Artist Interview - @if

MW: So, I have to ask, where did the name @if come from?
@if:  That’s my real birth name. Lol. Looks like “@“ the right time, “If” I was there.  Moreover, it has high recall value and more importantly it emerges on top of all artists and playlists- “@“ before any alphabets. Means even before A or any number. So a marketing/promotional tool too.

MW: Do you think your song “Prickly Heat” is representative of your greater catalog?
@if: Honestly speaking, it is quite tough to say that. Because when I was setting the playlist for Sexcursion- every song was eligible to be on top as the first single. There are pop rocks songs like Prickly Heat and Instacrush. And then there is Hard Rock like Valentine, Serpentine & Frankenstein and Prank U. There’s blues/rock n roll like If I Was a Girl and finally Gothic Rock/Metal Rest in Pieces. But I admit Prickly Heat is catchy and sounds sweet to everyone in general.

MW: Can you name some of your influences musically or lyrically?
@if: So I am a lost soul from mid 60s who woke up in early to mid 90s. Queen, The Doors and AC/DC as my general rule of thumb. Then there is GnR, Velvet Revolver & Audioslave with contemporaries such as Sound Garden, STP and then my generation includes SOAD, RATM, Limp & Linkin’.
I grew up as hopeless romantic songwriter/poet listening to MJ, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, Sting, Rod Stewart, Richard Marx and George Michael. But ever since I lost my religion- I learnt sadness and romance is waste of time. Fun and party is my way of life now. Life’s too short to not enjoy every moment.

MW: Kind of related to #4, is there any music out now that you’re enjoying?
@if: So I am digging Dubstep- I did a dubstep version of Valentine, Serpentine & Frankenstein that has a video on You Tube and audio on Apple Music/Spotify and rest of the aggregate platforms. Dubstep is the first real heavy electro sub-genre that has connected with me.
Apart from that you will find a huge variety because I like to conceive and write beyond genres. These days I am also into Smooth Jazz, Arabic and Lounge music. I also love following guitarists such Satch, Beck and Vai.

MW: Are you playing live these days?
@if:  Yes I am pretty active in NY scene. You will find me performing at one of the local joints in Long Island and sometimes in Manhattan too. Still looking though for America wide and European shows.

MW: Where can people learn more about you and your music?
@if:  My music and me is about letting go. Laugh a lot about fallacies of life and when life’s good put your foot on accelerator. Having been to the darkest side of the spectrum- I believe it ain’t worth it at all. With so much information sharing there is content that will keep consumed all the time. Amazing documentaries, stand up comedians, experimental films, Audible/Blinkist and so much more that we even don’t know about that has not become mainstream yet. Of course the entire catalog of music history is also available at your finger tips. Is there any time for tears, depression or melancholy? I don’t think so. Just stay active, workout daily, don’t do drugs and you’ll find that every moment in life can be better than sex. That’s me and you can find that echo in my music. So pump up with volume and relish the puritan rock.