-of-the-mill Bollywood stuff. That's where Flute Fantasy came into the picture. I love classical and folk songs and I wanted to bring these sounds to the dance floor.

My style was house, so I incorporated that into this track and it worked wonders. It became so big that I will struggle to do something like Flute Fantasy again. It's not possible for me to make another track like that. The track really set high standards for me.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

I just finished my second album. We haven't decided on the title as yet. There are a lot of interesting artists on it. There are three original tracks on it: one is a Rajasthani folk song, another one is with Pundit Dinesh from London which is an African beat track, and a film remix.

I'm doing a bit of hip-hop where a friend of mine from London has done rapping on it. The album is featuring Richa Sharma doing Rajasthani folk, Ustad Zakir Husain's brother, Taufeek Quraishi who's done percussions on a theme track, then there is Niladri Kumar, one of the finest sitar players in India. It is a great package and people are going to love it.

Will you consider working with Bollywood?

I have already done it. I have collaborated with DJ Whosane to do a dance sequence in the movie 'Mujhsay Shaadi Karogi'. It's a funky and hip-hop kind of a mix. It goes with the theme, doing it was a good laugh.

Who are your current favourite artists from India and abroad?

In India it's Ustad Zakir Husain, U Srinivas, then a few Bollywood singers such as Sunidhi Chauhan and Richa Sharma. From abroad...let me think...my all time favourite is Bob Marley. I like the Doors as well. Too many to name really.

How would you define DJ Nasha music?

I have gone though many different types of music. But right now it would have to be ethnic break beat and ethnic house. I have done, trance, house, progressive, tribal, the works...but my music right now has Indian sounds. 

Have you had a guide or a godfather in the music industry?

Not really. Everyone in my family is into music. So it wasn't difficult at all for me to pick up DJing.

Have you ever performed in Dubai?

Several times.

So what do you think of the Dubai music scene?

It's a lot on the commercial side. Every club I have been to plays more of a mainstream music. I mean, most clubs play music that people really know. But over all it's fun, DJs here are doing a good job.

Who did you look up to when you were coming up?

I definitely wanted to be like Q-Bert.

And can you name some of your biggest influences?  

I have been hugely influenced by Ustad Zakir Husain. I look up to Nitin Soni, and a lot of DJs as well.

The place where you enjoyed performing the most.