You cannot miss the track, Infinity 2008 if you are a regular party-goer. The track was blocking the top position of the European Billboard single charts and the tune even got honoured as Best House/Garage Track at the International Dance Music Awards 2009 in Miami. Darren Bailie the man behind one of the biggest dance hits of the past year is currently in India to be a part of the Wodka Gorbatschow Slip Disc festival to be held in the cities Pune, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Mumbai.
In an interview with Radioandmusic.com’s Shikha Shah, the UK artiste gives a lowdown on his India tour, shares his love for music and the reason why he prefers to perform live.
What kind of music do you play?
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All genres of house music from electro to progressive, anything high on energy and banging.
Tell us something more about your association with Wodka Gorbatschow and the Slip Disc Festival?
Slip Disc is a festival dedicated to bring live music in the genre of electronic, pop, house and trance. To kick off the project Gorbatschow Pure Slip Disc has collaborated with multi-faceted Bailie, who has played alongside Tiesto, Tommy Lee, Howard Donald, Felix Da House Cat, Lexy’s K-Paul, Arman Van Helden and other artistes. The organizers of the festival approached me to do a tour. I was so happy to be sponsored by Wodka Gorbatschow that I re-arranged a previous booking to make the tour happen. Now I am anxiously looking forward to gigging in India.
I will be performing live at clubs in Pune, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Mumbai on 11, 12, 13 and 14 August respectively.
Will you be accompanied by other musicians or singers for the performance?
On many occasions I am accompanied by a singer to support me. But this time, it would be my solo act. I might have a singer along the next time I perform in India.
What kind of response are you expecting from the Indian audience?
I am expecting a super response from the Indian audience. I hope they appreciate my music and go crazy. The louder they scream, the harder I’ll play.
Tell us more about your previous albums? How did they fare worldwide?
Infinity has been my best selling crossover dance track in the whole world for more then a decade, it topped virtually every commercial chart in every country at No.1.
With declining physical sales, how are you promoting your albums?
There are plentiful ways of promoting music today. The reach of the web is become wider with coming up of new applications and websites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the list just goes on and on. I think the most important way is to gig. It makes you visible. The more times I lay in a country the more people will know me and love me, leading to more sells.
Digital music has caught the fancy of Indian musicians, what’s the scenario abroad?
Digital music is gaining popularity in abroad too. It totally exploded in 2007 and it’s been so huge ever since.
During your tour to India, are you planning to interact with any Indian artistes?
If given a chance I would love to mingle with the artistes here. It would be great to hook up with a traditional artist and do an electro bhangra mass-up. The blend of music from two different cultures would be worth listening to.
What’s your take on Bollywood music?
I can’t really comment on Bollywood music yet as this is my first trip to India. I have never been exposed to Indian music in the UK. I might be able to articulate on this after the tour for sure.
Would you like to work on any Bollywood project?
Yes, for sure, if given an opportunity.
Tell us more about your future projects?
The major projects that I am currently working on are Darren Bailie which is more of an underground sound and Guru Project which is for everyone, both commercial and underground. I have rebranded from “Guru Josh Project” to “Guru Project” same sound as Infinity. I am also launching some Electro Vs UK Grime style tracks, one with the UK’s number one rapper “Sway” called “Amnesia” and a whole album with a new young guy I’ve discovered, “Tiny Skitz…. He is a multi-talented chap. So I would ask the listeners not to miss it.
Who’s been your inspiration over the years?
My father I suppose, he’s the main reason behind my love for music. We share common interests and we both play drums. He is actually a DJ by profession but he mostly plays at weddings and birthday parties.
Share with us any memorable experience you have had in any of your music tours?
I have had many wonderful experiences during various musical tours I have done. In Berlin I was playing to a live crowd of one million people and it was a one-of-a-kind feeling. I have been a part of many TV shows and gigs in every corner of the world. Picking up one experience is an extremely complicated task. I love my job and every gig is memorable. I do have a few scary memories playing in the middle of the Columbian jungle.
Click here for the Guru Josh Project – Infinity video
Send in your comments to: shikha.shah@indiantelevision.co.in
