Raj is a guitarist & producer based in Delhi, his music stands out from the rest for its commitment to melodic content, featuring jazz sounds fused with neo-soul guitars, calming vocal chops & groovy drums, Raj’s music is an intersection between Jazz, house, amapiano, dubs, funk & soul. His music has received a lot of worldwide attention, racking up more than 10 million streams on Spotify. Raj as a live act has played some of the most well-known festivals in India like Jazz Weekender, NH7 Weekender, Magnetic Fields Festival, VH1 Supersonic, Oddball Festival, GAIA, Echoes of Earth, etc. In a conversation with us, he talks to us about his latest track ‘Delhi House’, and his journey so far.
Tell us a bit about your project. How did you begin your journey as a guitarist/producer?
I started playing guitar when I was 13, completely obsessed with rock & metal at first but eventually started exploring progressive rock, jazz, neo soul, electronic as well as hindi film music. In 2020 while I was still working a 9-5, I finally took the leap into music production, blending my guitar skills with beat-making and electronic textures.
What started as simple loop experiments evolved into a full on journey mixing jazz, neo soul & old school hip hop influences into something uniquely my own
Which bands/artists were your first love? Who is your biggest influence?
Growing up my favourite artists were Megadeth, Metallica, Nirvana, Motley Crue, Michael Jackson, Slipknot, Death, Gojira etc. My biggest influence as an artist has been Kurt Cobain since I was 14
Tell us a bit about your latest release ‘Delhi House.’
‘Delhi House’ represents a new chapter in my sound. 2024 has been a year of experimentation and transition, where I wanted to explore uptempo, groovier music. I’ve always been drawn to soulful, jazzy textures, but with ‘Delhi House,’ I wanted to fuse that vibe with driving house grooves, creating something that feels both warm and energetic.
How did the whole collaboration with Mauricesax come about? What was your experience like?
I discovered him on Spotify & really liked his sound. Coincidently we had worked with the same labels so I reached out to him with a few tracks & he was happy to get onboard.
What is your music-making and recording process like?
My music-making process always starts with a core idea, most often a percussion groove or a melody that sets the tone for the track. From there, it’s all about sound selection and layering, making sure each element fits into the bigger picture.
At this point, everything flows pretty naturally. I let intuition take over, shaping the track as I go, I focus on capturing a feeling rather than overthinking the process. Every track has its own journey, and that’s what keeps the process exciting.
Why do you make music? What drives you as a musician and what are your tracks about?
I make music simply because I’m compelled to create, it’s something that flows naturally, and I feel incredibly grateful for that gift.
Which Indian bands or artists do you admire and why?
There’s so much exciting music coming out of India right now, and I really admire beat makers & producers who are pushing boundaries and bringing a global sound to their production. Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, Nate08, Sakre, Dishaan, Owlist, sudan are some of my favorites.
What’s your take on the independent music scene in India?
It is a really good time to be an independent artist in India right now, it’s only getting bigger & better. That being said, you still need a strong work ethic, resilience and consistency.
