If you have been partying, attending concerts or just hooked to FM, you would certainly be familiar with Ritviz Srivastava — the Udd gaye hitmaker and Hindustani dance music producer from Pune. The winner of Bacardi House Party Session was one of the DJs who headlined OnePlus Music Festival held last year in Mumbai that saw the likes of Katy Perry and Dua Lipa perform. He is presently winning hearts (yet again) with his latest track, Liggi. Recently in Calcutta to perform at Xavotsav 2020, The Telegraph spoke to the man before his performance. Excerpts.

Your song Liggi has been highly praised. The beats are catchy and the video is super fun, depicting a young, married, fearless and carefree woman. What was the message you wanted to portray?

I think with our visual identity of all the songs that I have put out… I have been very grateful to work with people with great minds, like Catnip for Udd gaye. In all the videos, including Liggi, audio tells one story and visuals, another. That’s a cool combination. I think my music focuses on celebrating emotions rather than a specific thought.

Even with the video for Jeet, you have a lady rickshawala… With all our videos we try to break some sort of stereotype. My videos celebrate women, emotions and a lot of other things.

The song also got a shout-out from Salman Khan. How did it feel?

Ya, it was pretty exciting!

It’s been a whirlwind journey so far. Has the taste of success sunk in yet?

I think that feeling will always remain as it’s so overwhelming. I mean, even now, when I release a track... to see (so many) comments and reactions, it’s a familiar feeling but (it now) comes in a new format and that’s really exciting.

To get so much fame and love so quickly is praiseworthy but one can also get carried away. How do you manage to stay grounded?

I live with my folks (laughs) and I think that answers the question. Plus, I feel, I am surrounded by people who constantly keep me grounded!

Your mother is a classical singer. Did she influence you in taking up singing professionally? She, in fact, attends many of your concerts.

I didn’t grow up in a typical Indian household and music was never forced on me either. My parents had a background in music and in spite of that I was never forced to take up music. I could choose.

Your parents attend most of your gigs, that’s quite cool.

(Laughs) Honestly, my dad is more of an onstage person; my mom likes to stay away from all the attention.

You had once mentioned that your introduction to Western music was through Vh1. What prompted you to blend hip-hop, EDM beats and touches of Indian music?

Well, at a very young age I would do morning alap, kharaj.... My early years were heavily influenced by classical music and in my teens came Vh1 and MTV... I was exposed to Western music. So when I was 15-16 I wanted to express all of what I had absorbed for many years. It came to me organically; it wasn’t something I did consciously.

Udd Gaye continues to rule nightclubs in Calcutta. Tell us the story behind the song. Is there a personal backstory?

I was in the fifth standard and I had a major crush on this girl. It took me 10 years to write the song on how I felt when I saw her the very first time. It’s a very old, high school romance thing! This is the track through which I have expressed my first true emotions (smiles)

Also congrats on officially remixing major Lazer’s Light It Up and it sounds crazy! How did that happen? Have you received any feedback from him?

They reached out to us around Diwali and I was like “hell yeah man”! I finished the remix like in a day, I was very excited. Yeah, they loved it. I haven’t met the three of them but it would be cool to meet them in person.

Barso and Jeet from your debut album Ved are as peppy and groovy as Udd Gaye. What is the idea behind the album?

I just build around feelings and emotions and when I make music I really don’t think how I should plan a track.

Do you also intend to focus more on singing?

Yeah, absolutely! It will be a good mix of my production and vocals. I will be doing a lot of collaborations. I have been doing a lot of solo work, so I am looking forward to collabs. This year I am doing an album with Seedhe Maut. Then stuff with Nucleya… (laughs) we have a couple of projects that we need to… I think I have told people what my sound is and expressed it, so now listen to Ritviz with other artistes.

What’s your ultimate music-related goal?

Very early on I had this vision that my music would be heard by as many people as possible. I feel there is a global market and I would like to enter it and see what people think. Most importantly, the thing comes down to one person connecting his/her song with another person. It’s an exchange of energy. When I make a song, the sole purpose is to connect and feel the track. My job is to share and yours is to experience. As long as that’s happening, the cycle is complete.