BY PREANA CHETTRI
SHILLONG:
Mebanteinam Kharkongor aka DJ Meban bagged the top position at the finals of the “War of the DJs” organised by Cypher Hours’ Vol II in Hyderabad, on June 19.
Representing Meghalaya, the 19-year-old won a music contract along with a cash prize in the contest that saw ten of the best DJs of India compete.
Speaking to The Meghalayan, Meban said in the 10-minute slot that was given to each contestant, he managed to mix more than 30 separate tracks.
“This year’s competition was hard because the calibre around the globe is getting better. Every year there’s a unique talent from all over the world and I can’t wait for what is coming ahead,” he said.
“I hail from an ordinary middle-class family. There was no way I could tell my family that I wanted to pursue DJing as a career, even though I knew that was what I wanted to do from the time I was 17. I feel like I have made it, and also made my family proud. I feel like I’ve made my state proud,” Meban said.
Young Meban draws his inspiration from some of the best in the business and swears by names such as DJ Kave, DJ Carlo Atendido, ESKEI83 and DJ Qubert.
He has been learning online from DJ Kave and was very excited to meet him in person for the first time at the event.
“To realise this journey and be a part of Cypher Hours and in fact winning it, I have no words. It is so special. I am not going to stop here, I want to keep on learning from the other DJs and legends,” Meban said confidently.
The event was organised by Telugu actor Faria Abdullah, dancer and choreographer Harsha Maheshwari and entrepreneur Janagam. The event’s main aim was to give the artists a platform to express themselves.
When asked how it all started, Meban said, “Before I was DJing, I was a beatboxer and was interested in getting myself a loop station so that I could enhance my beatboxing skills. But my dad and I decided we should get a DJ controller instead because I started to gravitate towards DJing at that point.”
Meban’s newfound fame has brought special appearances as he followed the Red Bull 3Style World DJ Championships that have been advancing the culture of DJing and entertaining audiences all around the world since 2010.
“DJs performing on Red Bull 3style inspires me,” the 19-year-old said.
Moving forward, this youngster envisions growing to become one of the top DJs across the world. His goal is to upscale his musical brand and reach the global stage.
“There is no limit to what we can achieve, and that’s why I am continually innovating, keeping abreast with the music industry’s pace,” he added.