How this Dubai rapper was inspired by the city

Aayush T got his big break when his latest single 'Music Mera' is picked up by a noted music company

It's the multi-cultural nature of Dubai that inspired this former Millennium School pupil and Manipal University Dubai graduate to gravitate towards music. Soon after finishing his education, Aayush T got busy working in the media industry. A popular figure in the city's DJ circles, Aayush T also  used to host The Club with Aayush on Suno 1024 radio channel.  
However, the rapper's biggest break came when his latest single Music Mera was selected by India's premier label Zee Music Company. Up until now, the song has received 75,000+ views and nearly 500 positive comments on the channel. 
Talking about how Dubai influenced him to take to music, Aayush T said, "Being a DJ in Dubai exposes you to different genres of music. Also the emirate showcases some of the best talents from across the globe so we have a lot of exposure to international acts. The place is also technologically advanced and I used all this to my advantage."
"The tune is very catchy, but I guess, it's the overall visual impact of the song that attracts listeners. It would surely appeal to millennials," said the rapper, who collaborated with DJ Rahul Vaidya for the track.
Music Mera has an easy, desi hip-hop feel with hints of bhangra. The music video has been artistically shot in an abandoned, under-construction building in Dubai's Academic City. The graffiti on the walls in the backdrop blends well with the overall mood of the song. 
"I've always wanted to shoot a song in an abandoned building, and this setting was perfect for the track. The song essentially pays tribute to a woman. It praises a girl and encourages her to excel in life. It also talks about how you don't turn to intoxicants to heal anxiety and depression, music can be the medication for such ills."
A lot of hard work, dedication, patience, tears, sweat, and creativity has gone into making this beautiful track. Aayush said it took him and DJ Rahul Vaidya about two hours to create the basic structure for the song, but after that, a lot of effort went into finishing the track. "Rahul and I have been in the industry for a long time and have created many Bollywood remixes. We both share the same vision. When we sat down to curate the music for the song, we started with deciding on the tempo of the track, the appeal, overall texture, and what kind of warmth the music is supposed to have. One thing led to another and we created the basic structure in a couple of hours. But after that, it was a lot of dedication, patience, tears, sweat, and creativity that went into the making of this beautiful track."
Further talking about Rahul's expertise, he said, "Rahul is an amazing music producer. I haven't met anyone like him. He is the brains behind the music. I give my inputs every now and then, but his knowledge of music is extensive. Where our brain would stop, his brains would start. He has single-handedly taken care of the entire programming of the music. All these qualities make him an ideal or a natural partner to work with as a team. Also DJ Stella played a big role in the submission and coordination with Zee music."
The production value of this music video is of very high quality, and a lot of effort went into the making this track so appealing. A bunch of professionals were brought on board to help with the production of the video, explained Aayush. "Being in the entertainment industry for the last 10 years, I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of top professional, creative people who posses great skill sets. Hence, it was time to get to them on board for this project. Zubair and Yosvan, are the brains behind the video; Mukesh came into the picture in the post-production scene with some amazing Roto effects; the dancers - Janvi, the lead choreographer, is very experienced and has worked with rapper Honey Singh on one of his videos. My  friend, DJ Ashwin, came in to help getting things more organised on set. Ayesha, the makeup artist, is also superb with her work, she was more than happy to be a part of this project too. As a recordist, DJ Stella stepped in, helping with the delivery of the vocals behind the mic."
Aayush, interestingly, shares a fair resemblance to Indian rap superstar Badshah. "Yes, I have been receiving a lot of comments. People have said that I look like Badshah. Surely, the rapper's music has been an inspiration for me, but I've got my own style and groove," he said.
Explaining how he is different from other artists in the genre, the rapper said, "Lately the Hip-Hop culture, and the rap scene have evolved so much, that there are way too many kinds of rappers. What I figured is, there's a very thin line between commercial rap and underground rap, and I plan to stay within that thin line. It's basically where the lyrics maybe a tad underground, with commercial punch lines every now and then in the duration of the song, complemented with extremely commercial music. This fusion is something that's not really been done, and I plan to create a new set of audience for this kind of music. This is going to start a whole new different genre within the rap and hip hop culture, at the same time it gives me an edge with my work."
Being a popular DJ, Aayush had the opportunity to perform alongside popular artistes like Neha Kakkar, Badshah, Bilal Saeed, Navv Inder, Nuckleya, Dr. Zeus, Pav Dharia, Apache Indian, and many more. "I love working with local DJs and I'm always open to seeing and experiencing what new talent is out there. You always end up learning something new."
Talking about his career highlights, Aayush said. "The first time I stepped on stage, for my first ever club show, was a highlight. Performing in front of a crowd of 10,000 people in 2018 for a massive Holi event, has been a major highlight in my career. The recognition I have got throughout the years, and the love and support of the people has encouraged me to continue doing what I'm doing, and it means a lot to me. I recollect when I was working for a Bollywood radio station, I got the opportunity to interact with famous Bollywood celebrities like John Abraham, Noora Fatehi, and Shah Rukh Khan. I got a chance to interview them and that was big thing for me."
The music industry, like many other sectors, has been affected by the global pandemic but artistes have found ways to reach fans. "Artistes all over have been affected by the pandemic. To counter this, they have been hosting virtual shows and concerts from their homes. DJs have been playing live sets on social media platforms. However, the time out, has also given artistes space to hone their skills, master new skills, and prepare for the new world. We are hopeful that things will get back to normal and we'll get gigging again soon!"
michael@khaleejtimes.com