City Nomads Radio: Sivanesh

PUBLISHED December 17th, 2016 05:30 pm | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:58 pm

Currently a resident DJ at CÉ LA VI Singapore, Sivanesh’s sound is best described as a cross between the sexy house of Dennis Ferrer, the soulfulness of Kerri Chandler, and the groovy toughness of Santé. His eclectic tastes and selections, he has played alongside with numerous international guest DJs such as DJ Ravin from Buddha Bar, Satin Jackets, DJ Fudge, and Sunlightsquare.

In the course of answering our queries on City Nomads Radio, Sivanesh touched upon his early influences, essential growth of DJs, late night supper and his current favourite tracks.

When did you start DJing and who were your early influences?

I picked up DJing around 2007 when I was in my second year of polytechnic but I only started playing out more after 2012. Haan was, and still is, one of my major influences when it comes to DJing. I met him in school and we were listening to a lot of the same stuff at that time, so we totally bonded and became really close friends. He had a wicked Pioneer set-up at home, so we would always be in his room jamming and stuff, sometimes even skipping classes. Hah! Thank god I somehow managed to graduate…

Also, those hazy nights spent at the Zouk main room definitely played a big part in shaping my musical education and perspectives as well.

Musical influences these days would predominantly be the boys at work. I mean…I work alongside people like Brendon P and Ramesh. The real OGs. Then there are guys like Deepak and Anand who I play with every week. I am bound to pick up a thing or ten. Not only have they broadened my musical horizons and made me improve my craft tremendously ever since I joined the team but they have taught me things I would never have gotten otherwise – things like respect and humility.

Describe your sound in less than 10 words.

Anything with soul and groove. Genres don’t matter, only quality does. Sorry that’s 11 words, hah.

Is getting out from the behind the booth and dancing on the floor still something you consider essential for the growth of DJs?

Of course. That togetherness and ‘being lost in that moment’ feeling will inspire any one of us. That being said, I am at the bar most of the time these days instead of getting down on the dance floor. I really should stop drinking so much.

As a resident DJ at CÉ LA VI, what do you consider your main roles to be?

I play at the Skybar four times a week and at the Club Lounge on Sundays. Regardless of which room I am at, my main responsibility as a resident DJ would be to entertain the guests who visit us and leave a positive impression on them. That’s one of the main roles of any resident DJ, right? To entertain the people at the venue and add value to their experience while staying within the parameters of the music policy of the night or establishment.

Of course, it’s easier said than done. CÉ LA VI is a beautiful place to be DJing at but let’s be real. Most of the people who come up to the 57th are people who don’t know much about music, apart from whatever’s trendy and playing on the radio. With that in mind, I try my best to keep my sets accessible without being mainstream – nothing too deep or obscure. With a clietele that’s mostly clueless about alternative music, its always nice getting compliments from them and requests on how they can get my music when they get home. Nothing about stroking my ego or anything like that. It just tells me that I have managed to create something positive for that two or three hours that they have spent in my company.

It’s late and you’re drunk after a gig. Where are you going to eat?

Swee Choon! Other than that, its usually Spize and Adam’s Corner. Or McDelivery if I am really, really wasted.

Are there any tracks or artists in particular that you’re playing constantly these days?

I am really digging a lot of African deep and soulful house producers these days.. People like Exte C and Djeff Afrozila. A lot of stuff from Kenneth Bager as well as The Papik Smooth Experience. Songs sung in Italian are just plain sexy. On a more techy note, I have been listening to a lot Robert Hood’s mixes when I am in the mood for something heavy duty.

[mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/citynomadsradio/city-nomads-radio-28-sivanesh/ width=100% height=120 hide_cover=1 light=1]

Tell us more about this curated mixtape you’ve put together.

A friend called it ‘music for the bedroom’ when I let him listen to it to get his opinion. You decide.

Initially, I wasn’t sure how I wanted to go about with this mixtape. I didn’t want to do a tech mix, since almost everyone is doing that now, and was split between putting together a selection featuring downtempo black music (R&B, funk, reggae and soul), or a deep / soulful mix. I decided to go with my deep and soul.
Nothing too heavy, it’s easy listening house music with a lot of sax, trumpets and other instruments. I included two of my all-time favorite tracks at the end of the mix as well. Hope y’all like it.

Any shouts?

Boys and girls at work, thank you for not killing me yet! Friends and family who have been with me since day one, through the rainbows and the shitstorms.. I am nothing without yall. Thank you!

And shameless plug here – I am playing at CATO on Friday, 30th December 2016. Don’t often get a chance to play tougher music so…Come through!

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To stay updated of Sivanesh’s upcoming gigs and latest mixes, follow him here:
Facebook | Soundcloud