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India’s first woman DJ, Megha is out with her own label. She talks tempo and beats with Nicole Dastur.

She’s always been a trailblazer, setting trends rather than following them. Almost a decade ago, when deejaying was still at a nascent stage in India, Megha Kawale took a big step and pioneered female deejaying in India. Met with a measure of success, she rose to national fame and now does international gigs as well. Now, she’s all set to take her musical career to the next level--- not only is she coming out with her first album ---Mulgee --- but she’s also producing it under her own record label. “Right now, there’s so much happening in the Indian music industry that if you want your sound and style to reach out, you’ve just got to have your own space. Internationally too, most deejays have their own record labels through which they promote their individual styles of music,” says Megha, sounding excited and nervous at the same time. “This is a baby step I’ve taken,” she continues, “I have big plans for my label. It’s going to be tough, I know, but I’m ready to face the challenges.”

Challenges she’s faced throughout, and overcome with determination.

“When I started deejaying, a woman deejay was almost unheard of, epecially as a profession. It felt nice to be a novelty,” smiles Megha. But while woman deejays are still not a common sight. Megha believes the audiences’ attitude has changed over the years. “A decade ago, there used to be a niche crowd who used to go clubbing. Today, people understand music more, the audience has evolved.” And Megha’s evolving too, she tells us to keep up the times. “To be a successful DJ, your style of music and more importantly your sound of music, has to change according to the city you are playing in and the audience you are playing to Good deejaying is all about sharing a give and take relationship with the crowd --- you give them what they want and they will lap it up!”

With her schooling in house and club music ---- “I’ve always loved club music, it generates energy”--- Megha excels in these two genres, yet, she dosen’t disregard the Asian sound. “Bollywood numbers and Asian beats are huge the world over, so now I balance Western music with Asian and Indian influences.”

Ask her about the unusual name of her album, Mulgee, and that 100-watt smile flashes across Megha’s face again. “It’s a very real name, It’s what I am --- a female (deejay) --- and where I come from ( Maharashtrian origin ). Besides, mulgee stands for a sweet and innocent girl; I want my music to be as pure as that,” Megha signs off.