Artist Interview: 1-on-1 with Kunal Merchant

Have you heard the hit single “ANOKHA” yet? I heard this song a few months ago and was blown away by the sound… The vibe. I reached out to learn more. He was quick to respond and agreed to an interview. We talked about this song, his Spotify playlist, his time in NYC and a recent trip to the White Island. This interview is a long time coming. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kunal Merchant.

Tell me more about your new single “ANOKHA”. I LOVE this song, by the way!
Thank you! This record, “ANOKHA”, was a project that came together over two years.

I started working on “ANOKHA” in 2020 when I was asked to participate in a live stream to help support the farmers’ protests in India. I wanted to play something that I created for that set. After that, I kept tinkering on that record, and I think it has 16 or 17 different versions. As my first solo record, I really wanted it to represent who I was – in the form of an “introduction”. This song blends my love for classical Indian music and electronic music of all forms and comes to live through the story it tells.

I love your sound, actually. It is very unique. How would you describe your sound and who inspires you?
Thank you. I’m a blend of my earliest influences which begin with classical and religious South Asian music; my very first introduction into electronic pop through the sounds of Depeche Mode, New Order and more; and my deep passion for house music, which ranges from the OGs like Carl Cox, the global sounds of someone like Black Coffee, and the genre guiding selectors like Dixon.

You have a public playlist on Spotify called Sounds like Kunal. Tell me more about that and are you seriously updating this every week?
(Laughs) Yes, every week! This is something that I love to share with friends. They always have for me a “mix” or “playlist” but I never had anything that represented me in the moment. I had mixes, but they were older, or playlists that I made for a moment. This gives me something that is evergreen in nature, so I can share it feeling good that they’re going to get a good sample of what I’m into.

You are based in New York City. There are a lot of great nightclubs in NYC. Where are some of your favorite places to see a show?
There are some great clubs in NYC. I’ve been fortunate to play at so many, but a club is only as good as its two key components (in my opinion): the people or parties it attracts and its soundsystem. The thing that I’m finding is that some of my best clubbing or DJing experiences now take place in places that don’t reflect a traditional club – I love the warehouse-style event that features incredible sound, minimal (but effective) lighting, a strong haze machine, and people who are there for the music. Stripping it down to the basics is all I need.

But if you had to ask me to choose my favorite clubs… It’s easy: Le Bain, Public Records, Goodroom BK.

You created The Summer Classic, an annual boat cruise. Now that sounds FUN! Tell me more. Where do I sign up?
It’s an amazing party that has turned into an annual tradition. We just completed our final boat party of the summer, so we’ll have to get you on next year. The Summer Classic Boat Party is like a festival on the water, where I curate the lineup, dream up the production and decor of the boat, and invite my friends to join us for a 4 hour party on the water. The dream comes to life when you put all of these components together and add a magical sunset and the skyline of NYC. It’s a very special event!

Caché Life looks cool. How are you involved with that project?
I’m a resident DJ for Caché Life. It’s a great brand, record label and platform for artists that fuses the elements of live music with electronic music. The parties are really unique and they take on various forms across different venues in the city. It’s really fun!

What is your process for producing a new single? Do you sit down with a yellow pad and just write, or do the sounds just come to you?
It’s different each time. For me, it takes a single spark of inspiration to get into a “groove” and then you just have to let the story flow out of you. I’m very conceptual in my process, so I need to have something that the music anchors to. It’s important to think about what I’m trying to convey with the music.

To be honest, the hardest part of the process is the final 15% when you’re getting the piece ready for mixing and mastering, but you don’t want “perfection” to override the feeling you’ve created.

Tell me more about Music Without Borders.
Music Without Borders (MWB) is a collective that I’ve been in with my very close friend Seif Al-Din, also known as Soof. We started out making remix projects like Hindustani Gangster and Jai Hov, which are two different interpretations of Jay Z making music in India or with Indian inspiration. We’ve also produced several MWB remixes and released an original track earlier this year called “Monkey Bars”. We have plans to produce an album in the near future.

NYC is known for a lot of things, but pizza comes to mind. Where is your favorite place to get a slice?
There is no one place! (Laughs) For an everyday slice, without the hassle, it’s famous Joe’s Pizza. If you’re down to wait in line and commit to the process, you have to go to Lucali. I also like thin crust from Postos, and a fresh personal sized pizza from my neighborhood restaurant, Rosemary’s.

My wife and I are headed to Ibiza next summer. You were recently on the White Island. How long do we need and what can’t we afford to miss?
Ooooh. This will be fun. I went this year in August and it was peak season and super hot. I would encourage you to go in late June, where it should be a bit more manageable.

There are so many great parties, but here’s the ones I would try to make:

• Circoloco at DC10, Monday
• Bedouin’s a Wednesday Saga at Pacha
• All Day I Dream at Cavo Santo, some Thursdays
• Pablo Fierro’s Wish You Were Here at Club Chinois, Friday
• Black Coffee at Hï Ibiza, Saturday

What headphones are around your neck?
I use a “lollypop” headphone. It is just something you hold or can lean into, versus a pair of headphones that stays strapped on your head. It allows me to hear the club more while I mix, versus being more committed to what’s coming from my headphones. I prefer this.

Do you ever make a mistake while performing? Doing a DJ set would make me so nervous!
Of course! Where is the humanity in doing anything if you don’t make mistakes?

It seems like every DJ has a podcast. Any plans to produce your own weekly/monthly show?
Not at the moment. I would love to do radio, but would want to find the right partner to ensure my effort to create the show would reach people. It’s an important medium that I really love.

I’ve not seen you live yet, but I bet your sets are great poolside or in a club until the wee hours of the morning. What can fans expect from seeing you perform?
Great music! I do my best to prepare for every night like it’s truly its own. Just like I do with my productions, I’m trying to tell a story with my set. So if you’re there to hear me play, get comfortable and let’s go on a journey together.

Tell me more about Indo Warehouse. That place looks amazing!
Indo Warehouse is very exciting. It’s a new concept where we’re bringing South Asian inspired house music to the forefront. It’s a record label and a platform, so we’re hoping to elevate artists who share this sound. My record ANOKHA was released on Indo Warehouse.

What else can you tell me about Kunal Merchant?
I’m excited to share my sound with the world. And even though I’ve been DJing for many years, I feel like I’m beginning a new chapter now.

What’s next for you?
We have a few great parties to close out the year. I’d encourage folks to follow me on Instagram to stay tuned for those announcements.

I have two more records to release this fall. I’m excited for people to hear those!

And I’m starting to plan a very active 2023. Lots of new challenges to take on and connections to make.

Thank you for doing this. I am glad we connected. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Thanks for this opportunity. I really appreciate anyone who has supported me on this journey thus far, and look forward to connecting with more friends, artists and like-minded souls to create magic together.

For more information about Kunal Merchant, go to:
Website | Instagram | Twitter | SoundCloud | Resident Advisor