Meet Eric Wright- the hippest, most patient, all knowing DJ that exists. He makes everyone happy and he keeps them dancing. He so kindly answered all of our questions when we desperately wondered, "How do you DJ an Indian wedding?" We had heard there were a lot of moving parts and we know Eric makes everyone happy so read on for his magic touches.

Confessions of a Wedding DJ

HI Eric! ok so you are a MOST WANTED DJ, booked all the time.

What would say is your best attribute as a DJ? I always call myself a chameleon because I feel I can adapt to any musical situation. The dance party is not about me, it is about my client and what mood/genre/energy they want to create.  Before each event I always want to have a ‘details meeting’ so I can find out what music makes my client happy and then put that info together into a cohesive mix.  Of course the best laid plans can change as I always say the crowd informs you pretty quick as to what they (as a group) want to dance to. Flexibility is the key!

Were you raised with any particular faith?  My family is of the Episcopal faith and I sang in the choir and at age 12 became the organist for the church.  My mom has a great story of me slipping off the organ bench and hitting the foot pedals during a service, needless to say it woke the entire congregation up!

Does faith influence your life in any way now? If not, do you believe in any ‘higher power’ or tree gnomes or anything like that?  I absolutely believe in higher powers, there is a definite energy connecting us humans to the stars, the land, and the cosmos.

Let’s get to the really exciting point for us, which is DJ-ing for an Indian wedding. We know there are many nuances to families and traditions, and Indian weddings certainly are amazing productions. Can you give us some insight on how you manage to make people happy and at the same time work without sleep for 3 days straight and put out incredible music? For the best success, take LOTS of planning, add some more detailed planning and then add an enormous amount of shared information. I absolutely love performing for Indian weddings, the music and the energy is pure celebration! The Welcome Night party is full of food, a reunion of family and friends, potential song and dance performances plus upbeat dancing. The Wedding Ceremonies combine traditions of the past and present, and they not only combine 2 individuals but combine 2 families plus extended families. The Wedding Reception is a glorious mix of vibrant colors, rituals, food and of course music. The best word I can use to describe the reception is FESTIVAL.

Do you find that an Indian wedding likes a blend of Western music mixed with traditional? Is there a Bollywood influence? It depends upon the couple and their desires.  I have done exclusive Bhangra (a type of popular music combining Punjabi folk traditions with a fusion of pop music) and Bollywood (a high energy form of dance from the world of film) dance parties and then have performed at receptions that also include Western music. On several separate events we have done one night of Indian music and the next night all Western music and or a combo of both.  If the reception is one night I feel the combination of Indian and Western music is best because guests do like a certain amount of “comfort zone” from their dance music.

Are there hot songs by Indian artists right now that most American people don’t know but should?  YES - try the song RADHA from the “Student of the Year” soundtrack. LONDON THUMAKDA from “Queen” soundtrack. A great entry song is the popular song JAI HO! which had a crossover hit on USA radio. PATIALA PEG by Diljit Dosanjh is a current Bhangra hit.

Where is the most unique spot you have traveled to DJ an Indian wedding?  Travel-wise, two of the biggest productions have taken me to Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California. They were both in the 400-500 guest count, elephants brought in the bridal party, dance troupes and musicians were flown in from Mumbai, and the clothing and jewelry were on a scale I had not seen before; at one wedding there were racks and racks of cultural clothing for the guests to add to their outfit.

Learn more about the life of a wedding DJ at Eric's Facebook Page: All Wright Music. For a taste of Eric's favorite Indian dance tracks, check out the following

5 Dance Favorites:

1. De Dana Dan by AD Boys 
2. Ek Dana by Daler Mehndi 
3. Dance Basanti from Ungli 
4. Chunari Chunari by Anu Malik & Abhijeet Anuradha Sriram
   
5. Dafa Hoja by Foji & Miss Pooja

Thank you thank you Eric Wright! LOVE the idea of racks of clothing and accessories for wedding guests- how fun. Hmmm, might have to write more about that later...