How did you first fall into making music — was there a moment or a song that made you think 'I want to be the one building this'?
I actually started with poetry before I ever thought about making music. During my school days, I used to write a lot of poetry, and when my dad bought me my first computer, I started experimenting with making music on it. That’s when I thought, “Why not turn one of my poems into a song?”
I took one of my poems, “I’m There for You,” and reworked it into a complete song with an acoustic-style arrangement. That experience was probably the moment I realized I didn’t just want to write words — I wanted to build the whole world around them through music. From there, I became really interested in songwriting, arranging, and the process of turning an idea into an actual song.
Do you remember the very first beat or track you ever made? Tell us the story of it, even if it was rough.
I remember one of the first tracks I made during my school days called “Rise Up.” I wrote it for a school club called Englathon, and it ended up becoming much more than just a song.
I got the opportunity to perform it from class to class, and later I performed it at our school annual day as well. What really stayed with me was seeing people appreciate the song and actually sing along while I performed it. For someone who was still figuring out music and production, that feeling was incredible.
That experience made me realize that music isn’t just about creating something you like — there’s something really special about creating something that other people can connect with, remember, and sing back to you. “Rise Up” was one of the moments that made me want to keep making music.
Who or what shaped your sound early on — a composer, an artist, a mentor, or just a genre you couldn't stop listening to?
Anirudh Ravichander was definitely one of the biggest influences on me growing up. I used to listen to his music constantly, and I’ve sung along to and covered so many of his songs — Why This Kolaveri Di, Kannazhaga, Kanave Kanave, and many more.
What I loved about his music was the energy, emotion, and the way he could move effortlessly between different styles while still having his own identity. His songs made me want to sing, experiment, and eventually understand how the music itself was being built.
He continues to be a huge inspiration for me even today. Looking back, I think a lot of my early interest in music came from simply listening to his songs and wanting to create that same feeling for someone else.
You move across English indie, Tamil indie, Afro-pop and folk — how do you decide which world a new idea belongs to?
I don’t really decide beforehand which genre an idea belongs to. I usually just go with my gut and let the idea itself tell me where it wants to go.
My friends and listeners come from different places and speak different languages, so I’m quite comfortable experimenting across English, Tamil, Hindi, Afro-pop, and folk. Sometimes a melody or a beat comes to me and I immediately feel whether it should become an English song or a Tamil one.
If I’m working on a folk-influenced or high-energy beat, I naturally lean towards Tamil because I’m a huge fan of Kuthu, which has such a raw, energetic local folk character. For more pop-oriented ideas, I often find myself leaning towards Tamil or Hindi. And if the vibe feels more contemporary or indie, English comes naturally.
For me, it’s less about putting music into a particular box and more about finding the language and sound that best brings the idea to life.
Tell us about a track you're genuinely proud of — what's the story behind it?
“Aathi Un Loveah Vendam” was my first attempt at a Tamil Kuthu song, so it was quite different from my usual style. I wanted to experiment with the genre while telling a fun, energetic love-failure story.
I wrote and produced the track and collaborated with Rohitmanoj and Dacalty. We also made it into a music video directed by Gokulnath Muthaiyan, which was later featured by Behindwoods.
It was a completely new experience for me, and I think stepping outside my comfort zone is what made the song special.
What about a beat or instrumental that feels the most 'you' — what makes it unmistakably yours?
“Joker’s Scream” is unmistakably me because I’ve always been drawn to electronic and dubstep-inspired sounds. I love experimenting with heavy beats, textures, and high-energy drops, and this track captures that side of me really well.
For me, the energy and the drop are the heart of the piece — it’s the kind of sound I genuinely enjoy creating and listening to.
Walk us through what we're seeing in your setup — what's your go-to tool and why can't you work without it?
My main setup revolves around FL Studio, along with my Komplete Kontrol keyboard and Maschine drum machine.
FL Studio is where I build and shape most of my ideas, while the Komplete Kontrol gives me a more hands-on feel when playing melodies and chords. Maschine is my go-to for drums and grooves. I love having that combination because it lets me move quickly from an idea in my head to something I can actually hear and feel.
Where is this work-in-progress headed — what's still missing before you'd call it done?
This one is headed towards my upcoming English album, “Draft Mixtapes.” It’s a love song built around a deep-house sound, with a catchy drop that gives it a different energy from a typical love track.
The core of the song is already in place, and I’m currently fine-tuning the production, sounds, and arrangement to make sure everything flows naturally. I want the final version to feel both emotional and danceable, while keeping that signature energy in the drop. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m really excited about where it’s heading.
How did that moment you just shared come together — was it planned or did it happen by accident?
The moment in “Dhooram Sella Parakkirom” actually came together quite naturally, even though the song itself was carefully planned. The concept was visualized and directed by Prasanna K. Venkat, while I wrote and composed the song. Naresh Madhur and Sriram Muralidharan brought their voices to it.
The video captures a studio session where we were just about to work on and record the hook of the song. I was explaining to Naresh and Sriram how I imagined the hook, the emotion behind the words, and the overall feel I wanted them to bring into the performance.
The song is a beautiful love song, but the idea behind it is a little different. We use the metaphor of travelling in a car to represent a relationship — two people going on a journey together, with the road becoming a metaphor for their love and everything they experience along the way.
What I love about that particular moment is that you can see the song coming to life in real time. Naresh brought in these beautiful classical alaaps, adding a sense of depth and emotion, while Sriram’s melodious voice brought a softer, intimate quality to the song. Their contrasting vocal textures worked beautifully together.
So while the song was planned, that particular moment wasn’t really staged. It was a genuine snapshot of the creative process — me explaining the emotion and direction, the singers interpreting it in their own way, and the song slowly finding its final character in the studio. That’s what makes the moment special to me: you’re not just seeing the finished song, you’re seeing the song being born.
You compose for other artists and run your own label @beatz_records_ — what do you love about building something for someone else's voice versus your own?
I actually love both sides of it, but they give me very different creative experiences.
When I’m composing for another artist, I have to step outside my own voice and think about what suits them — their vocal style, personality, strengths, and the emotion they naturally bring to a song. There’s something really satisfying about creating a piece and then hearing another artist take it somewhere I may not have imagined.
What's the sound or project you most want to make next — the one you haven't quite pulled off yet?
The next project I’m really excited about is an upcoming song that has a strong story behind it. Prasanna K. Venkat has scripted the story for this one, and we’re building the song around that narrative rather than treating it as just a standalone track.
Musically, we’re working on a beautiful melody with classical elements woven into it. I’m really looking forward to pushing myself with this one because I want the music to carry the emotion of the story and make the listener feel like they’re part of that world.
It’s still a work in progress, but this is definitely one of those projects where I’m trying to create something a little different from what I’ve done before.
Contact and Follow
Email: deepuanirudh@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__deepak_beatz__/
