For 38-year old Ashvin Mani Sharma, music is the only thing through which everything begins, stays and ends with. Picking up inspiration from all over life, he started off by casually making some tunes along with a few friends back in college, almost 23 years ago. It was while pursuing an economics honours at St. Xavier’s College that it dawned on him that music was what he wanted to live by.
“I was always interested in music. But only after college did I take it up seriously,” says Ashvin. Once the decision was made, he became unstoppable.
“I went to Kazakhstan in Russia in the year 1999. I was there for 11 months working as a DJ. I then shifted to Delhi doing parties and special theme nights,” shares the artist who completed a course in sound engineering from Chennai after his brief stint in Russia. Post this, he formed his own band.
Other than his stage name, Ashvin is also popular for being a part of the indie band Jalebee Cartel that came after big names like Medieval Pundits, and brought Indian EDM music to the global map. Formed in the year 2005, they constituted of four music enthusiasts, out of which, Ash Roy still works with Ashvin.
“We were in the Indian music scene for eight years, but dismantled a few years ago because we realised we were doing the same kind of stuff for a long time,” he shares. That was when the band members sought to build individual careers. Ash and Ashvin run the label Superb Records together and they also partner while performing. They soon have an album coming up.
Enjoying a comfort level with someone who he’s already worked with, Ashvin and Ash workto give audience honest experiences. “If people don’t feel something when they are listening to music, I think its a job not done well,” says the music producer who likes honest expression of art in any form, be it music, poetry, literature or even graffiti. “I like arts and creative expression. Though I could enjoy a good book in my free time, I prefer listening to music while I’m not making music,” he says.
Perhaps that quest for honesty is what makes DJ Calm Chor a name sought after. For him though, it’s just about the music. “I wouldn’t really enjoy doing an item number or any thing that would count as mass manufacturing of music,” he says emphasising that he would like to make music for a Bollywood producer who would give him his space.
Cherry picking the projects he works on, Ashvin tells us that the latest movie he has worked on. “I created music for Vir Das’s Amit Sahni ki List which is a smart film, the kind I would like to associate myself with. I prefer to work on movies like these than the `100 crore, multi starrers that has everything defined.”
Having given Hyderabadis quite the time of their life on Saturday along with city DJ Murthovic, Ashvin was happy to catch up with his friends apart from taking the pleasure of playing for a crowd that understands his kind of music. “I enjoy the biryani and plan to take some back home if I can,” he laughs before signing off. Calm Chor was here as a part of the 100 Pipers Vh1 Sound Nation tour.
