Weird Sounding Dude is a Bangalore based music producer/DJ. He has always enjoyed a place in the underground dance music culture. His trademark chuggy grooves and squelchy rhythms are sure to satisfy his audience but there are always a few surprises along the way. As it happens with a lot of artists, only DJ’ing wasn’t enough for his musical expedition, so he embarked on a journey to prove his worth as a self-taught producer. Drawing his influences by the likes of James Holden, Extrawelt, Nathan Flake and Worakls. Being a regular on the charts of Beatport, his music has gained continuous support from the likes of Hernan Cattaneo, Cid Inc., Nick Warren, Guy Mantzur, Nick Muir and many more.
What would you be doing today if not for this interview?
Thank you for hosting me, it is my pleasure to be chatting with you guys. I always plan my professional commitments in prior, which helps me stay organized and meet ends before deadlines. If not for this interview I would have recorded a couple of guest mixes which is next in line.
What music are you producing or DJ'ing
Umm, it's definitely not weird. I pretty much like anything with a good groove and a pinch of musicality in them. That's what I aim for when I select tracks for DJ'ing or when I produce.
What got you into this genre?
I like to stay open-minded when it comes to listening or selecting music, I get inspired by all various genres of music from regional music to western and various genres in the electronic music scene as well. The inspiration reflects in my productions and DJ sets.
Have you held any other alias before? What inspired the transformation?
Yea, when I started out I used to DJ as "Soundage" from 2012 to 2014 I guess. Like I mentioned above I evolved, explored various spectrums in the scene. These sounds that I heard in tracks back in the days were just weird to me, hence the transformation.
How long have you been in this industry?
Well, I started off somewhere in 2012, but it was always an ON/OFF situation for me during my early days due to my work schedule and other commitments and was more like a hobby, I went on to take this a notch higher in 2014. It's been a constant steady growth since then.
Highlights of your career so far.
I just got signed onto to Nick Warren’s label The Soundgarden, and releasing music on Guy Mantzur's label Plattenbank, Darin Epsilon's label Perspectives Digital, on the German heavyweight label Kindisch & releasing my Arcade EP on Praveen Achary's label Juicebox Music. In terms of gigs, from playing in Sri Lanka to playing at Sunburn, Reset, Ctrl Alt Dance, Krank, and joining hands with Deep Dictionary, which lead to sharing decks alongside heavyweights such as Nick Warren, Sebastien Leger, Kastis Torrau, Navar, Ziger, Stan Kolev just to name a few. So, yes I ever so thankful for all those who have believed in my work and given me the platform to share my music.
What's the inspiration behind your alias?
When I started, apart from being a huge trance music fan I was into minimal techno as well, and I felt ‘Weird Sounding Dude’ would make up to a great stage name, but as I evolved I discovered various other styles and just like that I found my love for deeper driving house music which had movement in them. I went on to stick to this alias, I feel it is a cool name to stick on to.
Is the path ahead more struggling or does it get better from here?
Everything is due to happen when the time is right, I strongly believe in that. I will always keep giving my 100% does not matter where I stand.
Not necessarily monetary, how have the rewards been so far in this career?
It's been fruitful both wise (haha). I have made a lot of new friends across the world through what I do, so yea man it's been very rewarding.
Why did you choose this career?
Well, I don't come from any musical background, nobody told me about this scene as well. To be honest with you I had not even attended a gig up until I finished my DJ course (lol). This whole scene was an accident for me. I guess this interview would never have taken place if it wasn't for Armin Van Buuren's ASOT (a state of trance) podcast, the very first DJ set that I heard. This was what got me going. So I don't really know if I chose this career consciously.
Who according to you are top 5 labels in your genre?
There is a list of a bunch of labels that I loved being a part of, I will mention a handful here Balkan Connection, Juicebox Music, Kindisch, onedotsixtwo, Plattenbank, Perspectives Digital, Stripped Recordings ,Strange Town Recordings and all the labels that I have worked with. For those who are reading this, I highly recommend you all check out these labels if you haven't already. Lovely music run by beautiful souls.
What is your methodology behind a set you play when you open for artists at clubs? What is the creative process behind your sets?
It's very simple, respect the given time slot and artist after you, an opening DJ is as important as the main act, both acts have to go hand in hand, that's what makes a good night. I make a point that I select my music based on these, once I am on the console I play according to the vibes of the dancefloor and build it nice and steady before handing over.
As an upcoming artist with tough competition, what struggles and challenges do you face?
This is not a competition for me at least, I don't look at it in that way. Everybody has their own path and everyone will eventually achieve their dreams based on their dedication and couple of other factors. And like I mentioned before If you love doing something it's not really a struggle. Apart from a few releases lined up, I am planning on to venture into new areas in the scene, I hope I can count on all your support as always <3
Any Indian labels you think can release your music?
Yes, of course for my sounds, labels like Juicebox Music which is like my go-to label whenever I write something truly special I love to share with them and also Wind Horse Records amazing people to share ideas with and hang out. I would like to thank them for hosting my music in the past.
How easy or difficult it is to release music in your genre?
If it were easy everybody would do it (haha) at the same time it's not difficult too. I mean this, not a game that you are playing on PC to judge whether it's easy or hard. If you let your emotions speak in your art you will be rewarded.
What’s coming up for You down the road?
Apart from a few releases lined up, I am planning on to venture into new areas in the scene, I hope I can count on all your support as always <3
(MelodyInsider Tip: Follow his new releases cracking the charts worldwide at https://fanlink.to/wsdstarchild )
Once again guys thanks for hosting me, we are all living in a weird phase of life right now, we all fight a common enemy, we all will come out of this together, let's be more supportive and positive towards each other. Stay safe and keep others safe too by your actions.
Thank you once again, for this opportunity and sharing your experience with us and our readers. We wish you all the very best of luck in your future endeavours. Hope to see you at a Club somewhere, soon.
Follow Weird Sounding Dude at
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/weirdsoundingdude
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weirdsoundingdude_/
New Releases: https://fanlink.to/wsdstarchild
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