Who is StoKed?
Stoked means “purveyor of Infectious Energy”. Basically, it reflects my state of being, and that hopefully reflects in my productions along with how I am behind the DJ console.
Where are you currently based?
I am currently at home in the Bombay city of India.
How has your COVID-19 experience been so far?
It has been ok. I’ve been catching up on family time, as I was touring from October to February 2020, so being locked down at my family home meant I got to spent time with the people I had not seen for months.
After being stuck indoors for so long, I’m now a now house-trained expert in the art of doing dishes, laundry and mopping lol. I got myself my techno puppy Mr Tizzy a week before lockdown and he has been a life saver of sorts. Lockdown gave me lots of time to spend in the studio, and I’ve managed to sign 2 EP’s with IAMT & Codex that are scheduled for release this year. COVID-19 has definitely changed my perspective on life by making me appreciate what I have even more than before.
Your new release Deeper Passion is out now, what influenced the sound & songwriting?
“Deeper Passion” as the name suggests, is to do with the only passion that makes me wakeup pumped everyday which is of course, music. I have tried to encapsulate that energy into a track for the listeners to also feel.
“The People” is all about how people are and experience life, as it has different moments in its ups and downs. With dark melancholic chords coming in on the main drop, I have tried to show the different phases in life, however best I could in a track.
Where & when did you record and who with?
I produced the EP at home, sometime in September last year, and it was finished just before going on tour.
What programs/instruments did you use?
I used Ableton as my main sequencer that recorded all the parts and let me mix everything together. For my monitor speakers I have a pair of Kali Audio LP 6, Midi Keyboard Arturia Key Lab 49, and for VST instruments I mainly used “Serum” and “Sylenth”.
How did you approach the recording & production?
I had already imagined the tracks in my head. It was just a matter of transferring what I was thinking and feeling into Ableton via my midi keyboard. Once I played the parts, it was then a case of fine tuning the sounds in the VST synths until everything was how I imagined.
What did you find most challenging & rewarding about this release?
This EP wasn’t really that challenging, as I knew what I wanted from each of the tracks. Making my return on my good friend Zeid’s label Deep Therapy Records was an honour made even more special by having the legends Loco & Jam remix the title track. I really loved having those guys remix my music, and that was the most rewarding aspect of this release.
Please tell us about the techno scene in India?
The techno / underground scene in India is definitely burgeoning. It still has a long way to go before it rivals the scenes in places like Germany, but people in India are more aware of electronic music now. People being new to genres like techno, means they have little preconceptions, so are really openminded to experimentation. All in all, it looks very promising from my point of view.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Oh… there is so much music out there. I am really digging lots of tech house right now, as its medium tempo is often perfect while out for a run or going to the gym. Deeper music like that is also cool from having a relaxing drive in the car.
What do you like to do away from music?
I love playing golf and aim to get a game at least a couple of times a month as it helps me relax and focus. I am majorly into fitness, so you will often find me at the gym three times a week. Reading a book or watching Netflix are also preferred tools to help relax and unwind.
What is planned for the remainder of 2020?
“Rave de School” is a collab track I did with bro Samwise that’s coming out on a “Minitech Recordings” various artists compilation in July. Then I’ve got the “Girl with the Red Hair” EP featuring my buddy Fire coming out on I Am Techno in August.
After those, in September I am back on Minitech Recordings with my release “Hiigaran” that includes a remix from by good friend Steve Mulder.
In October it’s my release on IAMT Red called “Effervescence” EP, then in November it’s my release on Codex titled “Bitonal Creatures” that’s featuring vocals by my friend Fire.
I am really looking forward to the end of this current virus pandemic so clubs can open again as I’ve really missed playing gigs, but have been keeping busy in the studio, and really looking forward to all my forthcoming releases.
Thanks for taking the times to chat with me, and hope everyone out there is keeping safe.
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