New Delhi: Do you remember the popular 'Rasode Mein Kaun Tha' video, the viral mashup that took the internet by storm a few years back? Not just that, netizens also got hooked to 'Pawri Ho Rahi Hai' soon after. Numerous memes did the rounds on social media using these lines from the mashup videos. Yes, you guessed it right- we are talking about none other than Yashraj Muskhate. Creating a buzz on social media with his previous videos, Yashraj also made a song out of Shehnaaz Gill's dialogue from Bigg Boss and that too became an instant Internet meme.
Speaking of Yashraj, he is a music producer, composer, lyricist and a social media influencer known for his outstanding and relatable mashup videos. On the occasion of World Music Day, in a candid conversation with ABP Live Yashraj shared his journey of producing mashup videos, the impact of technology on Indian music, and many more.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
Can you share with us the story behind your journey into music production and creating viral mashup videos?
Music has always been a part of my life since childhood. I learned it from my dad. I started experimenting and making music on social media by adding dialogues to my track from 2018 and in 2020 my first video got viral, which was 'Rasode Mein Kaun Tha'.
Your mashup videos, particularly the 'Rasode Mein Kaun Tha' and 'Pawri Ho Rahi Hai' have become incredibly popular. What inspired you to create these unique and catchy compositions?
Meme pages are my main source of content where I find all these weird/funny dialogue pieces and I love to sample them. But my primary goal was to make a track which will sound like a proper song if you remove the dialogue. If you listen closely, all my tracks are treated as proper songs which have a structure- an intro, a verse, a bridge and a chorus. That's why people find it easy to learn and they remember it word by word.
Did you face any criticisms while creating these mashups? If yes, how did you deal with them?
Not really, I'm very fortunate that most of the people who watch my videos really like them. There is always one out of the thousand good comments, which I can easily ignore.
Can you highlight the impact of technology in the current scenario of Indian music?
Technology has drastically changed the process of making and consuming music. It has become extremely easy to learn to create music. In addition to this, the number of platforms that provide free music streaming has also increased. This immense level of access has definitely had an impact on Indian music.
With the help of auto tune, nowadays, almost everyone can sing. How is this affecting the music industry?
I find it extremely fascinating that one can make themselves sound good with the use of a plugin like the autotune. It's like the filters you use to make yourself look good in your Instagram story. It's a tool one can use to make better stuff, which I think is pretty cool. I believe it is just assisting young music producers in creating melodious tunes.
Besides mashups, would you like to work more on original compositions? What can the audience expect from them?
Absolutely! This year is going to be full of original songs.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in music production or creating viral content?
Consume more content, especially the right kind of content. If you want to learn music, like and engage with music related content on the internet. Let the algorithm know what you like and it will help you back by recommending useful stuff. By doing this, you get to learn the craft and get an overall idea of the things that work and things that don't.
Would you like to give any message on World Music Day?
I'd just like to request my audience to listen to the music that I'll be releasing in the coming months. It's pretty cool. I've really enjoyed making it, I hope they like it too.