Akangchila Longchar
Morung Express Feature
Dimapur | April 26
As one of the first DJs in Nagaland, Inavito K Zhimomi is certainly no stranger to the limelight in Nagaland. His recent tour to Delhi saw him performing alongside well renowned national DJs and at the best club scenes in the country capital. Spinning the latest hip-hop, RnB, electro house and electronic dubstep tracks, DJ Ina set the dance floors on fire and wowed people with his cool DJing styles.
Inavito, better known to most people as DJ Ina has been making a name for himself in the DJing circuit, from Nagaland to Delhi. It’s no ordinary feat for any DJ to be able to land gigs at places like F Bar, Ice Lounge, Royale Mirage, Jinx, Sky Lounge, Sapphire (all places located at Delhi).
In fact, DJ Ina has been at his console for just three and half years. For the young man, who is a mix of Sumi and Zeliang tribe is an Interior Designing graduate from Lisa Institute of Fashion and Interior Designing, Delhi. An art lover and excelling at portrait drawing, Ina pursued Interior Designing without much thought. He says, “I completed my graduation, but I was not really keen to pursue designing. I was always listening to music, no matter whatever I did, and I didn’t realize at that time that I would be involved with music.” He admits that until 2009, he didn’t realize that he would become a DJ.
Ask him about the first party he DJed at and he breaks into laughter. He recollects how in 2009, a friend, called him and said he was hosting a commercial party. With no real DJ yet in Nagaland, the friend asked Inavito to be the DJ for the party. Ina smiles and said how he showed up at the party armed with his personal collection of CDs and played tracks from a laptop. But as it turned out, at the party everyone liked Ina’s collection so much prompting some people to come up and asked how much he charged playing for parties. “I had an idea about DJing, so after that party I played for party’s non stop the whole month,” Ina shared.
DJ Ina has come along way since that party. Not only playing popular music, he is also well known for his original remixes. He has also collaborated with talented Naga artistes like Shalo Kent and NV. It is also amazing to hear that Ina has just taken a year’s course of basic DJing skills at Delhi, and had learned scratching and other skills from YouTube tutorials. Ina reveals that he practiced for six to seven hours daily. He accounts that today the little success that he is enjoying is through his sheer hard work. He also thanks God, his mum and sister, friends and well-wishers adding, “I am who I am today because of them”.
It was not all smooth sailing for DJ Ina. He admits that it was very tough to learn DJing skills, and he began to get very frustrated when he initially started to learn. In fact at one point I even lamented to myself why I even bought a turntable. He states that eve the world best DJs have spent years and years to develop that kid of skills. “DJing is a good profession and there’s money in it. Along with the right positive promotion there is scope,” he said.
However, being a DJ did not exempt Ina from the Nagaland syndrome of the blue collared job. He shares that he was often asked as to what he will continue to do after 5 to 10 years. “I was constantly reminded that we are nowhere with the present situation of Nagaland,” says the young man. He however maintains that jobs such as his, might even be the answer to Nagaland looming unemployment problem. “There are so many options of work. Everyone has different musical talent, if the government and people promote, then Nagaland will surely grow up”, he said. He opines that support and passion in whatever one is doing is important to be successful.
DJ Ina is currently working on an album in collaboration with few Naga artistes. He reveals that the album will be a mix of R&B, house, electro pop music. He aims to concentrate more on making original music. He also plans on selling his music and being a producer. “If it goes on well, I also hope to open a professional DJ school and maybe even a dance studio as well”, he said. He also prefers to perform for commercial parties, but ‘minus the fights’ he adds cheekily.
DJ Ina lists Dead Mau5, Timbaland, Dr. Dre and Avicii as artistes who inspire him. He however feels that he does not have a particular genre to slot his own music in and says he is still experimenting. His favorite DJs are DJ Craze and DJ A-Trak. Ina also said that his music totally reflects his personality. However this DJ does not drink or party. In fact he claims that he is not at any party unless he is playing or a really close friend is having a party. “I am a homely guy,” he admits almost shyly.
DJ Ina says he is proud of the fact that he has made it this far- “My recent tour to Delhi, made people realize that there are DJs from Nagaland too. They are shocked that a Naga DJ can also play good, so I’m proud. Over here it’s for myself, but when I go out from Nagaland, it is for all Nagas”, says this proud young Naga who dared to follow his passion and delve in to something unconventional, and thus is serving as a source of inspiration and admiration to many more young Nagas.
