Mixmag Asia Radio: Farhan Rehman brings light to the hidden world of Indian disco

What do you think of the current scene in India at the moment?

The current scene in India seems to be booming. Not only do we have electronic music events happening at a scale that we could only dream of maybe a decade ago, but also people seem to be a lot more open-minded towards different genres of music and experiences.


And more specifically, the current scene of disco house?

There's definitely a lot more room for the Disco and House scene to grow, but I feel it's growing at a steady pace and people seem to be really connecting and enjoying the sound.


Tell us a bit about your latest single!

My latest single is called 'Not a l.u.v thang', a playful contradiction to the name of the vocals I sampled. The track is a blend of funky bassline, soulful harmonies and jazzy instrumentations which is meant for the body and soul both.


You’re the label manager at Dynamite Disco Club, can you please tell us a bit about that?

We are India's first disco, nu disco and house music label with a vision to push quality disco and house music in India. Not only are we trying to educate our audience with the music that we believe in, but we are also trying to find and nurture talent who will push the scene forward as we go along the way.


And what's the future of Dynamite Disco Club looking like?

DDC aims to spearhead the disco and house movement in India by building a community of like-minded enthusiasts and bridging the gap between Europe and Asia for the scene.


Dream artists to release on the label?

Mike Dunn, Kapote, Mousse T, Louie Vega, Kenny dope, Dave Lee, Dam swindle.


In five words, what do your DJ sets sound like?

Groovy, funky, jazzy, soulful, and intense.


Your favourite dance floor in Asia (club, bar, festival, festival stage, your garden)?

Magnetic Fields Festival.


Name one DJ you’d love to play back-to-back with!

Danny Krivit.


What recent trends in music have caught your attention, and why?

A lot of the music I hear (including pop) seems to have an influence of r’n’b and soul. I personally find it very inspiring.


Are there any producers and DJs in Asia that have recently caught your attention?

Sasha Lively, Ishxn and Gandhar from India are promising talents who are making quality music.


What can you tell our readers and listeners about your mix? Why is it special to you?

The mix represents the current standpoint of disco and house music coming out of India. It's also special because I get to feature many of my originals (both released and unreleased).


Where can we hear you playing next?

I'm playing in Chennai on November 12 for the Funknaround crew. Those guys are pushing the disco and house scene and I'm really looking forward to seeing what's in store.


Who are a few of the originators of disco in India?

Biddu, Usha Uthup, Bappi Lahiri are some of the early pioneers of the disco influence in India.


Can you enlighten us on the history of disco around India?

Biddu and Nazia Hussain's ‘Aap jaisa koi’, Bappi Lahiri's ‘Jimmy Jimmy aja aja’, Usha Uthup's ‘Ramba ho-ho-ho, Samba ho-ho-ho’ are some of the iconic disco numbers that have had a major influence on pop culture in India.

Coincidentally in the 1970s, a group of Western experimental artists also visited India to collaborate with Indian artists at the National Institute of Design. These synthesizers eventually made their way into the Indian music industry and are what facilitated the collaboration of electronic sounds and Bollywood's own flavour. While there are ample examples of disco's influence on pop culture in India, Charanjeet Singh's Ten Ragas to a disco beat would be a far more nuanced example.


Where do you think disco house is best at the moment?

There are a lot of artists from France putting out some amazing tunes when it comes to the genre.

Henry Cooper is a Writer at Mixmag Asia. Follow him on Instagram.

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