Passion for music full of energy in India: Finnish musician

Chennai: Finnish dance music artist Paavo Siljamaki, who is part of Britain-based trance group Above & Beyond, says he always looks forward to perform in India because the passion for music here is full of zest and zeal.

"The passion for music here is full of life. As a musician, I always look forward to perform in front of a full house filled with energy and enthusiasm, and I can undeniably say I find that in Indian music lovers," Paavo told IANS from London. The 35-year-old will perform in Bengaluru Saturday with Above & Beyond as part of the 450th episode of "Trance Around The World", a weekly radio show hosted by trance disc jockeys (DJs). The radio show will go live in 35 countries and 237 radio stations. Paavo, who has been composing since age 15, says his personal experiences have been his source of inspiration. "Most of my work is primarily based on personal experience and real emotions. People say trance is all about mixing different sounds together, but it`s not. I mix my emotions in my music, which is a combination of good and bad memories," he added. How was Above & Beyond formed? "We started in early 2000, and initially it was Jono and I, having discovered mutual interest for music, we started writing music together and even released few singles under our label `Anjunabeats`. Little later, Tony, who was part of a big music group, joined us and we completed the remix of chakra`s `Home` track", Paavo added. He says although trance is a relatively new form of music, it is picking up momentum rapidly across the globe. "Music lovers savour different kinds of music these days. Someone who likes rock music today may not like it tomorrow. Trance may be relatively new, but it is gaining popularity because it serves as a medium for artists to mix different types of music," he added. Can anyone with digital equipments become a DJ? "With digital advancement, it`s definitely possible. Moreover, you have so many DJ mixing software that is widely used by aspiring DJs. But, only a passionate musician will understand the art of composing. As I said before, DJ is not just about mixing tracks or sounds," Paavo said. Above & Beyond will perform a six to eight hour-long show featuring sets from some of the most exciting names in electronic music. The official line-up of international DJs who will perform at the show includes Jody Wisternoff and Andrew Bayer. IANS