I play more in cities where I have a girlfriend, says DJ Ma Faiza

You've been on the scene some 20-odd years. How much has the scene changed? For better or worse?
Twenty years ago it was hard to find even one club in the biggest cities, so there wasn't even a scene back then - parties were not commercial and only a scattering of people listened to electronic music. In one way it made it a small community of like-minded souls who passionately supported the music that they loved.

You've been on the scene some 20-odd years. How much has the scene changed? For better or worse?
Twenty years ago it was hard to find even one club in the biggest cities, so there wasn't even a scene back then - parties were not commercial and only a scattering of people listened to electronic music. In one way it made it a small community of like-minded souls who passionately supported the music that they loved. Today there is definitely a scene – even with many different styles of electronic music. It's obviously better because the platform is bigger. More choices in artists, venues and styles of music can only be good for a scene.

A lot of people who follow you, say you've changed direction. Become more commercial. Market compulsion or audience demand?
Neither! Right from the beginning before I started DJing, I was selling tapes and CDs, and the mixes I made at that time reflected the diversity of my influences. I have never had a fixed genre, and actually I started DJing in Europe by playing chilllout music at parties. I have been listening to electronic music since 1993, and the music is now getting more genreless as artists get influenced by so many styles, and start mixing everything up. It's simple for me - I play what I love! Some events might specify a certain style of music – that fits with their place and their crowd, so I try to work within that. But I play what I love, and I have heard so much music over the years that my own personal tastes evolve and change direction within the sounds that I love.

People remember you from the time you used to give out your CDs on Goa's beaches to becoming a very recognisable face on the scene. What have been the high points of that journey?
I never actually set out to be a DJ, lets say I'm an accidental DJ - so not only have there have been so many high points in my long career, I take all this journey as a BONUS! From getting to play the music I love and seeing other people love it, and that growing to huge numbers of fans and supporters all over the world. Having the chance to travel wherever I wish to go and share who I am is the most wonderful gift.

The MAximum Tour 2015 has you visiting far more cities than ever before. And not just Pune and Bangalore; places like Indore, Bilaspur and Surat (??) are on your itinerary. How different are the audiences there and what kind of buzz do you get from those cities?
The smaller cities are Insane! These cities bring me with a lot of passion, sincerity and love, and not because I'm a big name in the circuit. The gigs tend to go on later than the bigger cities as they have less problems with timings. The vibe is massive even if the club is small, and the energy of these fans is just mind-blowing. Some of the most magical gigs happen in those smaller cities, where the fans open themselves up even more and embrace everything that you share with them. It is breathtaking for me to see and feel that innocent love and passion for the music and me.

You're barely coming to Mumbai these days. Where has the love gone?
A couple of years ago I had a girlfriend who lived in Mumbai, so I was here more, and therefore performed more! Now I have a girlfriend in Hyderabad, so I guess I'm there more and play more there. Maybe I just play more in the cities where I have a girlfriend!

The tribal hat. What's the story there?
I love to be creative and I enjoy making things but not for the aim of selling it. I wanted to try and add a new layer to my DJing, by asking my fans to give a little back to people that need help. For the MAximum Tour, I made a hat for each city, and I auctioned it in the club on the night, going to the highest bidder there and then. Its been so touching to see that people dig deep in that moment of feeling good at a party and give generously to a cause. So far the amount of support has exceeded all expectations that I had at the outset. After the tour ends I will make a trip to Nepal and hand out the money to those who need it, hopefully covering a wide spectrum of social issues.

I've heard you're very good at gardening. What's growing on your patch?
I have a huge rooftop garden, which I love. Currently I have custard apples, figs, basil in season. But it changes through out the year. I love plants and nature and even though it's a lot of work to keep the garden alive, when I experience the plants and the butterflies and birds that come to see them too, its makes all the effort worthwhile.

A friend told me about your DIY-ness. How you made alarm clocks out of vinyl discs with your branding just sitting at home. What's the latest goodies you've come up with?
I'm always experimenting with something! Recently I have been making lamps from driftwood, shells, feathers, stones and other stuff I find on the beach. It's a lot of work but a load of fun!

Are music festivals in India killing or building the scene?
The music festivals have definitely helped to expand the platform in India. They have raised the benchmark in terms of setup - sound, lights and stages. They have helped to bring more diversity in the music and artists performing at those festivals. My concern is when the festivals get so big and start to kill other smaller gatherings, or when the festivals claim to have MADE the platform for electronic music, or when the festivals exploit homegrown talent with cheap DJ fees, whilst paying the foreign DJs big packets.