Out of the box' performer!

At just 18, he was the youngest Indian producer to be featured on Hardwell on Air. Now 21, EDM heartthrob and flag bearer of India at the International EDM scene, Sahil Sharma, better known as Zaeden is the most talked about artiste in the country! In a candid interview, the Delhi-based DJ, who will be performing in Bengaluru today, talks about music, his love for the city, and more…

So much more than just another young star, this powerhouse of music was deeply inspired by trance music. “I was 14 when I started listening to music on the internet, which inspired me to pick up the guitar and learn how to play it,” says the self taught artiste. And at 15, he came up with his on stage name Zaeden.

How did the name Zaeden come up? “Sahil is a very common name. Every second guy in our country is called Sahil. I wanted something that would stand out and that’s when my manager suggested Zaeden which means out of the box and I felt it described my music precisely,” he says. So what does he prefer being called? “I respond to both Sahil and Zaeden. Now, even my family occasionally calls me Zaeden!” he adds laughing.  

When Zaeden mixed Coldplay’s Magic, little did he know that Hardwell would go on to listen to it. “I made the mix for my sister,” he reveals. “My manager heard the track and mailed it to Hardwell. When he got the response email and showed it to me, I thought it was photoshopped! I thought he did it to make me happy and lift my spirits,” says the 21-year-old recalling the memory that helped set up his career.

And after that, he went on to perform at a number of festivals in India as well as abroad, Tomorrowland being the biggest! “The experience was out of this world, I have no words to describe it. It was just the best,” he says about performing the EDM festival.

And how did his parents react to all of this, we ask. “I was pursuing my Mass Communication but wanted to do sound design. It was quite a task to convince my parents – they wanted me to complete my education and then do whatever. But I anyway moved to Mumbai and studied sound design. And once I hit it off, they have been nothing but supportive,” says Zaeden warmly.

Despite sailing high, the stud manages to keep grounded. He responds to his followers on both Instagram as well as Facebook, making him even more popular!

“I have always valued the people around me and all the support they’ve given me, Also, I’m a nice person and like interacting with people and helping them out with queries regarding music,” admits Zaeden, who is quite a frequent visitor to the city.

“I do at least one or two shows in Bengaluru every month. Honestly, it’s the best city for dance and experimental music because the audience here is open to listening to new stuff. So when I’m here, I always manage to play something new because the audience is very encouraging,” adds Zaeden in conclusion, about namma ooru!