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Edited & Styled by: Janet Shamili
Photographer: Pushpesh Dhingra
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Euphoric
Exclusive
The creative
world of the
entertainment
industry is my
oxygen, it’s the
only home I
belong in…
Things to know about…
Ramona
Arena
A Vj, Tv host, radio jockey, film and theatre
actor from the many faces of Ramona Arena
today we connect with the singer…
Interviewed by Janet Shamili
P
ost a gruelling six hour shoot for the magazine’s fashion pages
I had neither the energy nor the will power to get myself charged
up for the yet to happen shoot with Ramona, as I just started
to take a mini chocolate break, Ramona arrived punctual to
the T, startled and somewhat embarrassed having a big chuck
of ­chocolate stuck to my mouth, I jumped up with a sudden surge of
­enthusiasm running through me, we began the shoot.
Devoid of any unnecessary airs and complete with an ease that shines
forth her approachability, Ramona settled herself calmly for the hair and
make-up, no complains, no nagging, just cheerful babble, a joke here, a
laugh there and how we blazed past the shoot is beyond me.
w We all came to know you as a VJ first for Mtv and you have been
a recurring face across television through the years but we now
see you blazing through the EDM scene, how did the t­ransition
into a singer come about?
I've always been a singer – I sang before I spoke, all through my school
my mom always complained that when it came to songs and lyrics
there was nothing I didn't know upon hearing just once, but when it
came to my studies – it seemed to take forever. I was active in college too with my singing, won a lot of inter collegiate festivals, I sang
in the musical Oliver! Where I played the lead role of Nancy, I sang
the English bit 'I just wanna be close to you' in Dj Aqeel’s remix of
Kehdoon ­Tumhein. So I've always been singing, just didn't really do
much about it!
w Do you have any formal training in music? Were you always
inclined towards it?
Yes I have in bits and pieces – in school, then a lot of training with
the musical. Both my teachers the late Ms. Hirjeebedan and M
­ arianne
have been phenomenal and incredible. Music is my life. After
­graduation – everything I've ever done has been around music from
radio to ­theatre to Mtv. I don't know life without music, and would
never want to.
w When did the love affair with EDM begin? Did you start off
with a different genre initially? What were your favourite bands
or ­artists growing up?
Well I've always loved all kinds of music from western classical to rock
to jazz and the top 40 pop! The only music I've never been able to get
in to is death metal, hardcore rap and country western. I started clubbing way early (was very mature for my age so fooled people, I was 18
when I was 13!) And growing up on the 'Now' series was the 'in' thing..
so those featured 2Unlimited, Eifeel 65, Robert Miles, Scatman John
and the list goes on really. Thankfully it evolved from that to the likes of
Paul Van Dyk, Chicane, Daft Punk etc and the rest is history!
w Your new single “Wanna be your only love” what was the
­inspiration behind it, are you planning on launching a music video
for the track as well, if yes then do tell us something about what
you have in mind for the video?
Well I wrote Wanna Be Your Only Love in 2010 at home in Switzerland,
a friend of mine Thomas Eggli sent me a rough track and asked if I felt
like throwing some vocals over it. So I wrote the vocal melody for it first
and then I found a poem I'd written for someone, thought it'd would
work perfectly with the melody I'd composed for it, adapted it and
voila! WBYOL was born. I've worked my butt off and done so much of
the work myself for this video, huge thanks to Red Bull, Vh1 India and
all my friends who've helped and supported me to make it happen. It
will definitely be out by the time your readers read this – they just have
to youtube it on 925 Music – the official record label!
w I am going to put you in a difficult spot and ask you to name
your top five Dj’s? Also is there any one particular Dj or producer
that you really want to work with in the future?
Oh my god! That’s a terrible question.. haha! Ummm.. Ok in no order
of priority at all – I'll say SHM, Deadmau5, Tiesto, Sander V Doorn,
­Swedish House Mafia, Michael Woods, Sultan & Ned, Paul Thomas,
Mark Knight, Hardwell, Alesso, Alex Kenji, Fedde Le Grand, Armin V
­Buuren, Protoculture, Zedd, Kaveh – Pleasurekraft, Richie Hawtin,
Hobo, Spartaque, Fergie, Matt Samuels ... okay I can't do this. There
are too many – besides there are too many sub genres of EDM so in
that capacity, I should get to mention at least 30?
w In your opinion how much has Sunburn festival affected the
EDM scene in India? Do you think it helped catapult India as a
global destination and paved the way for more events?
I think Sunburn has done loads for the EDM scene in India in a very
positive way. Look at how much of a bigger scene there is today compared to a few years ago. As Shailendra says, our obsession with the
west is so great, why can't we make a product of our own and show
the west how great we are! And with Sunburn featuring in the top 10
festivals in the world, it being attended by thousands, viewed live by
millions and having the biggest names in scene want to be a part of
it, there's just no doubt about it. I'm thrilled to be a part of that family.
w Having styled you for the shoot I am somewhat aware of what
you like and also what you wouldn’t be caught dead in, what
would be your top five wardrobe essentials?
Blue Jeans
White Shirt
Singlets in all colours and shades
Belts
Heels
w You have travelled all over the world for festivals and events, what
are your top three travel tips? And top three travel kit essentials?
1. As a third world citizen, don't EVER forget/lose your passport
2. Travel with an iPhone (you won't need anything else – Guides/
maps/info/camera/ipod)
3. Always check the weather for the time frame you're travelling in
1. Sunglasses 2. Music 3. Credit Card
w If there was any one particular artist you would like to get to
perform in India, who would that be?
Deadmau5
w Are you personally active on social media sites? In your ­opinion
how important is it for you on a professional basis?
Yes I am, I also have admins on FB page and website but on the whole
I have to say, it’s all mostly me on twitter. I think it's great because you
meet so many new people professionally and at the same time you
also have direct contact with your fans and supporters.
w Was there ever a plan B? If not in this industry what would
have been your alternate career path?
I'm creative – maths, science, economics is where I fail... miserably.
Also the kind of person that I am – too free spirited, too independent
and always looking to try new things and do more, I would just not
be conducive to doing anything other than this! There never was and
never can be – the creative world of the entertainment industry is my
oxygen, it’s the only home I belong in.
w Is there anything that you would like to change about the EDM
industry? Is there an all time favourite track of yours?
Get more people in India to support their own artists, get them to
buy singles and our tracks. And stop giving guest Dj's requests!!!! No
one cares your favourite song is 'Guantanamera' (yes I swear in the
­middle of a 'big' Dj’s set) – it’s embarrassing and ridiculous to do that.
Tooooooo many tracks to even think of a favourite!
w Musically speaking if you could, would you want to be reborn in
a different era or are you content being in the present day scenario?
Actually sometimes I wish I'd lived through the 70's to experience
the whole hippie, flower power scene but then I have to say I'm
quite thrilled to be exactly where I am because I got to live through
times when we had cassettes to Mds to Cds to mp3s etc! I missed
out on the LP era but hey my parents had LPs and players so I'd
throw them on every now and then for fun. And I've been exposed to
Western C
­ lassical music through my grand mom, the 60's, 70's and
80's through my parents and the 90's to the present day has been
a wonderful journey through time in music that I wouldn't trade for
the world.
w What plans for 2012? What can we look forward from you?
I tend not to talk about the future cos life has this way of mocking me.
Every time I make a plan or say I'm definitely doing something, it'll slap
something else in my face, point its finger at me and go 'ha-ha did you
really think you'd do that!?' Basically it's a bucket full of surprises, you
never know which one you'll get.
w Thank you so much for taking time out for us, a few words for
the Euphoric readers?
Thank you so much for all the support and love! It makes me proud
to be the first singer from India singing in English, writing in English
and releasing music internationally. It's great to see y'all happy and
grooving to the music but we need you to go out and buy the music for
us to be able to make it LARGE. Indian Djs & producers have tons of
talent and are doing lots internationally too but no one knows of this.
Let’s all support each other and show the world India's got serious
talent, which is at par with international standards. We can all make a
change together. Thanks Euphoric mag for the initiative, support and
hard work! Hope y'all become best sellers soon – good luck to all of
you!!! Much love always!