“Calcutta will hear Anish play lots of nice, dance-y music. And they will hear me sing to some of that music! And they will hear Hello World and Wanna Be Your Only Love,” said Ramona, hours before taking up the mic at Tantra

They have two successful collaborations between them — former VJ Ramona Arena and DJ Anish Sood. The duo were recently in town to promote their new song Hello World. A t2 chat before they rocked Tantra…

Anish: It was 2011. I think Ramona had just moved back from Switzerland and we got introduced through a mutual friend.

Ramona: I had this song (Wanna Be Your Only Love) that I had written. I guess he liked the song.

A: Pretty much! It worked!

R: (Laughs) Which is why he produced the track. That got picked up by 925 Music too.

R: I thought he was an idiot and I hated him! (Laughs) No, kidding! He is a really sweet guy and I don’t think we met…

A: Yeah, we actually met after the entire track was produced. It was one collaboration done totally over the Internet and SMS! For both the songs, the collaboration was easy because we both knew what we wanted. I completely trusted her with vocals and she completely trusted me with the production.

R: The only place we had a slight this thing was with Hello World. He made this track and send it to me saying, ‘See if you feel like putting any vocals over it’. I did and he was like ‘Wow! That’s so good! I am changing the track and making something even better!’ I was like ‘The original one is damn good too!’

A: I am far more evolved musically. Way above her! She doesn’t even know half the people I listen to. She likes commercial pop and Bollywood, which is bad music. Bollywood caters to the lowest common denominator. There are good songs in Bollywood, but most of it is bad. My two favourites are Vishal-Shekhar and A.R. Rahman. He is a legend. I also like Mikey McCleary.

R: Actually, I listen to everything… classical to electronic, rock to pop. The only thing I am not particularly fond of is hard-core rap, death metal and very country music.

A: I cannot remember the name of the song!

A: That’s a really bad idea!

R: I think I should get you drunk one night and figure out for myself!

A: If I could sing, there would be no collaboration. Which is the Aishwarya track from Taal?

Anish at The Park. Picture: Rashbehari Das

A: Yeah... and, some drops of water! I am more of a visual person.

R: Jahan teri yeh nazar hai and Mehbooba when a whole bunch of people are doing those mad steps in a sangeet! I also like Chammak challo! Album-wise, there is Bombay and Saathiya. I also liked the Kai Po Che soundtrack.

R: Pink Floyd, Madonna, U2, Beyonce, Adele… so vast!

A: My favourite track and artiste lasts for a week. I can’t handle psy-trance but apart from that, I have done everything. With EDM or dance music, Paul van Dyk’s Nothing But You is an inspiration.

A: About 50,000 tracks.

R: I have transferred all my music on 1terabyte hard drive.

R: It was who I was as a child! I would be singing in front of the mirror, I’d love to perform on stage. I got professional training while signing in Raell Padamsee’s Oliver. Then TV happened and I got so busy. I managed to sing two… the English portion (I just wanna be close to you) for DJ Aqeel’s Kehdoon tumhe and one track (Meri jaan mujhe chhoo le) for Out of Control, starring Riteish Deshmukh. Then I left the country. When I came back, I decided that music is going to be now or never.

R: I am very protective of him. Nobody goes next to him. I stand there with chains! (Laughs)