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Collaborating just right

Hit making producer Dr. Zeus plans to add a dash of hip-hop to Bollywood

THE GOOD DOCTOR Baljit Singh a.k.a Dr. Zeus chills out PHOTO: Mohd. yousuf

Much like other second generation Indians in Birmingham, Baljit Singh grew up listening to Tupac, Dr. Dre and Timberlake. After spending hours at recording studios during school days, he decided to set up one on his own. After much persuasion, read three years, he obtained a loan from his father to buy studio equipment.

This was way back in 1996. The `god of deejays' (a self title inspired by the Greek god) and producer who goes by the name of Dr. Zeus today is raking in big moolah for his covers. Remember Rouge?

In town for a gig at Bottles and Chimneys, he was elated on finding a packed audience swinging to his Kangna and Don't be shy. "Kangna was a theth Punjabi song that we turned into a club anthem. In two weeks we are coming up with a remix of the same, again a producer's remix, along with one of Jal's Woh lamhe. But this won't be a follow up album for Kangna. The big album will be towards the year end, which will feature big names in playback singing from India," he says.

Enthused by Asha Bhonsle's version of Cha cha cha that is ruling pop charts during his visit to the country, "I would be honoured to work with the likes of Asha Bhonsle. But I would not make her do the Cha cha kind of rendition and would rather bring in another female vocalist for R&B and gospel feel and to complement her on English vocals. I' d rather bring out her real potential," he says. Exactly how he works, combining Punjabi soul with hip-hop beat and collaborating with the best of artistes in the realm for his records. Rouge is a case in point-the all girls act that took music charts by storm, as also his opening album Def Jam, Pure Garage and High Life (featuring Kangna).

And soon he plans collaborate with Bollywood's music directors for item numbers and background score. "It is a black comedy and I will be collaborating with guys who did Bluff Master and give the best of Indian and hip hop. It's got to work. It's such a high feeling to know that a film has become successful with your music. If you look at Bollywood, films need to ride on the back of a Shah Rukh Khan or an Amitabh Bachchan. Also, music can make or break a Hindi film today," he says.

Rooted in India, the land, cuisine and the people, the king of Birmingham still swears by music and robust khana from sadda Punjab. Married to a Punjabi girl, "it was not one of them arranged marriages. It was a case of love. Her being a Punjaban brings a smile on my parent's face," he says. "Probably I should dedicate a song to my wife in my forthcoming albums," says the artiste who confesses that the best is yet to come from his studio.

SYEDA FARIDA

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