DJ Aqeel’s back on track with Forever 2

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It was in 2000 that DJ Aqeel Ali first rocked the charts with his Shake It Daddy mix. But 12 years later he hasn’t lost his hold over the music charts. And as he launches his new album, Forever 2, Aqeel says he’s just as excited about presenting his music to the audiences.

“I didn’t expect it,” he admits, alluding to the long success he’s enjoyed at the top of the music charts. “I’m very excited about my new album because it’s been a very long time (since the previous one). My fans and friends keep demanding that I come out with new stuff, so I keep doing it for them.”
Of course, a lot has changed in the past decade in the club music scene that Aqeel and his contemporary DJ Suketu helped shape. Audience taste has evolved, and that’s made it possible for Aqeel to present more of the music he wants to.
“It (the club music scene) has evolved over the years, people are so much more accepting to new sounds. They’re open to all kinds of music, be it English, Hindi or Bollywood. Punjabi music too has become a huge hit because of rapper Honey Singh. In fact, Suketu, Sukhbir and I have formed a kind of band called Indian House Mafia for the album, and we play Punjabi house music,” shares Aqeel.
Two tracks by Indian House Mafia have been included on Forever 2, and Aqeel describes what’s in store for listeners as “some great tracks and some really nice remixes”. “The video that we’ve come out with for the album is quite different… and because it’s been a while since I came out with something, this seems very new,” adds Aqeel.
Aqeel admits that coming out with an album is a lot of work, considering he has to balance the time he invests in one with taking care of his business interests (he has set up several high profile clubs) and his live performances. “A live performance lasts two to three hours, but you need to work a lot in the studio as I make many of the remixes myself. When it comes to an album, you have to to shoot a video and stuff, so it requires a lot of effort.”
Coming up next is a song for Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel’s home production.