Styles

Desi Beats for DJs: How South Asian Music Moves Global Crowds

Desi 101: What Exactly Is Desi Music?

Let’s clear something up: Desi isn’t a genre. It’s a cultural identity.

“Desi” is how South Asians across the diaspora refer to themselves and their culture. So when we say Desi music, we’re talking about the huge spectrum of South Asian sounds being created by artists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and beyond – both at home and abroad.

And that’s the beauty of it. Whether it’s classic Bollywood, high-energy Bhangra, or Urban Desi bangers built for Western dance floors, the sounds are global.

For DJs, understanding this world opens up a powerful connection to multicultural crowds. South Asian music isn’t niche anymore – its packed dance floors in Toronto, London, NYC, and LA. And we’ve got the crates to prove it. 🔥

👉 Explore South Asian music on DJcity

Bollywood: Not Just a Film Genre, a Dance Floor Weapon

Bollywood music goes way beyond the movies.

Yes, it’s the soundtrack to India’s mega film industry – but it’s also emotional love songs, catchy hooks, and full-blown dance anthems that dominate South Asian weddings, festivals, and clubs worldwide.

It’s high energy. It’s full of color. And if you’re DJing a cross-cultural crowd, it’s a must-have in your crate.

The best part? Bollywood tracks blend beautifully with global pop, EDM, and hip-hop, giving open-format DJs endless remix potential. 💥

🗂️ Tap into our Bollywood edits and remixes now on DJcity

Bhangra & Punjabi: Built Different, Played Everywhere

Let’s talk Bhangra. Originating from Punjab, it started as folk music tied to harvest celebrations. But today, it’s global.

You hear it in wedding dance circles, club nights in Canada, and stadium anthems in the UK. The dhol drums hit hard, the vocals bring the vibe, and the energy is unmatched.

Closely related, Punjabi music has evolved into its own beast – mixing folk with Hip-Hop, pop, and club sounds. Artists like Diljit Dosanjh, Karan Aujla, AP Dhillon and Sidhu Moose Wala are pushing Punjabi music straight into the mainstream.

DJs: if your crowd is even slightly Desi, these tracks should already be in rotation.

🔊 Grab the latest Bhangra and Punjabi heat on DJcity

AP Dhillon – Deeozzz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Urban Desi to Desi Pop: Where South Asia Meets the Streets

Urban Desi isn’t new – but it’s still a relevant genre.

Think Jay Sean, Raghav, Rishi Rich: South Asian artists raised in the West, blending R&B, Hip-Hop, and pop with Desi melodies. This genre came out of the UK in the early 2000s, and it still goes off.

Fast-forward to today, Urban Desi has evolved into Desi Pop and you’ll hear those same vibes in tracks by Ezu, Mickey Singh, and Tesher – flipping the sound for TikTok and the global charts.

If you’re building a South Asian crossover set, Desi Pop gives you that sweet spot between familiarity and flavor.

🎧 Start with our Desi Pop starter pack on DJcity

Tesher – Neha.sharma.mjj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Indo House: Traditional Roots, Future Club Energy

If you haven’t heard of Indo House yet, you will soon.

Born out of NYC and led by the Indo Warehouse collective, this sound blends South Asian instruments and textures with deep house and progressive club grooves. It’s moody, hypnotic, and undeniably vibey.

DJs like Skrillex are already on board. So are late-night sets in Berlin, Brooklyn, and Goa.

This is Desi at its most future-facing – where tabla meets 4-on-the-floor, and South Asian vocals float over minimal basslines.

💿 We’re dropping Indo House essentials weekly – get in early

#DesiMusic #SouthAsianMusic #IndianMusic #OpenFormatDJ #DJCulture #BollywoodMusic #DesiBeats #OpenFormatDJ #SouthAsianSounds #DJEdits #Bhangra #PunjabiMusic #DesiVibes #GlobalSounds #UrbanDesi #DesiPop #RNB #HipHopFusion #DesiDJ #IndoHouse #GlobalUnderground #DesiDeep

Our Favorite Black Friday DJ Deals

Black Friday

Black Friday

Black Friday is a sh#t show. Who wants to wait in line for hours or fight crowds to save 10% on something they don’t need? Nobody, that’s who. Luckily, we’ve saved you time by compiling some of our favorite BF deals.

GENRE BNDR
Your favorite DJ’s favorite clothing line is giving 25% off of its entire catalog. Use code “BFRIDAY25.”

Mega DJ Center
The Houston staple is offering sweet discounts on select 7″ vinyl.

Orbit Concepts
The company is offering free shipping and customization of its JetPack Prime and Prime XL backpacks.

Jesse Dean Designs
The king of custom gear has cut costs on a slew of portablist accessories.

DJ TechTools
Our favorite DJ tech gurus have slashed prices on a ton of products and accessories. You need to log in to see the deals, but it’s worth the effort.

Serato
The leading DVS manufacturer is offering 50% off select control vinyl as well as discounts on software and merch.

Related: DJcity Teams With GENRE BNDR for New T-Shirt Collab

JetPack Slim Backpack Gets Stylish Update

JetPack Slim

JetPack Slim
New JetPack Slim color options

Since its release in 2016, Orbit Concepts’ JetPack Slim backpack has become a staple in the DJ community. Its sleek black design can be seen hanging from the shoulders of some of your favorite DJs.

This week, Orbit Concepts announced two new color options for the JetPack Slim: gray and camo. The bags have the same interior as the original model but add a new stylish shell.

To celebrate the launch, Orbit Concepts will offer a limited supply of the JetPack Slim at a promotional price of $99.99 on their website. The offer begins Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. PT.

Related: DJ Bag Review: Jetpack Slim and Jetpack Cut

Beyond Faithful: the Beef Behind the Hypest Record in DJ History

Be Faithful

Whether or not you’re a DJ, chances are you’ve heard Fatman Scoop and Crooklyn Clan’s timeless anthem, “Be Faithful.” It’s a sure-fire party starter that gets played everywhere from clubs and stadiums to weddings and movies.

EDM stars drop it in between choreographed hand-hearts. Even Australian Parliament members “throw they hands up” when the song comes on. I’ve been playing it for over 16 years, and it’s never failed. Not once.

What many people don’t know is the story behind it and the on-going feud between Fatman and Crooklyn Clan member Sizzahandz. To shed light on the situation, the R.O.A.D. Podcast sat down with both of them to hear their sides of the story.

Watch below:

Listen to the full episode on SoundCloud

Listen to the full episode on SoundCloud

Related: TJR and Reece Low Enlist Fatman Scoop for Party Anthem, ‘Check This’

First Look: DJ@War’s Scratch Training App, skratchEZ

Joshua Hodge, a.k.a. DJ@War, is a veteran DJ and turntablist from the UK. When he recently posted a video of a new scratch training app that he’s working on, we knew we had to get the scoop. Check out the app, skratchEZ, above, and read our convo with Joshua below.

What exactly are we looking at in this video?

This is one part of an application prototype I made for my final computing project. Basically, the concept is like DJ Hero but with real equipment. The game is a call and response: two bars of scratches are played for you, then you respond by trying to imitate what you just heard, and a score is given on how accurate you were. Then the process is repeated.

Awesome. So how did you come up with this idea and why?

It’s actually an idea I’ve had for about four years but didn’t have the skills to make it until last year. I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing if DJ Q-Bert’s DIY DVDs were updated with the technology we have today? Melodics was another big influence as well, with their finger drumming app. So many DJs I’ve met over the years have said, “I wish I could scratch,” but never had the patience to learn. Well, what if it was a game? I think that would motivate a lot of people to get on those decks!

Inspiring! This is obviously in the very early stages. How do you plan to expand development and what’s the overall goal?

Well, my big goal is that I have loads of ideas for the app and want to really push it forward to make it an interactive tool for people to learn and engage with DJing and turntablism. I think to make the app I want, it will take either investment or a collaborative effort with a company such as Serato or Melodics, but I’m going to keep pushing it forward.

I’m sure you’ll be able to drum up interest. Where can DJs who are interested stay up-to-date with your progress? Do you have a timeline for releasing something to the public?

People can check out updates on my programming channel called The Audio Programmer, where I teach people how to make their own VST plugins and audio apps from scratch. Also, I’ll be updating my accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I’d like to try to set up for a controlled alpha release by mid-July. By controlled, I mean it would probably be limited to the Pioneer DJ DJM-S9 and maybe Rane mixers.

Very cool. Thanks for taking the time to speak with us.

Thank you to DJcity for the support! You guys are the best.

Related: Watch: DJ Precision Performs Routine and Reviews Rane’s New Gear

Watch All Six Sets From the Red Bull Thre3style U.S. Finals

DJ Trayze

Trayze Wins 2016 Red Bull Thre3style U.S. Finals
DJ Trayze wins the Red Bull Thre3style U.S. Finals at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 11, 2016. (Tim Blackwell/Red Bull Content Pool)

On August 11, six DJs competed at the Red Bull Thre3style U.S. Finals to determine who would represent their country at the world finals in Chile later this year. Each DJ performed a 15-minute routine, which was judged by DJ Jazzy Jeff, Skratch Bastid, and reigning world champion, DJ Byte. In the end, DJ Trayze took first place, Boi Jeanius placed second, and Jaycee came in at third. Watch all six of the routines below and let us know what you think.

Jaycee, Atlanta

Boi Jeanius, Chicago

Mike 2600, Minneapolis

DJ Ease, New York City and Las Vegas

DJ Supagi, Seattle

DJ Trayze, Washington, D.C.

Related: Red Bull Thre3style USA Finalists

Popular