London-based DJ Raji Rags has recently teased the details of his first full EP, “Congratulations”, that will release this April, under his label, OTIH Records. Raj reveals the EP to be inspired by his personal and emotional experiences through the pandemic, his son’s birth, and personal health care scares. The EP consists of experimental sounds, a mixture of electronic and live instruments recorded with his OTIH label-mates Speakers Corner Quartet.
The artwork for ‘Congratulations’ is unique, featuring an MRI scan of Raj’s brain and an ultrasound of his son. For Raj, also known as Raj Chaudhuri, making music is an obsession he takes very seriously. The creative reveals the record as the “culmination of his influences” and also features a collaborative track with Taiwanese producer Sonia Calico.
“Collaboration has been key on this record,” said Raji Rags. “It’s been essential to my process.” The British-South Asian creative has revealed how producing has become a fascination for him and has been part of his daily routine. “I’ve gone to sleep every night watching a YouTube production tutorial with this stupid-looking sleeping earphone headband on my head.”
The first single of the EP, ‘Kiran’s Bike,’ named after Raj’s son, is the “soundtrack to Kiran’s bike rides around South London,” and it features live violin, synth, and bass.The process of creating the EP has been challenging, as Raji Rags wrote, “If people realised the lengths I’ve gone to make these tracks and musicality the way they are, it has been overly excessive, to be honest. But it’s part of the journey.”
Overall, “Congratulations” features four tracks and an “obligatory ambient intro.” Raji’s EP is his reflection of him still being able to hold his head up high, turning his negative experiences into something beautiful that people can listen to and relate to
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