PMR`s exclusive interview with Pakistan`s well known DJ Shahrukh…
Dj Shahrukh is the first international DJ of Pakistan. He has been mixing music since 2004 and got his first breakthrough after playing at the Dubai Rain Dance 2005. The news spread like fire throughout Pakistan, and this dj’s popularity has been on the rise since then. Including collaborations and joint ventures with Ali Zafar, Josh, Overload, Ali Azmat and many other well-established artists, Dj Shahrukh had been the main act in over 300 performances worldwide by far.
Dj Shahrukh is also the first DJ to represent Pakistan in the Isle of Mauritius, in November 2009, spinning live with Dj Angel of Dehli, Dj Li’l B of Mumbai, Dj Pheonix of France, and many other international acts.
Exclusive Interview
Q: Hello Shahrukh, please tell us a bit about yourself and how did you get into DJing?
A:I went to dubai with Ali Zafar in 2005 where i saw many djs playing in clubs and the kind of music that you didn’t get to hear anywhere in Pakistan. Thats where I felt that I should become a dj.
Previously I had done music for several performances which included
fashion shows, NCA mime, obe and nautankee performances at the rafi peer theatre festival and several shows in faisalabad, islamabad and karachi.
My first mix to go on air was Noor Jehan’s ‘Munda Shehar Lahore Da’, in 2004, which was the soundtrack of the program
Lahore Lahore Hai, airing on Indus Vision for more than a year.
My first independent work to air on radio and television was the song ‘Kalyan Lang Jani’, in 2008, the project was called Alif.
In 2005, I started mixing music live on turntables. Since then I’ve been playing nationwide and
abroad as a professional dj. By far, I have been the main act in over 400 events, and have had
collaborative performances with well-established artists like Josh, Ali Zafar, Overload etc.
Q: What other hobbies, are you fond of?
A: Swimming, skateboarding, basketball, go-cart racing
photography, graffiti art, etc.
Q: Who were some of your influences when you started DJing?
A: I watched some of tiesto’s live videos. the magnitude of the event shook me.
Q: Which current DJ inspires awe in you, and you would love to DJ with him/her?
A: Tiesto, deadmau5, and roger sanchez are great with live performances, David guetta is a brilliant producer.
Q: What in your opinion are the pros and cons of DJing in Pakistan?
A: There are really no cons to it. Its a great thing to do. There’s nothing better than being able to make people dance.
Q6: What’re you most popular remixes?
A: The ‘Veena Malik vs Mufti Saab – Yeh kya baat hui’ remix has been the most popular remix so far. it reached over 150,000 hits in 4 days of release on youtube. Besides that i’ve done a remix of Noor Jehan’s Munda Sheher Lahore da, Abida Parveen’s Ghoom Charakhra, Naseebo Lal’s Naray AA, and Nusrat’s Halka Halka Suroor, which have been massively viral on the internet and much appreciated. However, my personal favorite is still The Creation, which is a remix of a Speech by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, that he delivered at the time of the Independence of Pakistan. all of my mixes are available on youtube.
Q: What has been your best show so far?
A: My most memorable performances are
1. at Godfather Club in Mauritius in 2009
2. at CHI club in Dubai in 2008
3. at the Australian Club in Islamabad in 2011
4. at NCA in 2009.
5. at LSE in 2010.
Q: What is the longest Set that you have ever played, and where was it?
A: I played at a toga party in lahore last year. It started at 10:30 pm and went on till 4:30 am. Thats about 6 hours of playing non-stop.The australian club party , i started my set at 12 am and ended at 5 am.
Q: Which city would you love to perform in?
A: Ibiza and Gwadar.
Q: What is your definition of an “Amazing Audience” ?
A: Positive people, who love to dance.
Q: Narrate one pleasant ‘Fan incident’ , we are sure there must have been plenty?
A: fan incidents are never pleasant. once a guy tried to kiss me. A girl climbed on to the stage to hug me and passed out.
Q: What projects are you working on currently?
A: I’ve recently compiled a cd of remixes for CrossRoads, which are all from the movie Grease, to go with their current line. The CD is available at all CrossRoads outlets. Besides that I did a live set for HSY at the PFDC Fashion week finale, lahore, which was also recorded on cd and distributed amongst the audience. Currently i’m working on 2 videos simultaneously.
Q: What advice, if any, would you give to aspiring DJs from Pakistan?
A: Upcoming Djs and young artists who are planning to take it up as a career should always value their talent and make sure they are given the due respect as artists. Moreover, they should prepare
themselves fully and practice day and night till they are ready to step into the groove. New djs shouldn’t get disheartened by few early gigs that don’t make them feel like Tiesto; just keep trying till you reach
the top. And if you ever need any guidance I’m here. Good Luck 😉
Q: Where can your fans reach you?
A: WWW.DJSHAHRUKH.NET
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dj-Shahrukh/111153678948136
Thankyou so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview, we wish you nothing but success in the future. Keep destroying the decks on stage like only you can =)
Interview By: Syed Feroz Ali
Coordinated By: Tammous Taj
bring it on dj!
I have been to one of his performance and the stuff he plays is mostly copied or reproduced from international djs.
Nothing original.