Remixes are a win-win for all: DJ Aqeel

The Shake It Daddy hitmaker, DJ Aqeel, is back with a new seven-track album named Forever 2 – with remixed hit numbers of the ’70s and ’80s. Excerpts from our chat with him:

Tell us about Forever 2...
It has five remixes and two original songs, which I have created with my band Indian House Mafia, comprising DJ Suketu and Sukhbir Singh. I also have a new video shot for it, quite a cool one, on the track Kya Dekhto Ho. I have even redone a couple of my old, original songs like Kehdo Tumhe, etc. The idea is that the new generation doesn’t know about these old and awesome classics. So I feel it incumbent upon myself to let these young clubbers discover the beautiful melodies of the past as remixes that can be played in the clubs.

What would you say makes remixes most appealing?
Though people keep saying that remixes are dying... they are a win-win for all. They are there for all to enjoy. The older generation connects with it because they have loved these songs and it still appeals to them when they get a new tune and a revamped style. And there is the younger lot for whom it is clubbing music. Plus the composers make money because of the copywright directives.

You’ve been doing Bollywood remixes for long now. How do you think the scene has changed, in terms of the audience and the consumption?
In the last 12 years I have churned out eight albums. All Bollywood films now are going back to remixes... they want to have an old track because they know it has a melody.

What do you think of these international artists coming down?
I think it’s brilliant. This should have happened years ago. But I’m glad they are coming here to play now,. I have a lot of international DJs coming to play in my clubs as well. I’m glad about this new development. In fact I’m really looking forward to attending Sunburn.

Any Bollywood project you’re currently working on?
I made an original song for Ameesha Patel’s house production. I can’t reveal much but just that it is a cool, classy song. And I’m guessing once it’s out these Bollywood guys will call me for other projects (smiles).