If you’d like to hear authentic Bhangra music spun by Portland’s most talented and unique DJ’s the ANDAZ dance party is where you need to be this Saturday. DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid will be performing their monthly Bollywood dance extravaganza for the first time at a new venue, Rotture, located in SE Portland. The following interview with DJ Anjali will help you get to know the hosts and the inspiration behind their extraordinary music style and exuberant dance parties.
Your bio mentions that you were “Made in India, born in Oregon and raised by a band of Marathi banjaras”, what are banjaris and how has your upbringing influenced your music style?
Banjara is the Indian term for Gypsy (the word is used all over India, regardless of region.)
I use the word to describe living outside what-is-normal.
My Mother is an Artist & her family supported her creative endeavors. (For a woman in India, in the fifties & sixties, that was practically unheard of.) She attended Art School in Bombay & my Grandparents supported her marriage to a "pharangi" (foreigner). Of course moving to rural Oregon in the seventies proved to be quite lonely for her. She clung to her old Hindi cassettes & my childhood was seeped in that nostalgia. We moved around a lot & my early years were spent traveling between India, Oregon, Tucson & the east coast.
Existing as a half desi in the traditional Indian community is socially unacceptable. In fact, you are practically invisible which is probably why looking in from the outside is so normal to me.
It's why I've devoted my life to dance & music. The dance floor is where barriers are broken down & everyone is equal.
Even though you play a very unique style of music, can you name any artists, DJ’s or music genres that are similar to the type of stuff you play?
No one really does quite what I do but 2 desi dj's that come to mind are the BBC's Bobby Friction & Nihal. Also, NYC's Joro Boro (former resident at Mehanata Bar.) As someone who melds her two worlds seamlessly, the UK's Bishi is an inspiration. The spirit of Taqwacore is something I strongly believe in. Question what you're told then embrace it on your own terms.
Could you describe a desi party?
A typical desi party consists of some over played bhangra & bollywood plus a lot of top 40 hiphop n rnb.
The emphasis is on the hook up not on the music.
The Kid & I have our own take on the classic desi party. We play a heavy dose of bhangra with some Bollywood thrown in for good measure. Stephen (The Kid) mixes it up with Tamil & Telugu which is unheard of at a desi party. We don't play ballads but I do love me some desi rnb.
Even though we are proponents of the mad sounds of bhangra we do not condone the Panjabification of what constitutes desi music as a whole. Being an Artist means meeting your audience half-way. Half-way between what they want & what you want to re/present.
You perform your set with The Incredible Kid, what kind of sounds does he bring to the mix?
The Incredible Kid and I have been djing together for nearly ten years. We have hosted Andaz together since 2002. We both keep up with desi music in our own way. The Kid has much more patience than I do when it comes Bollywood these days. The amount of crap that is churned out of Mumbai is disheartening to me. For the most part I can't be bothered. At the moment Bollywood wants to hityouoverthehead with an inane house beat.
The Kid has been quite obsessed with Tamil & Telugu (Kollywood & Tollywood) film music for years. In fact we traveled to Hyderabad & Chennai at his behest, just so he could raid the music stores!!
The event happening on the 15th is to celebrate the move of the Andaz desi party from the Fez Ballroom to Rotture, why is this move important to you?
Represent! The east side is taking over...
Seriously, this is the beginning of a new era for us & for Portland. We started Andaz at Lola's Room in 2002 & moved to Fez Ballroom that same year. In its 8th year, Andaz is Portland's longest running monthly party. We are jumping the river & its full steam ahead! We ain't slowing down for nothing....
If you could live during any generation which one would you choose? Why?
For decades I was obsessed with the past, in particular the sixties & Victoriana. Style is important to me but I've come to realize nostalgia won't get us anywhere. Living in the in the present and learning from the past is what we should aim to achieve.
The event will take place May 15th from 9 pm to 2:30 am and is for the 21 and over crowd. Price of admission is $7. Rotture is located at 315 SE 3rd Ave. Portland, OR 97214 (On the second floor).
For more information on DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid check out their website and tune in to their KBOO radio show (90.7 FM) every Tuesday night from 10 pm to midnight to hear them lay down some sick beats!
Comments
Excellent interview with one half of Portland's only best globalista DJ duo
our next night at Rotture is Sat. June 26th
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