From playing at red carpet events to live concerts, and releasing chart-busting remix albums, welcome to the turntabling world of Manoj Sukhrani
Music is spiritual, it relaxes my mind, it comes from the heart, says Manoj Sukhrani alias DJ Manj, known for his electrifying DJing skills with the turntable.
Be it events, festivals, international acts or clubbing events, DJ Manj’s music is always a favourite.
“DJing is all about adding new flavours to songs. In DJing, if you are not improvising on the numbers, then you are literally doing nothing. If you have the opportunity to improve, you should absolutely take it and that is what I do,” he says.
Manoj, who basically hails from Pune, came to Australia in 2006 to study Information Systems and Networking and is presently working with Telstra. During the day that is. Most nights, you will find Manoj tucked snugly behind a console, spinning the night away.
“I was always fascinated by music and that was the reason that back in India I was actively involved in organising and managing club events,” says Manoj, who says his interest in DJing and music production sparked when he was a youngster.
He says he enjoyed the support of his father and sister, who was an RJ, and helped take his passion forward.
“I was always fascinated by musical instruments. In school I used to play the flute, saxophone, and the piano. After coming here, in 2007, I started learning DJing from DJ Kaz and that was how I got started,” says Manoj, who is a regular at corporate and red carpet events, having played at get-togethers where guests from the Australian Ministry have been invited.
Manoj has also performed alongside international artists on their official tours. He has performed with Jay Sean, Imran Khan, RDB, Bally Sagoo, DJ Aqeel, Dr Zues, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Punjabi MC, Juggy D, Sona Family, DJ Biks, DJ Sanj and others.
“When I met Punjabi rapper and producer Yo Yo Honey Singh, he gave me a few tips on music. He suggested that I always make note of beats that strike me whether I am driving, relaxing, eating or travelling. So that way I won’t let anything slip past me,” he says.
DJ Manj released the first-ever Bollywood remix album in Australia in 2009 with DJ Kaz called ‘Bollywood Rise up Australia’. It garnered more than 20,000 hits on YouTube.
“More than 15,000 free copies of the CD were distributed in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, New Zealand, India and Dubai,” he says.
“I believe there is a bright future in DJing. The market is growing and anyone who loves DJing should first learn it and then start,” says Manoj, who has been associated with Oorja Nights, since 2006, and does around 150- 200 gigs a year.
DJ Manj has been nominated and voted in the top 100 DJs of India in 2011 on MyFavDJ, which is India’s largest DJ/Artist resource & awards poll.
His remixes have been made it to the top of the billboards in Australia, India, and UK and are played in most of clubs.
“I have so many good experiences as a DJ but my best was when I played for more than 25,000 people at the Holi and Diwali Mela in Melbourne, an event supported and funded by the Australian Government, Indian Consulate and AIII,” he reveals.
Manoj has also been involved in some of the biggest Bollywood concerts in Australia such as the ones featuring Shankar Ehsaan Loy and Sonu Nigam.
Manoj, whose monthly music charts and reviews feature in Australia’s No 1 Bollywood magazine “Hello Bollywood”, is now releasing his upcoming official tracks, remixes with local and international singers under ‘7 Chords Record Label Australia”.
Manj has performed at the most happening clubs round the globe including Grandeur Hotel, (Barsha, Dubai), Chasers night Club (Melbourne), Luna Park (Sydney Harbour Bridge), Madison (Brisbane), and Minigue (Canberra).
To book Dj Manj, call 0402712544 or email djmanjaustralia@gmail.com.
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