26 November,2009 10:33 AM IST | | Namita Gupta
DJs Nerm and D-Code are originally Nirmesh and Dharminder. They think like a band, and are performing in Bangalore today
Shiva Soundsystem isn't a remix of Rajesh Khanna's Jai Jai Shiva Shankar. It's actually what Nerm and D-Code call their music label.
From being a frontman of an electro-punk band Charged in 2000, Nerm has moved to being a DJ for Asian Underground club Swaraj.
This is where Shiva Soundsystem was born. It was at a jam session at a warehouse that D-Code met Nerm and bonded over whiskey. The warehouse sessions soon matured to massive weekend residencies at London's clubland, before evolving into a band with a sprawling network of musicians, producers and DJs.
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On a music tour: Meet Nerm and D-Code at Bacchus tonight |
How was the name Shiva Soundsystem born and your names Nerm and D-Code come about?
Shiva Soundsystem came about from that great Indian tradition of naming your life's work after a deity! In the UK I always saw 'Garuda Travels' or 'Hanuman Provisions' so it was natural for me to do that with my music. Also, I felt that a lot of chill-out albums at that time (2000) had hijacked the use of those divine names. Why couldn't I use them and turn something hippie-like into something more edgy and punk?
Nerm is a nickname I've had since I was four years old. My real name, Nirmesh, when pronounced in Britain, became Nermesh... difficulties with the 'ir' bit, I guess!
D-Code went through a number of DJ names that none actually called him. As his real name is Dharminder, and we all call him Dee, stick code on the end (as he programs music) and you get D-Code.
How did you form your band? Can we call it a band?
Initially Shiva Soundsystem was formed in 2000 with musicians performing on my DJ sets. It then morphed into a band, a sprawling collective, and finally a record label. Most of the time we perform, the energy we give off it is the same as that of a band. So I like to think we continue to blur that line between a band and a DJ.
What led you both on to get together and make music?
I think our mutual appreciation for Drums, Bass, The Sex Pistols, The Prodigy, Lata Mangeshkar and the desire to break the mould led to us put all those things together on record!
What genre do you belong to?
We love drum & bass, and we also love all the music that the UK has given birth to.
How did your video Outlaw come about?
Through our brilliant, visionary director Shaft Uddin and our prolifically talented designer Kunal Anand. We feel really blessed to have people around us that can give our music an image and make that image move.
What is planned for the Thursday night at F&B?
The only thing we ever plan for a gig is to make the place erupt. The last time we played at Bangalore, we were taken aback at how eager the audience was to hear new music, even if they didn't understand it at first. It's just great that the crowd is so open-minded. If we have the crowd on our side, we try to keep them there.
Any 'WTF' moments?
Too many to mention. A highlight is when, as a joke I played a drum & bass remix of Britney Spears at the Glastonbury Festival, which is one of the biggest music festivals in the UK. A woman got on stage and slapped me clean across the face and said "Don't you dare play Britney Spears again!" and calmly walked off. I was stunned. D-code was shocked and then we both burst out laughing. Very, very surreal.
How old are you guys and how Indian are you?
I am very, very old. D-Code is younger. We are very Indian indeed. We like dal, roti, saag and butter chicken. Not to mention, idli, sambar, dosa, biryani, dhokla and chutney of all varieties. D-Code lived with his family until last year. I married a good girl from a good family. We're as Indian as you can get.
How different is the club and party scene in UK as compared to India?
Now, not so different. A few years ago you could just see the green shots in India sprouting. It's great now that it has its own vibrant club circuit that stands on its own two feet, without having to copy any other scene from anywhere else in the world. India has the excitement of 90's London when the underground electronic scene really started kicking off. That's not to say that India's behind, but that it's kicked off its very own underground scene here.
Would you rather be known as a rocking DJ or a musician? Or both?
A blend of the two would be nice. I just wish I could play more instruments though. I'm going to have to pick up my tuba lessons when I get back to the UK.
Where: Bacchusu00a0at F&B Papanna Street, St Marks Road.
Call: 4033 3888
When: Nov 26, 9 pm onwards
New video
Nerm and D-Code are on an India tour to promote their new video 'Outlaw'.
