The electronic evolution

DJ Jeremy Boon, a celebrated DJ from Singapore, was in the capital recently. He spun a night of heady electronic and house, drawing a lot of praise from the music lovers of this niche genre. What is it that makes house such a rage across the globe?
“House and electronic music is the evolution of disco music. People have moved on from listening to simpler beats and enjoy more complex notes now.This makes electronic and house music such a phenomenon,” replies the DJ, who, unlike a lot of others from his trade, is a shy guy.
Boon has been DJ-ing for the past 24 years now and says that he has enjoyed every moment of it and looks forward to mixing more music. “I will turn 40 this year. But I feel very young. I think that having stayed around music forever has helped me think and stay young,” he says. Ask him if he is influenced by Indian music and the DJ smiles, “I am influenced by all kinds of music. Indian music, yes, because it’s so rhythmic. Matter-of-fact, I can say from experience that Indian music has influenced dance music a lot. It has some or the other element for everybody!” Any Indian DJ that he has heard and appreciates? “DJ Pearl is doing a good job. She knows how to move her people,” replies Boon.
Has he ever thought of branching out from being a DJ to a musician? After all, there is only so much improvisation that a DJ can do. “There are a lot of other DJs who make their own music now. But I like playing with beats. In that, I am essentially a DJ,” he replies, before adding, “I am like a sponge. I keep absorbing music wherever I go. It can be local music, global music or glocal music.”
Coming back to Indian music, what is it that he thinks has made a global impact? “I don’t really follow Indian music, to be honest, but I think what has really been a phenomenon the world over is the bhangra music. That is something I have heard a lot wherever I have gone,” Boon replies. And what does he think moves the Indian audience? Are their choices like their global counterparts?
“Indians tend to move to drums and percussion sounds. Loud’s good!”
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