Post by Kam Gill on Aug 25, 2004 10:07:05 GMT
Dj Sanj has been a key figure in the success story down at envy, the label which has produced artists such as Dr Zeus and D/I/P. Having had one of the biggest hits with ‘Das JA’ of recent years, which was released on his E.P ‘Hype‘, He has been busy playing at clubs both in the U.K and around the world. He has also been busy working on various other projects with Envy. To find out how he felt about his E.P release and more, I recently met him down at Envy studio.
(Kam) First of all congratulations on the success of your track ‘Das Ja’. What has been the feedback you have received from your E.P?
(Dj Sanj) It’s been great to be honest, very surprising as well because I wasn’t really confident about the whole E.P idea. But have been very pleased with support I have received at releasing an E.P. As you said, ‘Das Ja’ has been a big hit for me and it’s a great feeling when people come up to me to say how much they like that track.
(Kam) I like the fact that it was sensibly priced.
(Dj Sanj) Yeah we thought it’s not right to charge silly money like others have in the pas for an E.P. It’s not an album, so it shouldn’t be priced the same as an album.
(Kam) How did your Adnan Sami remix album come about?
(Dj Sanj) Well basically I was approached by the label , OSA to remix one of his songs, ‘Beegi Beegi Raton Mein’. I was like, yeah sure. You know that was an honour in the first place. So I remixed it and handed it over to them. They loved it and said “We want a full album just like this”. I was more than willing to do it. The negotiations took place and in the following three weeks I did the whole remix album. The album has done very well , the response has been very positive , they were happy , I was happy…so yeah touch wood things are gong well for me.
(Kam) We have been waiting for the album ‘American Desi’ for something like 2 maybe 3 years. Are you really working on the album? Does it really exist?!
(Dj Sanj) Ha-ha, You know it exists man! I have just been loaded with other projects like the Adnan Sami remix album you just mentioned as well as ‘Lil Sach’s’ album which has recently been released. On top of that we have just released an album called D-Unit. So I’ve been behind the scenes working on other things which has left me with less time to work on the album. But now I have decided to get back on track and get things moving with ‘American Desi’. I want an album which is very different, unique as compared with the rest of the market.
(Kam) Apart from the E.P ‘Hype’. Have you done any tracks for the album? Who will the album feature?
(Dj Sanj) I’m at the songs selection stage. I have picked out a few songs that I really like. We are recording a few more. I want to get some more interesting and fresh lyrics and vocals. Stuff that is new and different as I said before. I don’t want to use too many big name singers. I’d rather use people who I think are very talented but have not yet had the opportunity to shine. In my previous albums I’ve tried to changed my style. I had a hip-hop hit with ‘The Next Episode’. Then it was a kind of dance track with ‘Tenu Bulandi’. Of course ‘Das Ja’ was on a desi tip so I’m looking for something new for ‘American Desi’. For sure I can tell you Karan MC, Binder Bajwa, Surinder Shinda and…er…..someone else will be on the album.
(Kam) Someone else? Do tell…<br>
(Dj Sanj) Ha-ha. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything! Ok. POSSIBLY….I’m going to have Malkit Singh on it.
(Kam) You say that you have been busy working on other projects. Do you find that keeps you fresh? Working with different people?
(Dj Sanj) I work very quickly and believe in quality AND quantity. I produced about 50, 60 tracks last year for different various artists. I like to improve my skills and that is the best way to improve by doing loads of stuff. I’m a engineer by profession so as far as skills like mixing , mastering and recording vocals is concerned , I do all that myself whereas 90% of the industry will go to someone like me to do all the work for them. I’m always learning more tips and tricks because I’m working with different artists, different musicians. For that reason my sound is always evolving and changing, compared to people that go to a studio and pay an engineer to produce their album. That album will have the engineer’s sound so isn’t really their album.
(Kam) I have heard a rumour that the track featuring Dippa Dosanjh ‘The Next Episode’ on your album Pure Hip Hop Vol 1’, is to get a mainstream release. Any truth in that?
(Dj Sanj) We are working on it. We have had the sample cleared. We went to Dre’s people and got ‘The Next Episode’ sample cleared. So that has all been done, We are just at the negotiations and paperwork stage. But yeah you are right, it is in the pipeline and hopefully it will happen soon . We will see what kind of response we will get from that. I will be interesting.
(Kam) Talking about the mainstream, What is your take on the whole breaking into the mainstream thing?
{Dj Sanj) I think it’s excellent. The whole scene is evolving from an underground scene to bigger and better things. I think that acts like Jay Sean and Ragav are doing very well. It’s very important for us to support them and other artists like them because the more we support them , the more record companies will realise that Asian artist can sell records and will therefore be more willing to invest in them. That is what we have to do. We have to show these people that it is worth it to invest in Asian artists, put money into them in order to develop them.
(Kam) We do need to support these artists yes, but how do we convince people to buy and not download albums?
(Dj Sanj) I don’t think that is something we can control in the near future. I think the only way to counteract it is to be loyal to your fan base. I think if you put out an album with one hit song while the rest of the album is mediocre, your fans will see through that and basically just download the one track. For example I have noticed that over time I have built up myself a loyal fan following that is why my sales are still there and downloading hasn’t effected me all that much because I’m giving my fans, the people that buy my albums, what they want. If you stay true to that then people will support you and go out and spend money, buying your albums. But if you try to cheat them or try to outsmart them then they will not waste their time on you and just download it.
(Kam) You have been very successful thus far in this industry. What advice would you give to someone who wants to put out an album?
{Dj Sanj) I have been around for a while now so can consider myself fairly established. The secret to that is that I know what I’m doing. I’m a hands on producer. It’s all a learning process. I learnt the software , the hardware. You have to learn the music, as a art form, as a science as well. Don’t pay someone else to produce your album. That is the best way to learn anything. Do it yourself. You learn quicker by making mistakes. You will get better, your thinking will change, new ideas will come to you.
(Kam) You are a very important figure here at Envy, or so I’m told! With the success of ‘Hype’ as well as Dr. Zeus’s ‘Unda The Influence’ is it fair to say these are exciting times for Envy? What is it like working here?
{Dj Sanj) Yeah for sure these are great times. It’s all a family environment. If one guy is doing well we are all pleased for him, he is like a brother to us. There is pride in the whole thing. Everyone is very close. Like when ‘Das Ja’ hit it big , everybody supported me and were happy for me. We all encourage each other to get better. There is no jealously involved. Same with Dr. Zeus’s album, I was pleased for him. We are one big Family. It’s great to work with such people.
(Kam) Is there any truth in rumours stating that Bally Jagpal is about to join the Envy camp?
(Dj Sanj) Ha-ha, I have no idea about that. You have ask management about that.
(Raj-Envy management) Yeah Its true!
N.B There was a big smile and the tone of his voice just didn’t make me believe him! So I think for now….It’s untrue.)
(Kam) Is there anything else we should look out for apart from the things you have already mentioned?
{Dj Sanj) I have loads of stuff happening right now and will be leaking stuff out as time goes on, slowly. American Desi is a priority for me now. I hope to have it out very soon. I will be giving sneak previews in the next few months.
(Kam) You are our featured artist for this month, any words for your fans?
(Dj Sanj) I want to say thanks for all the support I have received from day one. Without you guys, I’d be nothing. Thanks for believing in my music and I will continue to do what I can for you guys.
Interview by Kam Gill
(Kam) First of all congratulations on the success of your track ‘Das Ja’. What has been the feedback you have received from your E.P?
(Dj Sanj) It’s been great to be honest, very surprising as well because I wasn’t really confident about the whole E.P idea. But have been very pleased with support I have received at releasing an E.P. As you said, ‘Das Ja’ has been a big hit for me and it’s a great feeling when people come up to me to say how much they like that track.
(Kam) I like the fact that it was sensibly priced.
(Dj Sanj) Yeah we thought it’s not right to charge silly money like others have in the pas for an E.P. It’s not an album, so it shouldn’t be priced the same as an album.
(Kam) How did your Adnan Sami remix album come about?
(Dj Sanj) Well basically I was approached by the label , OSA to remix one of his songs, ‘Beegi Beegi Raton Mein’. I was like, yeah sure. You know that was an honour in the first place. So I remixed it and handed it over to them. They loved it and said “We want a full album just like this”. I was more than willing to do it. The negotiations took place and in the following three weeks I did the whole remix album. The album has done very well , the response has been very positive , they were happy , I was happy…so yeah touch wood things are gong well for me.
(Kam) We have been waiting for the album ‘American Desi’ for something like 2 maybe 3 years. Are you really working on the album? Does it really exist?!
(Dj Sanj) Ha-ha, You know it exists man! I have just been loaded with other projects like the Adnan Sami remix album you just mentioned as well as ‘Lil Sach’s’ album which has recently been released. On top of that we have just released an album called D-Unit. So I’ve been behind the scenes working on other things which has left me with less time to work on the album. But now I have decided to get back on track and get things moving with ‘American Desi’. I want an album which is very different, unique as compared with the rest of the market.
(Kam) Apart from the E.P ‘Hype’. Have you done any tracks for the album? Who will the album feature?
(Dj Sanj) I’m at the songs selection stage. I have picked out a few songs that I really like. We are recording a few more. I want to get some more interesting and fresh lyrics and vocals. Stuff that is new and different as I said before. I don’t want to use too many big name singers. I’d rather use people who I think are very talented but have not yet had the opportunity to shine. In my previous albums I’ve tried to changed my style. I had a hip-hop hit with ‘The Next Episode’. Then it was a kind of dance track with ‘Tenu Bulandi’. Of course ‘Das Ja’ was on a desi tip so I’m looking for something new for ‘American Desi’. For sure I can tell you Karan MC, Binder Bajwa, Surinder Shinda and…er…..someone else will be on the album.
(Kam) Someone else? Do tell…<br>
(Dj Sanj) Ha-ha. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything! Ok. POSSIBLY….I’m going to have Malkit Singh on it.
(Kam) You say that you have been busy working on other projects. Do you find that keeps you fresh? Working with different people?
(Dj Sanj) I work very quickly and believe in quality AND quantity. I produced about 50, 60 tracks last year for different various artists. I like to improve my skills and that is the best way to improve by doing loads of stuff. I’m a engineer by profession so as far as skills like mixing , mastering and recording vocals is concerned , I do all that myself whereas 90% of the industry will go to someone like me to do all the work for them. I’m always learning more tips and tricks because I’m working with different artists, different musicians. For that reason my sound is always evolving and changing, compared to people that go to a studio and pay an engineer to produce their album. That album will have the engineer’s sound so isn’t really their album.
(Kam) I have heard a rumour that the track featuring Dippa Dosanjh ‘The Next Episode’ on your album Pure Hip Hop Vol 1’, is to get a mainstream release. Any truth in that?
(Dj Sanj) We are working on it. We have had the sample cleared. We went to Dre’s people and got ‘The Next Episode’ sample cleared. So that has all been done, We are just at the negotiations and paperwork stage. But yeah you are right, it is in the pipeline and hopefully it will happen soon . We will see what kind of response we will get from that. I will be interesting.
(Kam) Talking about the mainstream, What is your take on the whole breaking into the mainstream thing?
{Dj Sanj) I think it’s excellent. The whole scene is evolving from an underground scene to bigger and better things. I think that acts like Jay Sean and Ragav are doing very well. It’s very important for us to support them and other artists like them because the more we support them , the more record companies will realise that Asian artist can sell records and will therefore be more willing to invest in them. That is what we have to do. We have to show these people that it is worth it to invest in Asian artists, put money into them in order to develop them.
(Kam) We do need to support these artists yes, but how do we convince people to buy and not download albums?
(Dj Sanj) I don’t think that is something we can control in the near future. I think the only way to counteract it is to be loyal to your fan base. I think if you put out an album with one hit song while the rest of the album is mediocre, your fans will see through that and basically just download the one track. For example I have noticed that over time I have built up myself a loyal fan following that is why my sales are still there and downloading hasn’t effected me all that much because I’m giving my fans, the people that buy my albums, what they want. If you stay true to that then people will support you and go out and spend money, buying your albums. But if you try to cheat them or try to outsmart them then they will not waste their time on you and just download it.
(Kam) You have been very successful thus far in this industry. What advice would you give to someone who wants to put out an album?
{Dj Sanj) I have been around for a while now so can consider myself fairly established. The secret to that is that I know what I’m doing. I’m a hands on producer. It’s all a learning process. I learnt the software , the hardware. You have to learn the music, as a art form, as a science as well. Don’t pay someone else to produce your album. That is the best way to learn anything. Do it yourself. You learn quicker by making mistakes. You will get better, your thinking will change, new ideas will come to you.
(Kam) You are a very important figure here at Envy, or so I’m told! With the success of ‘Hype’ as well as Dr. Zeus’s ‘Unda The Influence’ is it fair to say these are exciting times for Envy? What is it like working here?
{Dj Sanj) Yeah for sure these are great times. It’s all a family environment. If one guy is doing well we are all pleased for him, he is like a brother to us. There is pride in the whole thing. Everyone is very close. Like when ‘Das Ja’ hit it big , everybody supported me and were happy for me. We all encourage each other to get better. There is no jealously involved. Same with Dr. Zeus’s album, I was pleased for him. We are one big Family. It’s great to work with such people.
(Kam) Is there any truth in rumours stating that Bally Jagpal is about to join the Envy camp?
(Dj Sanj) Ha-ha, I have no idea about that. You have ask management about that.
(Raj-Envy management) Yeah Its true!
N.B There was a big smile and the tone of his voice just didn’t make me believe him! So I think for now….It’s untrue.)
(Kam) Is there anything else we should look out for apart from the things you have already mentioned?
{Dj Sanj) I have loads of stuff happening right now and will be leaking stuff out as time goes on, slowly. American Desi is a priority for me now. I hope to have it out very soon. I will be giving sneak previews in the next few months.
(Kam) You are our featured artist for this month, any words for your fans?
(Dj Sanj) I want to say thanks for all the support I have received from day one. Without you guys, I’d be nothing. Thanks for believing in my music and I will continue to do what I can for you guys.
Interview by Kam Gill
