DJs mixing it up, home style

Soumya Sree Patel’s weekends were always packed she would be busy hanging out with friends at her favourite pub. But the lockdown has put an end to all such activities.

“There’s so much you cannot do right now, so I often felt low,” she confesses. But then she discovered the ‘virtual party’ scene. And things are looking bright again!

Every Friday night Soumya connects her mobile phone to her home theatre and dances to the groovy beats of a live session on Facebook or Instagram by her favourite DJs.  

“This is as close as you can get to a party during lockdown,” says the 28-year-old HR professional from Hyderabad, adding, “The virtual party makes me feel good and connected to a happier time.”

The virus has put everyone under ‘house arrest’, and turned the working week seven days long. But people like Soumya have decided to continue having ‘plans’ every weekend, no matter what the harsh realities may be.
Hyderabad-based VDJ

Jee-1 has gone from having a packed weekend to being busy on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, when he hosts virtual parties.

“You have to adapt. I earn no money from it, but I enjoy doing it for myself and for music lovers. Initially, when the lockdown started, I didn’t know what to do; but after a few weeks, as I was browsing, I came to know of various platforms where international DJs were playing their sets and keeping people entertained,” he says.

The technology used for doing virtual DJ gigs requires more planning than when using only a mobile phone to connect, explains Jee-1.

“In clubs, a DJ can see the audience and feel their pulse, and change tracks as needed to keep them hooked to the dance floor. But online, that gets difficult. I brought in different sets of mixers and controllers, set up the camera with a green screen as a backdrop to show graphics along with beats making sure to attract attention,” he says. After a few initial hiccups and one live show, he got the hang of it. “Now, when I go online, I make sure my audience gets the best sound and video quality. I also interact through chat box and mic to re-create the atmosphere of a dance floor,” he adds.

Echoing these sentiments, Piyush Bajaj, another popular DJ from Hyderabad, says, “It’s very important for a DJ to connect to the audience and to be able to do that, it’s very important that you look at your audience as much as possible, vibe with them, interact with them as much as possible. With the help of technology, we can reach a whole lot of people sitting wherever they are. For a DJ, it’s very important that if you are going live, you should definitely have the right equipment and good audio quality.”

Talking about the way people are making the best of the present situation, DJ Piyush says “Hyderabad DJs are already killing it online with virtual gigs, and people are tuning in on a regular basis, leaving their comments and sharing the watch parties on social media platforms.”

Of course, the vibe of a club cannot be replaced where strangers become friends over a couple of drinks and their favourite dance moves but the virtual gigs are a way to keep that feeling alive when you’re stuck at home, feels Niveditha Natraj, an MNC professional and avid party goer.

“As I sit indoors with work-from-home commitments, these virtual DJ gigs act as a reminder of what I used to enjoy before Covid-19 hit India. I am looking forward to seeing everything get back to normal, but till then, virtual gigs by my favourite DJs keep me going,” she says.