The Press Play night at Monkey Bar on Camac Street featured entrepreneur and full-time mom, Roshni Malhotra from RNM Design Studio and socialite, DJ and former drummer of a Calcutta-based band Cheese, Samrat Roy Chowdhury aka Sun, who took the console on a Friday night a few weeks ago. Sun rocked the club as his playlist traversed from the very common tracks, dance numbers, hip-hop, Bolly music like Killing Jeeja from Animal to psytrance music with Cola by CamelPhat and Elderbrook, making it to everyone’s favourite from his playlist. Roshni, whose recent work includes designing for actor Vikrant Massey and Sheetal’s baby announcement on social media, oozed positive energy and smiled her way through mixing at the console. From Vengaboys to Pitbull and Eminem, Roshni’s mixed bag had something for everyone to let their hair down. Snapshots from the do.
Fast Five with Roshni:
What was your experience of Press Play?
It’s a very unique concept by Monkey Bar and I’m glad it gave me the opportunity to make others dance to my tunes.
Did you unwind?
Once you are behind the console you go into a zone where you only want to play some good music so it surely made me unwind!
How did it help you?
DJ-ing was a new experience in my life and helped me socialise, and meet new people... and people I haven’t met in years (laughs).
What inspired your playlist?
The playlist is ‘me’! It features the song which boosts me up and gives me a happy high.
What are your takeaways from the night?
I think what I learnt from being at the console at Press Play is you’re never too old to learn anything new, every place has opportunities, you should be ready to grab it and rock it!
Fast Five with Samrat Roy Chowdhury aka Sun
How does it feel to be at the console for Press Play?
I didn’t give up my passion for music. I was a drummer for a band called Cheese, but since the time it disbanded, I started mixing music on the console as a DJ. So, I took a chance when I was offered this event. Life is all about taking chances and here’s mine.
What inspired your playlist?
I believe in variations and I planned to incorporate a variety of music starting from hip-hop to ending it with psytrance, which I haven’t heard as much in Calcutta and I hope it goes well!
Are there any particular psytrance artistes you like?
I am a big fan of (Alex) M.O.R.P.H. I heard him play in Singapore and to be very honest I love hanging out in nightclubs and when I travel overseas, co-incidentally if there’s a big gig coming up, I make it a point to visit.
Are you excited or nervous when you take charge of the console?
I’m never nervous! I had a lot of impromptu sets with my drumming skills as well. Quite recently, I played the drums at Nocturne (on Shakespeare Sarani) with a band called All Square. I enjoy music so I’m confident.
Apart from the genres that you play, what other music do you like listening to when you’re chilling?
House... and I’ll be very honest, I enjoy hard rock, old-school rock ‘n’ roll!
"Roshni’s playlist from retro to new-age tracks like Prada (Cassö, D-Block Europe, and Raye) was a perfect progression that got us grooving. Sun’s entry with Killing Jeeja (from Animal) and switching from commercial to end with psytrance, Tripping in India (Cellas) got the crowd grooving and wanting for more. I loved Cola (CamelPhat and Elderbrook) from Sun's playlist and then I really enjoyed how he suddenly opened Bella Ciao Hardwell Mix with the theme song from Spiderman! It was insane and he got us high on music. It’ll be a night to remember," said Shweta Roy Choudhury.
When Sun took the console, Roshni and her friends let their hair down and grooved to tracks like Cola, Tripping in India, Killing Jeeja and more.