From an engineer to a social media star, Yashraj Mukhate is the first Indian to bring dialogue remixes into the mainstream. Brut sat down with the musician to understand his journey, creative process, and a lot more. #SmartMoves #Smartwater
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00:00Your dog is Tommy, our dog is a dog.
00:04When I hear this, it already has the rhythm in it.
00:07Your dog is Tommy, our dog is a dog.
00:09But I realised that it needs the beat that Shah Rukh had played in Mohabbatein.
00:13Your dog is Tommy, our dog is a dog.
00:23I read that you pursued engineering in college.
00:26Yeah.
00:26And I also read that you would spend more time learning music on YouTube
00:30rather than studying.
00:31That's true.
00:31My mom told me to pursue engineering
00:34because I was never interested in studying more.
00:38After 10th, I had completed my quota.
00:41After that, she told me that I have to get a degree.
00:45While doing my engineering, I used to do college the whole day.
00:47At night, I would spend 2-4 hours
00:49on whatever equipment I had then.
00:51I had a Windows PC.
00:53I used to call a local sound engineer and he would get it done for me.
00:58The aux cable used to cost Rs. 30-40.
01:01It used to be connected.
01:02It used to make a lot of noise.
01:05But I somehow used to manage to record on that.
01:08So, while doing that, I started understanding more about music production.
01:14I have not had a formal education in music.
01:17Self-taught.
01:18Self-taught, but it's so much fun.
01:20Whose covers did you record?
01:22It's Singh.
01:23When Aashiq-E-2 came out, I used to sing those songs.
01:25I used to sing all the live shows that I used to do.
01:28Channa Mereya, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jab Aaya Tha.
01:30Channa Mereya was one of the videos that got the most views at that point of time.
01:34Now, let's talk about that one video that turned your life upside down.
01:38Which is undoubtedly, Rasode Mein Kaun Tha.
01:48You were the first Indian to popularize dialogue mashups.
01:51If I'm not wrong.
01:52Talk to us about what is your inspiration behind creating this.
01:56The primary motivation was never to make people laugh.
02:00The primary motivation was that I have done a great job in music production.
02:04It sounds so good.
02:05I've used strings and all.
02:06So, I was always interested in the music part of it.
02:09And I thought that if I add some humor to it, I am getting more engagement.
02:13That is why I just added it.
02:14But when I did that, I started enjoying it.
02:17And people also started reacting to it.
02:19And when people started sharing it as a funny content piece,
02:22that slightly surprised me that they are laughing more.
02:25They are not paying attention to the music.
02:27But then I thought that I should make what they like.
02:30People are already liking the music.
02:32That was one smart decision that I took.
02:34Because you were creating dialogue mashups,
02:36did people ever take you less seriously as a musician?
02:39Did people sometimes think that as compared to an original composition,
02:43it doesn't take that much hard work?
02:44Most people had that.
02:46Clearly could make it out from the comments and everything.
02:48But people who understand music,
02:50they told me that my content is good, but my musical ear is also good.
02:54So, that is when I realised that I am reaching.
02:56So, I reached the people I wanted to reach.
02:59So, now let's talk about the creative process that you follow
03:02whenever you create any dialogue mashups.
03:04What do you do? How do you identify a rhythm in a dialogue?
03:06Everyone has their own rhythm and pitch in their vocal speech.
03:10For example, someone is saying something.
03:11For example, your dog is Tommy's dog.
03:14So, she said it very casually that I don't have any feeling.
03:17Your feeling is yours.
03:18Your dog is Tommy's dog.
03:19Our dog is a dog.
03:21Now, when I hear this, it already has a rhythm in it.
03:24Your dog is Tommy's dog.
03:25Our dog is a dog.
03:26So, it has a metronome.
03:27A drum starts playing in my mind.
03:29But I realised that I need a drum that Shah Rukh played in Mahabatein.
03:33Your dog is Tommy's dog.
03:34Our dog is a dog.
03:35Tang tang, katak dinka tang, katak dinka.
03:38So, once it is set, it gets fixed in the metronome.
03:41After that, it is all my creativity.
03:43Then I add production to it.
03:45Then chord progression according to me.
03:47Then I play it.
03:48Then I treat it as a song.
03:49You have become a hit through dialogue match-ups.
03:52Did you ever feel that you have to do this?
03:55I felt it in the beginning.
03:57And then I consciously tried doing different things.
04:00I have some pros of it.
04:03Like, if people know you just for one thing,
04:06then you are the only person who pops in their head.
04:11But you can't sustain it too much.
04:13I am interested in making songs.
04:14Dialogue match-up is one of the things that I do.
04:17I get more reach in it.
04:19Where do you see artist Yashraj Mukherjee in the next 5 years?
04:22The plan is to make my own albums.
04:26And hopefully, they will also get that popular.
04:28Making music that will stay here for...
04:31Not like the trends which only stay for a month maximum.
04:35There are some songs from 2003 that I still listen to.
04:38Evergreen.
04:38Evergreen songs.
04:40So, I know that I have to make something like this
04:42that people will enjoy listening to it even after 5 years.
04:46My songs should be in their playlist.
04:48So, that is the idea.
04:49And I am working on that now.