Earning yourself a spot on DJ Mag’s coveted Top 100 list is not to be taken lightly, as DJ Chetas did in 2015, becoming the first-ever Indian DJ to do so when he landed at the No 59 position.
Despite his accolades, speaking ahead of his Jubilee Stage set on 13 December, starting at 2100, the top DJ was asked about his proudest career moment to date, the star says simply: “Possibly performing at Expo 2020 Dubai.”
DJ Chetas is credited with putting India back on the dance music map. He shot to fame almost 10 years ago with his Bollywood mash-ups, which became incredibly popular, remixing songs from the movies with a tropical, future bass or reggae vibe. It landed him residences in Mumbai’s top night clubs, at events around the world, and even an invite to compose original Bollywood music.
So his response when asked to describe his musical style should come as no surprise. “All-out Bollywood that you can’t resist dancing to,” he says. “I’m inspired by our deep-rooted Indian culture, and the prominence of dance as a form of celebration.”
And we should expect plenty of this when he performs at Expo? He sounds excited about the opportunity. “It’s by far the world’s biggest stage currently,” he muses. “And it’s probably the biggest stage for all industries, whether it’s commerce, tech or healthcare. I come from a business family, and I can see the value in the world’s biggest exhibition – but you need entertainment, and that’s what I plan to bring in the best-produced format. The world has been apart for too long, let’s come together on the dancefloor.”
DJ Chetas plays Expo’s Jubilee Stage on 13 December at 2100 GST. He is the first in a series of Indian DJ performers, with DJ NYK on 24 December at 2130, and DJ Nucleya on 27 December at 2100 – both at the same venue.
