Ritviz’s Udd Gaye was a phenomenal hit in 2017. Since then the Hindustani dance music producer has released a track here and there, but none of them has seemed to garner the kind of appreciation that Udd Gaye got. But the man’s got an EP up his sleeve which he plans to release by the end of this month, and everyone’s looking forward to discovering some refreshing tracks on it. Here’s chatting him up:
- What’s the story behind the title of your album — Ved?
Yuv, my last body of work was released in 2016. Yuv meaning youth was my entry to the production side of things. We are putting out Ved after three years, and this body of work is vocal-centric. Ved means knowledge, it shows my growth and evolution as an artist. Funnily enough, the first project I put out, Vizdumb, had a lot of my vocals and I think I’m going back to my roots with Ved. It’s all about moving forward by revisiting my initial stages.
- Tell us about the tracks in this EP, what are the different themes?
With Udd Gaye and Jeet, the tone for me as a musician was set in place, but starting off with Barso and now Ved, I think people are only now starting to understand my palette. And as we continue to release more music in the coming weeks, I hope to set the right tone about what I envisioned for myself. My palette consists of uplifting, happy, dark sounds with a bittersweet ending.
- How long has this EP been in the making?
Some of the songs on this album have been in the works for over four years now while a few were made just a few weeks ago. It has been a very intense but interesting journey, very exhausting also. It’s very hard to keep in touch with the vision of the album if you are open and willing to change course. In order for me to evolve, I need to be open to anything and everything, but it comes at a price. I am learning so much about myself on this trip. I can’t wait to put all the music out.
- What is your experience of actively being a part of the music festival circuit in India? What doors have opened up for you because of participating in these events?
The energy that I am surrounded with at all the festivals is surreal. I feel like I am a part of something so much bigger than my music. There is a revolution going on in India and I’m so excited for the scene in the coming five years. The Bacardi Nh7 Weekender 2017 was a very special show, it helped me realise the love my song attracted. Post then, we started touring the country and are still going from city to city playing my old and new music.
- Describe your working style and what your regular day looks like.
My style of working is very organic. I don’t try and force the music, I wait for it to come find me. My weekdays are filled with exploring movies. I don’t listen to a lot of music (laughs), but my love for visual consumption is huge. My weekends are at the airports.
- What are some things that you’re particular about when recording in the studio?
Finding the right zone. The comfort that I’ve attained in my bedroom is only truly valued when I’m not home, and I miss it so much. Other than that, my setup is fairly basic so I don’t need fancy equipment to make my music. I just need the right space to work.
- What is your take on the film industry inviting more and more DJs to compose a track or two in a film? Are you taking up projects for Bollywood?
I like that the newer styles are getting incorporated in Bollywood. Here’s hoping that things are done in the right way. We have a few projects in the pipeline, yes.
- What are your plans for the rest of the year?
Releasing more and more music! That was, is and will always be the main plan. Everything else revolves around it.
