LOST STORIES is a name synonymous with Dance Music in India and South Asia. Ranked #52 and labeled the ‘Scene Starters’ by DJ Mag (2016-17), Rishab and Prayag began their journey through dance music in 2009 by producing trance and progressive house music, and garnering support from heavyweights like Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, and Markus Shulz. They’ve since evolved their sound with their debut album, which hit #3 on iTunes' Top 100 Dance Albums Chart and produced three #1 singles. Lost Stories are India’s biggest dance music exports with top performances at Tomorrowland, Global Citizen Festival, Mysteryland, Electric Daisy Carnival, and more.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN STORY BEHIND LOST STORIES?
We’re just two guys extremely passionate about electronic music who came together to combine our roots of Indian music with electronic music. We started our journey in 2009 and have since released music on Labels such as Universal Music, Spinnin’ Records, Armada Music, etc.
WHAT CREATORS/DJS DO YOU ADMIRE AND HOW HAVE THEY SHAPED YOUR MUSIC TODAY?
Our listening spectrum is pretty wide and while we derive our inspiration from multiple cultures and genres, there were a few people like A R Rahman, Above & Beyond, The Chemical Brothers and more who have helped us look beyond the obvious and create our own style.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO DJING?
Apart from a way to showcase our music, performance brings out a different version of you when you’re on stage. The energy on the dance floor is contagious and, after watching our idols play with that energy for hours, we got really inspired to take up DJing.
WHAT'S THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PART OF BEING A DJ AND PERFORMING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY?
The most influential part of being a DJ is the opportunity to inspire our audience by exposing them to a world of music and, in return, being inspired by their energy and love to perform better each time. We have had this platform for over a decade now and, needless to say, each time we have stepped on a stage has been a journey in itself.
HOW HAS YOUR HERITAGE INFLUENCED YOUR DECISIONS WHEN PRODUCING/COMPOSING NEW SONGS AND/OR DECISIONS IN YOUR CAREERS?
Whenever we make any kind of music, we are always thinking in terms of emotion and energy. Our heritage is what we look into while searching for emotions. Indian music always has something unique it can bring in an electronic dance music track.
YOU'VE DONE QUITE A FEW COLLABORATIONS DURING YOUR CAREER, AS WELL AS PLAYED SOME BIG FESTIVALS. WHAT WAS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL COLLABORATION FOR YOUR CAREER OR FONDEST FESTIVAL MEMORY YOU HAVE?
The most influential collaboration has to be the one we did with KSHMR. He’s an amazing human being and one of the most talented guys we know. His incorporation of ethnic elements into dance music is something that we have been doing on a small scale for the last 10 years but the way he amplified this style globally and opened new doors for thousands of producers and DJs around the world is phenomenal. We’ve made a beautiful song together called Bombay Dreams.
Fondest festival memory would be when KSHMR called us on stage to premiere our track Mahi that we released on his label a couple of months before. It was a crazy moment premiering your track to a sea of people, standing next to the guy you admire the most.
WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT REMIXING AND WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE CREATORS THINKING ABOUT INCLUDING REMIXES TO THEIR CATALOG?
Remixing is one of our favourite things about making music. A remix shows you how different minds work differently even if the core idea is the same. We like to give each remix our own signature style and that’s one of the reasons why people want to get themselves a Lost Stories remix. Always look for subtle elements in the stems that didn’t get a chance to stand out in the original mix and use those to your advantage.
WHAT GENERAL ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR UP-AND-COMING DJS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE INDUSTRY?
All advice is autobiographical. What worked for us may not work for others, but one maxim we do stand by is to go that extra mile cause it’s never crowded.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS - PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY?
Our goals haven’t changed much in years. It remains the same: to make as much music as possible that will put a smile on people’s faces, help them get through tough times and, at last, prove all the naysayers wrong.
ANYTHING NEW PLANNED FOR 2019 - TOURS, ALBUMS, PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS?
For years, we had dreamed of playing at Ushuaia, Ibiza which finally turned into reality when we played there with our good friend and super talented Indian Artist, Zaeden this July! We also performed at Tomorrowland this year (fifth time) making us the only Indian Artist to achieve this feat. We have a handful of releases planned in the coming months as well -- it’s going to be a super year ahead for us.
LASTLY, WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO SONG TO LISTEN TO RIGHT NOW?
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