interviews

DJ Shah

Hi Roger, it gives us great pleasure to have you as the first featured artist on Trance Hub. You're creating revelations with every new track and it's time our readers know the secret of success behind DJ Shah. So here are some questions we would like you to answer:

Shah is an Indian surname and we always think that you are an Indian. Is that true?

No, my mother is from Germany and my father is from Pakistan, that's why I have that surname.

You've got a real versatile style of music. How would you describe your music? Does staying in a particular country affect your music preference and production style, especially when we talk about trance?

I gave my style the name "Balearic", because for me it's warm, atmospheric and very summerish. No, it does not affect my style, because I get my ispirations during my worldwide gigs.

It's that time of the year again with DJ Mag rankings around the corner. What are your expectations?

Last year, I ranked on 216 without any promotion for it. With the success of my latest productions and fast rising international fanbase, I have the little hope to make it into the top 100, but to be honest, it's really difficult to reach this goal. I know a lot of artists who are doing a special marketing to reach this, but I'm not really good in that. I just hope that my fans are considering me when they do their vote.

With more than 10 aliases what is the best you want to be known as? Do you wish to continue with all the projects in future?

Have more than 20 aliases, haha. The best I want to be know as is DJ Shah, because it's me in person.

No, I will have no time to continue with all that projects. In the past 10 years I worked more as a producer in the background or I did many different projects, but I think that now is the time to do my own artists thing and push me own name. For the future I think that I will have my focus on my DJ Shah solo project and just a few projects on good labels which are working really good as 'Sunlounger' or 'Global Experience' to name two of it.

Roger, please tell us something about your musical background. Who are your favourite artists and how did you get into spinning and music production?

I have favourite artist from a lot of different genres. From the electronic scene, my favourites are Tiesto, Oakenfold, Armin van Buuren... but my other favourites are also artists as U2, Coldplay, Enya, Moya Brennan, Evanescence or classic composer Hans Zimmer. I have a semi-professional classic music education and can read and write notes and learned to play keyboard at the age of 12. Started to practice DJing with 16 and had my first DJ job with 18. From there all things are getting it's natural way and after a long process and development I'm now there where I am.

Where does all that inspiration come from to make such amazing music?

That's a good question. First I have to thank you that you call my music amazing. A lot of inspirations are coming from my international gigs but also Ibiza is my kind of a petrol station for ideas and inspirations and I have the gift to put all experiences into music.

"Who Will Find Me" seems to be one of the top vocal trance tracks of the year 2007. The track is being loved everywhere, which female vocalists would you like to work with?

The reactions to "Who Will Find Me" are really huge from all over the world and the promotion starts now. At the moment I'm working with so many outstanding singers from different countries and music genres which is really amazing.

A dream for me will be to work with female artist as Sarah McLachlan or Moya Brennan.

Seems you like to travel a lot. So which country do you enjoy spinning the most?

My favourite place to play is Ibiza, but I enjoy also all other places in the world. It will be also a pleasure for me to come to India for playing my music one day.

Please tell us something about your project Global Experience. How is Purple Mood different from it?

For my Global Experience project I have the concept to include and combine some music elements from different countries and cultures. Purple Mood is a project I do together with DJ Cosmo, a producer friend.

What is your studio setup like? Does the day start at night or are you a person who is fascinated by the morning breeze?

I work with a Mac G5 and Logic 7 as sequencer. I have a lot of software stuff and sold all my hardware during the last years. I work total digital and I mix all tracks inside the computer, but for the final mixdown I route it over my old mackie analog mixer which makes the warm feel of my productions.

In the past I worked from afternoon till late night, but since my son is there, everything has changed. Now I wake up early, bring my son to the Kindrgarten, doing some business stuff, fan request and myspace (I love myspace). In the aftzernoon I go to my studio to work on my tracks and projects.

Sunlounger and guitar are like synonyms. Tell us the secret behind the love for guitar?

I don't know the secret, but the guitar is such a great sounding instrument which reminds me always to a summer holiday. I think that that's the main reason why I made the guitar to the Sunlounger trademark and it's also great to work with different guitarists for my Sunlounger project.

What do you enjoy most, producing music or remixing tracks? How do they stand different from each other if seen from a DJ's perspective?

I enjoy it more to write and compose my own music, but if you receive a remix request from a great artist or for a great song, so it's also fun to do a remix.

I think that for DJ's it's a easier way to do some remixes, because you don't have to compose your own thing, but if you are a musician it's a must to do your own tracks.

How do you see 2007-2008 as a year for your music? What kind of music can we hear from you in the future?

2007 is definitely the year of electro, you can hear it's influences in all electronic music genres. Trance and House artist have that typical elements in their productions. Maybe I will also use some of these elements but I will also try to keep my music unique and in my so called balearic direction.

My Sunlounger album is now available worldwide on iTunes and went straight to the #1 album in the netherlands and goes top 10 in a lot of countries.

At the moment I'm busy working on my DJ Shah Solo album which will be a real vocal and song album and will feature a lot of amazing singers from different countries and music genres.

What is your take on MP3 sharing? Are you against it or do you think it helps you in any way?

I'm really against mp3 sharing. The most record companies are just selling their music on the mp3 way these days and when people are sharing the music to their friends, this will be a big problem for the real artists who are producing music as their main job. So if you sell not enough music you have to look for another job. So if you are a real fan of an artist and want to support him, then buy his music to keep him alive in this hard bizz of the music industry.

Tell us something about you that we don't know!

Hmmm..maybe things that you don't know about me...you don't know it, because they are my secrets :-)

Thank you, it is great that you donated us important time from your tight schedule. We wish you a grand time ahead for you and your music. All the best for DJ Poll 2007! Hope to see you performing in India soon!

I have to thank you, too. Give my regards to all people from India. Would love to come to your country for playing my music. Hope to see you one time.
All the best
Roger P. Shah

For more info related to DJ Shah check out the following links:
www.djshah.net
www.myspace.com/rogerpshah

Written by: Apoorv
Compiled by: Mr. Yank