 |
Last month we featured his lovely wife DJ Pearl. This month we put MTV VJ and Electronic Dance Music enthusiast DJ Nikhil Chinapa in the hotseat. Here he is telling the record about playing with his wife, his most memorable gig and the oddest request he’s ever encountered behind the console.
The Record: When did you start DJing?
Nikhil: Four years ago. I actually began playing because I was inspired by my wife [DJ Pearl]. And because I was frustrated at having to listen to Kaliyon Ka Chaman being played five times a night in nightclubs all the time. [Laughs]
TR: What is your most prized record?
Nikhil: The whole concept of vinyl is really special to me generally. But let’s see, a prized record… I would have to say it’s this one that a friend of mine gifted to me. It’s called Bango. I got really excited cause I found it in Europe and I once played it for a friend of mine, a DJ in Amsterdam who has been doing this for over 20 years. I was really excited about showing it to him and he looks at it and goes, ‘I have that record. The original.’ And he pulls out a Todd Terry 1978 version, which was still shrink wrapped! It’s amazing.
TR: We asked your wife this, now your turn ~ what’s it like for two DJs to be living under one roof?
Nikhil: Well, there’s always music at home, which is a great thing. Of course we do have our creative differences once in a while but some of the best gigs that I’ve had have been ones where I’ve played with her. I do the opening set, the warm-up and she plays the next set, the harder one if you want. We work well as a team.
TR: What is one really memorable venue that you’ve played at?
Nikhil: At Zanzibar, a beach shack in Goa. We’ve been going there each year to play in the last week of December. It’s a sunset gig, so we start at 4 pm shut at 10 pm. The nicest thing about it is that it’s on a public beach. So you don’t have to buy a ticket, you don’t have to walk in as a couple, you don’t have to buy a drink, you don’t even have to dance! You just come there, enjoy yourself and soak in the music. Aside from that one of the best party destinations I’ve been to is Bora Bora in Ibiza.
You can read the rest of our feature DJ Speak in the August 2006 issue of The Record Music Magazine available at your local newsagent.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The Record has been around since 1998. Do you have every issue of your favourite magazine?
 to order back issues
Would you like to have your favourite music magazine delivered directly to
your doorstep?
|
|
