What's cooking in Fatboy's kitchen?

Why did you decide to tour India Was there a trigger point or a specific interest factor behind this visit Irsquove been asked a few times over the years to perform in India but I wasnrsquot convinced that there was a real scene I didnrsquot want to play only for expats It does seem like things have been taking off in the last couple of years so I thought itrsquos time to check you out and turn you on To what extent have you been exposed to India and Indian music Have you ever been inspired by any element that came close to an Indian tune I have limited firsthand knowledge of India a holiday in Goa is my only experience and secondhand Bollywood tunes or sitar funk I have so much to learn Yoursquove been making music for over 15 years now What changes have you witnessed in these years as far as peoplersquos tastes as well as the music scene in general Itrsquos actually been 27 years to date So much has changed the rise of the DJ dance music breaking out of nightclubs onto the radio and festivals the death of vinyl the death of the CD sampling drum machines and donrsquot even get me started on the Internet Since 1985 the industry has changed unrecognisably but the basic principle of escapism and hedonism propelled by repetitive beats is a basic human instinct and will never change Although Electronic Dance Music EDM has been around for years it has emerged as a popular genre in the recent past What according to you spurs its popularity and do you believe it is going in the right direction A new generation has been introduced to what we do by the likes of David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia new RampB acts got it on the radio in the USA and the Internet spreads the word like wildfire Itrsquos all a bit commercial but it opens doors for the rest of us How does it feel to perform live now as compared to 10 years back My energy levels are as high as theyrsquove ever been I still feel 16 years old as soon as I go on stage and act like it I quit drinking three years ago and got fit running marathons and the like which means Irsquom a lot fresher every nightu00a0 Your last album of solo music was 2004rsquos Palookaville Are you planning to release another album Any reason for an eightyearlong wait I may do another Fatboy album when Irsquom particularly inspired but my time has been taken up by other projects recently What is your opinion about globally cued in DJsmusic producers today like David Guetta How important are they for EDMrsquos growth Yes they open doors to new converts both in audience and fellow performers They lure pop fans into our world of drumbeats and basslines What can Indian fans of Fatboy Slim expect from your concert Big tunes big production big performance Tough but accessible not too commercial hard but fair Do other artistsDJs influence your work What have you learned from them I spend twothree days a week listening to everything that comes out on the Internet so itrsquos a constant process What are your future projects and where do you see yourself in five years Irsquoll probably be retiring from DJing around then so who knows Meanwhile I love playing out and Irsquom coming your way Fatboy Slim will perform in Gurgaon May 5 and BengaluruMay 6u00a0