21 March,2009 09:07 AM IST | | Bhairavi Jhaveri
Ahead of their debut artist album launch tonight, Delhi-based electronic outfit Jalebee Cartel tells The Guide why fusion music is not their thing, and the designers they are making music for at the ongoing India Fashion Week
Ashvin Mani Sharma (laptops/ synths/ keyboards), Arjun Vagale (laptops/ mixing/ scratching) and Ash Roy (vocals/ percussions) have been DJs for 14 years, before GForce Arjun (bass guitar/tech) joined the trio, and Jalebee Cartel was born in 2004. But the Jalebee sound has changed every 6 months, since then. "Ideas get old, sounds get boring. So, you have to keep reinventing," they say. And their new album, OnePointNothing will take you through this journey. They are not a band that just crept up on listeners. They have experience that's partly responsible for putting them on the world EDM map. Besides performing at the biggest nightclubs, the four-piece group has been part of the line-up at various music festivals, including the Smirnoff Experience Festival (Mumbai) 2005, Lille 3000 (France) 2006 and The Big Chill (Goa) 2007.
How long have you'll been working on ONEPOINTNOTHING?
Ash: We have been producing music for quite a while now, and have over 30 international single releases and various compilations. ONEPOINTNOTHING is a result of this journey. Our sound has evolved, so the album has different sounds from chill to breakbeat to progressive house to techno.
Arjun: We have been producing a lot over the last year and have been keeping aside tracks that we thought would fit into this album.
What does the name mean?
Ash: 1.0... this is what it means.
Arjun: Well, it doesn't mean much. Just simply putting forward that this is Number One. In many ways, we hope!
Have you'll salvaged anything from 2008's Regathering onto Onepointnothing?
Arjun: We've included a fresh take of Beautiful Rising in the new album. We have a few tracks that were live tracks, so, we finally went into the studio and finished them as records.
How do you'll describe the Jalebee sound? And what is the most incorrect description you'll have heard of the Jalebee sound?
Ash: Intelligent Dance Music is what we like our music to be known as. Some people think our sound is fusion.
Arjun: Fusion, for one, is the most incorrect description! We are a dance music act; it's pretty simple.
How did you'll come up with the name Jalebee Cartel?
GForce Arjun: We really have no answer to that. I'm sure that when it was thought of, it had nothing to do with the music, but over a period of time, "sweet and twisted" stuck on.
Ashvin: Jalebee was a cool name. It sounded better than Butter Chicken!
Which designers are you'll producing music for at the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week
in Delhi?
Arjun: This year, we are working with over 20 designers including Ritu Kumar, Ashish Soni, Manish Arora and Manish Malhotra
How does a live set work versus a DJ set?
Ash: When we play live, we all have our individual parts; Arjun handles all triggering of loops, the mixing, scratching, Ashvin does all the effects and synths, GForce plays the synth bass, and I do the vocals and play the percussions. We practise and rehearse like any other band.
GForce Arjun: A Jalebee DJ set is the perfect way to express our mood, thoughts and feelings to the crowd.
Attend the group's album launch tonight at Blue Frog, Mathuradas Mills Compound, opposite Kamala Mills, Lower Parel, from 10.30 pm to 1.30 am. Call: 40332300.
Entry: Rs 500 per head.
WIN a copy of jalebee's new album:
What is the name of Jalebee Cartel's new album that's launching today? Mail us your correct answer to theguide@mid-day.com along with your name, telephone number
