Recently, Richard had the pleasure of hooking up with 'DJ Cavo' & 'Niraj' who make up two thirds of the 'Dum Dum Project. They were responsible for the super smash hit tune Punjabi 5-0 which is nothing short of a club anthem.
The comments of each of them have been colour co-ordinated to help you distinguish who is saying what. The following key can be used as a guide to help you with this as well.
Richard: For those who aren't familiar with The Dum Dum Project, tell us a bit about yourselves.
DJ Cavo: DDP is production team of Sean Dinsmore aka DJ Cavo, and Niraj "DNC" Chag... the1shanti is full time crewmember, and others contribute, such as MC Earl J and MC Chori Sala.
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Richard: The album 'Spiritual Bling' has just been released in Asia and a UK release is set for later this year, what can fans expect on there?
DJ Cavo: Expect the unexpected...it's very diverse and sounds nothing like the rest of the UK desi scene - probably because we're from NYC mostly.
Niraj: The album is crammed with an assortment of undisputedly dope tracks all blinging.... spiritually innit. Expect innovation... expect high production values.... y'all know that DDP always delivers. |
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Richard: 'Supafly Bindi' was recently put out in Asia, what kind of a response are you getting from that?
DJ Cavo: It's just coming out now on the heels of Punjabi Five-0, which was top ten MTV single and channel U - heavy rotation... should be a club hit.
Niraj: It's been an amazing response everybody out there are feeling it but most importantly I played it for my mum the other day and she said it was a splendid little ditty.
Richard: You've actually been around for a while, mainly in the underground scene, how did that period shape your music style?
DJ Cavo: We're still in the underground scene!
Richard: The 1Shanti has featured heavily on your work, how do you rate him as an MC?
DJ Cavo: He's the best in the desi scene that I've heard...and rates with some of the best in NY, he's gonna blow!
Niraj: I give him a rating of 88 and he's got dope braids too.
Richard: With the scene awash with garage MCs, do you think that he can fill the void that is the lack of an Asian hip-hop MC in the UK Bhangra market?
DJ Cavo: Not sure about bhangra mc's, but it seems like they just copy American MC's... Shanti is a NY rapper with mad street cred.
Niraj: That boy is more hip-hop then anyone I know - he's is by far the best MC on the scene and if I could have another brother or even father I would like him to be like Shanti or possibly Amitabh Bachan or maybe even Bill Cosby.
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Richard: You've got perhaps the biggest following from North American desi's, what is the scene like out there? Is it expanding as fast as it is over in the UK?
DJ Cavo: Haven't been living in the US full time for a few years, so I'm not sure about the scene...but the UK is much bigger scene.
Richard: The tour calendar on your website has dates scheduled all over the world, which country do you reckon has the best club atmosphere?
DJ Cavo: UK defo. |
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Niraj: Thailand - the crowds are very receptive and show us mad love and its always fun to play in the UK, innit. |
Richard: Panjabi 5-0 is probably the biggest Dum Dum tune to date, what was it like making that and did you feel that you were on to a winner in the studio?
DJ Cavo: We did it as a joke really, after all the fuss about Indian...but yeah, we knew it was dope after we finished it and listened in the car.
Niraj: We knew as soon as we put down that beat, bassline and tumbi that this was gonna be a wonderously bountiful track and when Shanti dropped his verse - it was over.
Richard: You recently played Funkshaan at Birmingham's HQ club alongside Raghav and Zeus, what was the crowd like there?
DJ Cavo: Crowd was wicked...everything else was, well...
Niraj: They were a good-looking bunch - beautiful I tells ya
Richard: And finally, have you got any more words for the thousands of desitunes4u readers out there?
DJ Cavo: Stay tuned for new single dropping this summer on Xlantic Records, spiritual bling (UK version) out in the fall. Also Bollywood star compilation on Xlantic / Universal...peace!
Niraj: Thanks for your support - without you guys I'd probably be selling double glazing out in Milton Keynes - One love - DNC
That ends the interview, firstly a big thanks to DJ Cavo & Niraj for taking some time out to chat to us. Make sure you check out the Dum Dum Project website at www.dumdumproject.com, plus if you would like to e-mail him direct then you can at dj.cavo@dumdumproject.com & niraj.chag@dumdumproject.com now!
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