No better place to experiment with music: DJ Nikhil Chinapa

Bengaluru boy DJ Nikhil Chinapa gets candid about his recent works, choice of career and the city of his birth

“The sound spectrum is changing a little bit in the specific space called melodic techno — I’ve been experimenting with that and have added a few Indian grunge elements into the sound to keep it more exciting and fresh,” says DJ Nikhil Chinapa, who was recently in the city, introducing residents to his latest work — music he has been working on for the past month or so. “There’s no better place than Bengaluru to experiment because these guys know their music.”

The audience understands the difference between music and mediocre music, Nikhil says. “Bengaluru has always been far less prejudiced compared to audiences across India. They listen with an open mind, whilst deciding what they like or don’t like about an artiste. In most places, people come with a pre-set idea and if the artiste doesn’t play accordingly, they are rubbished. Bengaluru has a broad spectrum audience, so it’s always good to play there. At the same time, it’s challenging because you know the audience knows their stuff.”

The DJ who was performing at Raahi, in the city, says, “You get to know right away if your music appeals to the audience on the dance floor. As DJs we are constantly listening to new music and deciding what works for us, for our sound and how we want to structure ourselves,” adding how ‘extraordinarily challenging, but also rewarding,’ his chosen career is.

Among the first professional DJs in India, Nikhil says the job requires hard work and dedication. “Like with any profession — whether it’s being a world-class, doctor and scientist, carpenter or Formula One race car driver — there is no such thing as overnight success. It takes a deep understanding of the skills required as well as of the equipment you’d be using.”

“If you are the kind of person who can’t understand life without music, if music is the only thing in the world that makes sense to you in a way maths, physics and geography do, then those are the people who should become DJs,” he laughs.

Nikhil admits that DJing is a very rewarding way to spend one’s free time, playing for friends and family, but to be a successful professional, one has to be in the top 2 or 3%. “If not, you can still have a decent career but you won’t be at the pinnacle of your craft or community.”

On a lighter note, Nikhil says when he first started, quite a few club owners thought he didn’t know how to DJ. “They thought I was there as a celebrity — the MTV guy who was going to stand behind the console and wave his arms about. Back then we were playing on vinyl records, which was a completely different art form, and in my opinion, slightly tougher to play than the current digital format. I would pull out my records, put them on the turntable and play music, mixing one record after the other — that took them by surprise!” he laughs.