We may collaborate with Pitbull in future – RDB

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart… Kully's sudden and untimely demise came as a shock to the entire music industry across the globe last week. More so because last month I met Surj in Mumbai from the famous RDB trio (Surj, Manj, Kully – the Punjabi DJ production team based in the U.K. who blend Western genres with their traditional touch of music) to talk about their next big groove and move in Bollywood. It was one of those days again when music was my only friend and as I was hearing Surj talk, I was seeing Manj and Kully in the subconscious somewhere. The trio are inseparable and will always be. Words flow as if it's melody. Confidence shouts as if it's their fans. Passion echoes as if it's their attitude. That's RDB in totality. Pick up any of their songs and you'll find all the above. Music expresses that which cannot be said and what is impossible to keep silent. Wherever you are Kully, we damn sure know you're playing loud. Put your hands together for RDB because it's bajao time! This one's for you Kully.

"We aren't the mental musicians but we are definitely out of the box"
Well, we aren't the mental musicians (laughs) but we are definitely out of the box. We are slightly mental (laughs). We are musicians and producers who think differently and the results are for all of you to hear. Bollywood is the reason that I am here today sitting in Marriott having coffee and our famous British muffin (laughs). We've been invited by a few producers and directors to discuss what music we can offer them for their forthcoming releases.

"Our genre is our name – it's not hip hop, it's not disco, it's not house music, it's RDB"
Our last hit track in Bollywood was 'Shera Di Kaum' from the Indo-Canadian movie Speedy Singhs. But the film wasn't that successful. For Singh Is Kinng we got Snoop Dogg and for this one we had called Ludacris. Recently, we produced a track called 'Chandni' from the film Chaar Din Ki Chandni directed by Samir Karnik. Our genre is our name, that is, RDB – Rhythm Dhol Base. For the past few years, we are trying to come up with a new sound. It's not hip-hop, it's not house music, it's not dance, it's not bhangra but it's RDB. We reinvent ourselves every time. We may collaborate with Pitbull in the future, you never know!

"We are releasing a new album called 'Worldwide' very soon. It's something you've never heard before but yet has that RDB stamp"
Being music producers, we don't work in any boundaries. We always have something different to do, something that we can experiment with. But then again, we also go back to our original forte, our original sound that RDB is known for. When people listen, they shouldn't feel so different that they are put off. We are releasing a new album called 'Worldwide' that has sound that you've never ever heard from any RDB tracks but still have our stamp.

"We have tried to diversify our music in more ways than just one"
There is a song in the album called 'Aansoo' that's sung by our very close friend from Pakistan – Mustafa Zayed. It's emotional and an uplifting song between a guy and a girl who are featured in the song. We have tried to diversify our music in more ways than just one.

"I love anything old school. I love anything Rafi"
My favourite track from Bollywood has to be 'Dan Te Nan' from Kaminey. It's brilliant. I love anything old school too. I love anything Rafi. His voice, his style of singing is amazing. You'll surely find the classic records I've collected of Rafi and more from the yesteryears Bollywood. I like Sajid Wajid's music too. They are good. Sonu Nigam's voice is heaven.

"Currently we aren't ready to do background score for movies"
Currently, we aren't ready to do background score for movies. But what's happening in Bollywood is that background score is given very little importance from what it used to be before, that is 'live' recording. Now-a-days they stick songs and a little bit of cut copy paste in the trailers and scenes. Scoring is popular but it cannot get any popular than songs in India.

"Akshay Kumar has been very lucky for us"
Akshay Kumar has been very lucky for us. Actually it has worked both ways. The first song we did with him was 'Rafta Rafta'. It was composed by Himesh but we only did vocals for it. Then after we did 'Om Mangalam' from Kambakhht Ishq, 'Paisa Paisa' from De Dana Dan and the many more. Akshay is a type of guy who will fully be involved in the making of the music. For example, he and Sabbir came up with the idea of 'Om Mangalam'. The mantra that's in the track was a ringtone. We came up with three to four different versions of the song and the next thing you know is that the song was on the CD.

"If Akshay lends his voice tomorrow for any song, I bet it'll be a hit track"
Akshay Kumar doesn't need to sing. He has an attitude but needs to be used properly. We used his voice as a rapper in Singh Is Kinng. But for producing it, everything has to be planned – the looks, the image, the attitude, the money involved, etc and not just singing and pure talent. But if Akshay lends his voice tomorrow for any song, I bet it'll be a hit track.