My Favorite Music: Aditya Ashok

From the psychedelic classics of Pink Floyd to the trip hop of electronica acts like Zero 7, drum and bass artist Ox7gen aka Aditya Ashok tells us that favorite songs for him are those that he associates with in his personal life. Says Ashok, who is also the drummer for electro pop duo Shaa’ir + Func, alt rock band The Colour Compound and singer-songwriter Nikhil D’souza, “These songs come from my own experiences during different periods in my life. It’s because I heard them at that point is what makes them special.”

 

“Breathe” Pink Floyd, 1973

This is the opener track for me. It took me really longer than anyone else to listen to Pink Floyd. I saw Roger Waters play it live, back when open-air rock gigs used to happen more often in Mumbai. The thing was, I saw it live even before I heard it [on the album]. I can’t ever see it any other way now.

“Pathogens Born of Wormy Interludes” Incubus, 2007

This song wasn’t featured on any of the albums, it was on the soundtrack to their DVD called Look Alive. It’s definitely one of my most-heard songs. I really like the guitar parts on this. It pretty much reminds me of chilling the fuck out on an afternoon on a beach.

“Get A Smile” Ten Madison, 2007

It’s a really melodic, beautiful guitar track. I heard this first sometime in 2009. I still remember, it was around 3 am and I’d gotten it from a friend. I played it and connected with it instantly.

“Psychic Gibbon” Younger Brother, 2007

Younger Brother were like my introduction to psychedelic music. I heard it before I got into anything else close to something that sounds like this. It has a very magical kind of vibe to it. It’s almost a little spiritual.

“La Femme d’Argent” AIR, 1998

I probably listen to this song every morning. It’s my good vibe song. It’s got a really nice bassline. AIR also have so many other great songs. I don’t know why I didn’t get into it before.

“Hey Joe” The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1966

Let me try to remember when I got into this ”“ I can tell you it was really late! I started listening to Hendrix only in 2011. I always thought he was one of the most overrated guitarists, at least compared to the likes of Joe Satriani. I love his (Hendrix) style of blues ”“ a mélange of Sixties psych blues.

“The Rain Song” Led Zeppelin, 1973

Compared to the other classic rock artists, I haven’t got into Led Zep as much, though I still want to. I heard this song three years ago ”“ a friend sent it to me. Every time I have any discussion about how shitty mainstream music has become, this song is on the other end of the spectrum. It has unparalleled depth.

“Lenny” Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1983

It’s a tough call between SRV and Hendrix about which guitarist I like better. This song, though, is absolutely soulful. It doesn’t even sound like he’s playing an instrument. There’s so much fluidity.

“So Long” LTJ Bukem ft Seba & Lotek, 1996

LTJ is the drum and bass pioneer from the Nineties. This was one of the first liquid drum and bass records I ever heard. This song is why I like the genre. It’s got really deep bass. It’s got a very sunset, beach-y vibe, if you haven’t figured out what I like doing yet. I heard this in 2008, which coincided with the first time I went to Goa.

“Melanin” Tycho, 2011

This song has always been the perfect soundtrack to the moments the sun comes out and you’ve reached home after an intense night of partying. It’s kinda misty but it’s perfect and there’s this beautiful numbness your body feels. It’s difficult to explain actually, so I’ll stop now.

“When It Falls” Zero 7, 2004

This is really downtempo, and it has the electric piano, which is one of my favorite instruments right now. It [electric piano] has got this dreamy sound to it. I love the mix of this song as well. You can feel it and not just hear it, you know? Zero 7 are one of my favorite bands.

“High Speed” Coldplay, 2000

This one is off Parachutes. I heard this album for the first time when I started doing gigs, so this song is associated with that memory. It takes me back to school days and my first bands. It was all about meeting, jamming and playing ”“ that’s it. It was a good mix of friend ship and the visualization of your life ahead. It’s a simple song, in that sense.