Infusion has been talking to this man for quite some time, but this is the first time that Swaroop (of Chi – Synthesis fame) has properly figured in our magazine. We recently caught up with the talented DJ / Producer / promoter to find out exactly what made him tick.

“(Smiles) When I was in the UK (Scotland) for a bit, no one could pronounce Swaroop the way it should be so I got a nickname – Swap and it got very popular among the Glaswegians. I guess it was more amusing to them for someone to have a nickname like swap i.e. swapping things about!”

So … where are YOU from and what do YOU actually mean?
I was born in India, moved to Oman with my parents at a very young age and finished schooling there. Later, I moved to Scotland to finish off University at Glasgow Caledonian University.(Graduated in B.Eng Electronics and then my MBA). This was the time when everything really started – Graphics, DJ, Music Production, Events and the like.

What do I actually mean?
I could write a book about want I actually mean but if I started, people would call me insane or an outcast because of what I actually mean. In brief, I mean equality, peace, non-egoistic harmony, love, respect and above all unity. I have my own way of giving people examples of how we could all achieve this but let’s keep that for a special edition of Infusion. I have a name for it if you like – Infusion: Spiritualized (laughs).

In terms of music, I want to bring a big chunk of so called underground EDM / Electronic Dance Music out to the masses. My aim is to keep the essence of 'Underground' music where it should be but get the people more open-minded in terms of accepting more experimental styles / genres that are emerging now-a-days.

Too vague a question?
Not at all. In fact, I could go on and on about what I have to say but I guess we may need an issue called Infusion – Spiritualized by Swami Swaroop…(laughs)

OK - what do you do best? Where do you do it? And why are you doing it?
I have been involved with a lot of things that keep my mind, body and soul active. I have been involved in connecting people to music and art through mediums that I am capable of producing so people visualize, relate to it and open their mind to a world within their world but cannot be seen through a normal perspective. I believe art and music are mediums through which a human mind can be opened to experience what is hidden within the sub-conscious mind.

I have SGDesigns as a graphics design freelance company that I have been running for the past 8 years or so… specializing in all forms of graphics designs, corporate makeovers, club and event materials, interior design and the like.

I have been DJing for the past 6 years (on and off). However, being very honest, the thrill of production is a mind-altering experience and I always wanted to produce instead of just spending all the time and effort as a DJ – remixing or playing someone else’s tracks. So, I have been working on my own album that will be released in 2010. Before that I am releasing a single on my record label – Samana Records by end of 2009. The VA compilation, compiled by myself would also include artists such as Safi Connection, Dino Psaras, Talpa, Exaile, Sun Project and Tube. This VA is named UNITY – Uniting not just the different styles of full-on psytrance, but also a message in this VA for the people about UNITY of mind, body and soul which would be a part of the intro / outro part of the VA.

My Producer profile: www.myspace.com/sanathana
My Designers profile: www.sgdesigns.daportfolio.com

What have been your favourite gigs to date? Where were they and what made them so special?

My favourite Gigs: Chi @ The Lodge, Glasgow Caledonian’s Asylum, The outdoor gigs at UAQ – Palma (12-14 hours non-stop), The outdoor gigs in the desert somewhere near Hatta (12 – 14 hours non-stop).

The gigs at Chi were special because it all started at Chi in Dubai on my birthday – 14th November 2007 @ PSYNTHESIS. Believe it or not, PSYNTHESIS was formed as a birthday party organized by me with the help of some old friends at Chi. Unexpectedly; we had a turn-out of almost 700 people in the garden that too for a very unknown genre of music in Dubai – Psytrance. A birthday party that attracted 700 people to a venue became a monthly event at Chi. Every time I played at PSYNTHESIS thereafter; it was truly special to me.

All my outdoor gigs were awesome because the people, the music, the ambience, the true feeling of being one with nature was like re-living the ‘drop-out’ culture of the late 60’s / early 70’s. For these gigs, people wore whatever they wanted to wear, were smiling and dancing away, under the moonlight till sunrise and then giving it all on the dance floor i.e. sand, the beach, true nature. These were truly special.

Are you a one-genre-man or do you like to cut yourself free from your music-of-reputation?
I am most definitely not a one-genre man. If you asked me what is music to me? I would say it has no genre in my opinion. Music is melody created in various forms; call it Rock, Blues, Jazz, Electronic Dance Music or just Music. Unfortunately, to connect to the commercial audience that understand genres better, we classify Music and give it names. What would you say if I said we could create any genre of Music by just using sounds from Nature?

To make it easier to understand, I’d say I am more inclined to producing EDM or Electronic Dance Music, Ambient, Chill-out and fusion based genre of Music. However, please forgive me for saying so but I would be disrespecting Music if I were to classify it at all.

You've been in Dubai for a while now ... is this the culmination of your music career or do you see yourself stretching your horizons a little?
If so, where on Earth would you go? Give us your dream clubbing venues to perform in.

Not at all… Dubai is a very commercial place. It is a great place to start businesses and all things that help us earn that rectangular piece of paper that helps us live. It would also be an ideal place to launch projects and a career as a producer / DJ because of the vast demographic diversity we have here. In terms of stretching my horizons, there are plans I have that will amaze the audience in Dubai…Concepts that are in the making.

Dream to play at major psytrance festivals like: Boom, Universo Parallelo, Ozora, Illuminaughty. Venues: Open to playing EDM for the masses in any venue that is open-minded to accept music and people.

We hear that you've got big plans for your productions over the coming months ... tell us more.

My debut single would be released on the compilation ‘UNITY’ which should be out late this year (2009). As mentioned earlier, the various artists compilation which is compiled by myself would also include other international giants in the psytrance industry viz. Dino Psaras, Safi Connection, Sun Project, Talpa, Tube, Exaile.

In 2010 (Probably June) I would release my first album, which would be a combination of styles that I was born listening to. From psytrance, Goa trance, Techno, Electro, Fusion, Chill-out, Ambient to Break-beat and a complete fusion of sounds that would be featured as ONE. Almost as a new genre if you call it for a new breed of EDM.

How do you find you work on your tracks? Is it just you on a laptop or do you like to get other collaborators or other instruments involved?

Interesting you asked me this question… My debut album would be a combination of computer generated sounds and LIVE acoustic instruments. For this I have collaborated with hidden gems in Dubai – an acoustic guitar player, electric guitar player, classical pianist, keyboardist, vocalist and I am still looking for a violinist.

After the completion of my first album, the whole team has decided to actually give the audience of Dubai a performance they will never forget. I wouldn’t dare say it would be in the same league as Talvin Singh but I guess you know what to expect from us if you took him and his band as a reference…

Any software / hardware preferences?
Clavia Nord Lead 2x is my baby that helps me create magic.

If I told you were to be stranded on a desert island and you can only choose 5 tracks to take with you, what would they be and why?
1. Travis: Why does it always rain on me? - It brings a smile to my face whenever I listen to it. Being in the desert I guess I would definitely need something to make me smile…besides the fact thinking of rain might just make it rain out of sheer coincidence, perhaps?

2. Coldplay: Spider Webs – For when I want to sit and cry feeling sorry for myself in the desert. But then if the next track is by Travis, it would cheer me up.

3. Michael Jackson / Jackson Five: Can you Feel It. – WOW! This would really make my imagination go wild and make me believe that the desert is not really that bad. It is a beautiful place where magical things could happen. Probably as a means of giving me hope. (Check the video so you know what I am talking about)

4. Eagles: Hotel California – The first song I learnt to play on the guitar. Also one of the most interesting songs I got caught up into when I was younger because of so called controversies that were related to the song. I would definitely want the whole song to take shape if I were in the desert.

5. Astral Projection: Anything is Possible – My first Goa trance experience. Love the part when David Duchovny’s voice sample says: "When you dream there are no rules. People can fly. Anything can happen. Sometimes there's a moment as you're waking and you become aware of the real world around you, but you are still dreaming. You may think you can fly but you better not try". Will probably help me sleep better in the desert with the hope that when I open my eyes I am not in the desert anymore.

Short bites

Favourite 1980s Sports Car: Camaro
Least favourite food: love food
Supermodel you most like to carry your record bag: None to be honest. I'd rather carry it myself
Favourite Dubai-based DJ: Pierre Ravan
Favourite domesticated animal: Dog