Indian Dancing Ban Turns Off Tiesto

Club promoters in India announced this week that Tiesto has decided to boycott Bangalore on his upcoming tour, in response to the city's escalating crackdown on dancing.

Local cops subsequently told Bangalore newspaper the Decca Times that they wouldn't actually have stopped Tiesto's show because of the tourist revenue it would have brought in, though Mirza from Bangalote promoters Eblitz Inc claimed the Dutch superstar trance DJ was concerned.

'The blanket ban on dancing on Excise licensed premises in the City didn't go well with him because when he performs, people dance,' he explained, 'We couldn't confirm to him that his audience here will be allowed to dance because of the ban,' he added (Deccan Herald, India)

In more bad news for Indian tourism, Merinews updated an article warning of the horrific death rate from people drowning off Goa's beaches, revealing that 234 people perished the five last years (up from 200 two years ago). The Herald suggested strong under-currents can drag people into the sea even when they're just paddling, with rave destination Calangute one of Goa's most perilous beaches.

The paper said the threat was exacerbated by insufficient lifeguards, an issue that was raised two years earlier when authorities launched a recruitment drive requiring applicants to swim 400 metres in 9 minutes.

Goa tourist chief Sanjit Rodrigues told the Goa Herald at the time that of the 114 swimmers 'just one candidate' passed the test, with numerous others having to be rescued.

'We can at least train those who completed 400 metres of swimming,' Mr Rodrigues added, 'But we can't even think of considering those who can't swim properly.'

No jig has top DJ skipping Blore

If event managers, who were pitching for Bangalore, are to be believed, the Dutch Trance DJ preferred to perform in the City because it has a crowd that understands Western music and has, in the recent past, hosted international tours like Ministry of Sound and Gatecrashers.

The news of the year for Bangaloreans is that DJ Tiesto —one of the best DJs in the world — has given the City a miss. Instead, he is performing in Hyderabad on the same day when he was supposed to be here, on his maiden India tour. If event managers, who were pitching for Bangalore, are to be believed, the Dutch Trance DJ preferred to perform in the City because it has a crowd that understands Western music and has, in the recent past, hosted international tours like Ministry of Sound and Gatecrashers. “The blanket ban on dancing on Excise licensed premises in the City didn’t go well with him because when he performs, people dance. We couldn’t confirm to him that his audience here will be allowed to dance because of the ban,” said Mirza of Eblitz Inc, an event management firm that was handling the Tiesto event in Bangalore, along with other partners. “Tiesto was initially coming to India on a three-city tour, from February 15 to 17. On the first day, he was supposed to perform in Delhi. We were looking at booking him for February 16 because it’s a Saturday and we would have more people turning up for the event but unfortunately we couldn’t get him. Hyderabad guys managed to get exclusive rights of his all-India tour. He is not performing elsewhere,” he added. Ban on dancing on licensed premises is governed by the License and Controlling of the Public Entertainment Act 2005. “Though it is to be enforced by the police, it’s the Excise department that’s playing the spoilsport. It’s because they are cracking down on dancing in pubs and bars that the sponsors have pulled out,” said one of the partners. Police say that they are not aware of Tiesto coming to the City. “We wouldn’t have stopped the show. It would have brought in so much of tourist capital into Bangalore,” said a senior police officer. Tiesto’s brand had fetched big sponsors — an international beer brand and a global mobile operator — for the Bangalore event. “We had tentatively booked three open spaces in Bangalore because Tiesto doesn’t play in indoor auditoriums. But the whole thing fell flat,” said Mirza.

Ryan Tedder on the coming of OneRepublic

OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder sits atop the music tree, with his own hit single Apologize only dethroned by Bleeding Love, penned by his own fair hand.

IT'S all about timing.

Ryan Tedder, frontman of US band OneRepublic, is on top of the world this year.

His band's debut single Apologize was the unavoidable song of the summer, topping charts around the globe.

In Australia, Apologize was finally dethroned by Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love, a song Tedder
co-wrote and produced.

Ironically, Tedder saw both songs rejected by record companies over the past three years.
His musical CV is littered with disappointment and heartbreak.

He started his songwriting career while studying at infamous preacher Oral Roberts' university.

"There's always some kind of scandal happening at that place,'' Tedder jokes. "Any time you mix Christianity, money and business, things get mucked up.''

His first taste of the music business came with an internship for Dreamworks' Nashville arm.
At 21, Tedder thought his big break had come when 'N Sync's Lance Bass chose him from a new talent showcase on MTV.

Tedder's song The Look was a hit with viewers and he was signed to Bass's management company and there was talk of a record deal.

It never happened.

Luckily for Tedder, one person watching MTV that day was producer Timbaland.

Timbaland called Tedder, who was tied to the Bass contract for a year. Once it expired, Tedder took Timbaland up on his collaboration offer. But Timbaland's work schedule saw Tedder bumped to the back of the queue.

Between 2002 and 2004 Tedder was fast-tracked into the inner sanctum of Timbaland's studio.

"I was a young producer learning my chops and even at that time, five years ago, he was the best in the world,'' Tedder says.

"He'd wanted to collaborate with me but he just got so busy I ended up being an observer. I watched him working on Justin Timberlake's first album Justified, watched him with Missy Elliott, Ludacris, Bubba Sparxxx, Lil' Kim . . . I learnt a lot.''

Tedder decided it was time to leave Timbaland and started a career writing songs for other artists.
He had also assembled a band -- OneRepublic -- and scored a deal with Columbia Records.
One of the songs he had used to land the deal was Apologize, written at his father's house in Colorado.

Even though he'd left Timbaland's shadow, Tedder still sent a copy of the song to the producer.

"He called me straight away and went `Oh my God, this song's a hit','' Tedder says. "He went nuts.''
Columbia didn't go quite so nuts, shelving their album in 2006 and insisting the band sack their original drummer.

"He was covered in tattoos, he looked like he should be in Blink 182. The label said 'You have to get rid of him' -- it was the hardest thing we've ever had to do.''

When Timbaland was compiling his Shock Value album -- collaborations with a range of artists -- he called Tedder, wanting to remix Apologize for the record.

"I was very reluctant,'' Tedder says. "But in the end I decided it was probably a good thing, I thought I'd just sit back and see what happened.''

A global No.1 later and two million copies of the song sold in the US alone, Tedder is not only "vindicated'', he's signed the band to Timbaland's record label.

"I've gone full circle back to Timbaland,'' Tedder jokes. "I always knew Apologize should be a hit, but I had no idea it would be this big a hit.''

Though the song was released as "Timbaland featuring OneRepublic", the producer's input was
minimal.

Tedder has included the original version of Apologize on the band's debut album Dreaming Out Loud, as well as the hit remix, to show he's not the producer's puppet.

"He didn't really change anything, he just switched the beat up a little and added a synthesiser,'' Tedder says.

The success is particularly sweet given Tedder's track record of missed opportunities.

"It's been hard to avoid becoming cynical,'' he says. "I've been through a lot for my age (28), I feel like I've been doing it twice as long as I actually have. It's hard for me to be blindsided by anybody -
- I can see it coming at this point because I've been through so much. I know which people in the industry are full of it, which helps.''

Tedder is the first to admit his battle wounds from the music industry have made him "calculated''.
``When I started in this business I'd just go in any direction with reckless abandon, I let other people control my career. One instance after another didn't work out. So I thought 'I'm going to set a goal and work out how to get there and go after it'. The same way I was involved in athletics at school, I was very competitive.

"I applied myself like I was trying to become the captain of the basketball team. I reattached that drive I had as a kid. If you're not somewhat calculated in this business you can end up in horrible situations, where people rob you of your money or your talent.''

While juggling the dual roles of songwriter for hire and OneRepublic frontman, Tedder can see the humour in his situation.

His phone is constantly ringing from music-industry types wanting him to write the next Apologize or Bleeding Love.

"I had people offer to buy Apologize before we released it,'' Tedder says. "But you can't copy yourself, it doesn't work that way.

"Just lately some songs I wrote three years ago have popped up, but back then I was nobody so no one would listen to them. I even pitched one (older) song to the same guy at the same label and after Apologize they went 'Oh this is great, it's a hit'. I didn't tell him I'd played it to him two years ago and he passed on it.''

The same thing happened with Bleeding Love.

Tedder wrote it with US pop star Jesse McCartney last February.

"His (record) label heard it, the guy in charge just didn't get it. I was red in the face screaming 'Are you out of your mind, this is a massive song'. Jesse wanted it, and for good reason, he has personal attachment to it. But it just didn't work out. It's one of those things that happens in this business.

"I'm a firm believer in just writing the best song you can, forget about who it's for and eventually it finds its home.''

Tedder heard Leona Lewis's people were hunting for songs for her debut album and dusted off Bleeding Love.

"I said I think she could kill this song. I rearranged it for her, changed the key, tailored it for her voice. She absolutely took control of it and owned it.''

Tedder's success means he can pick and choose his collaborators.

He's written a song with Soundgarden/Audioslave singer Chris Cornell ("one of the high points of my career'') and has work lined up with everyone from DJ Tiesto to Kelly Clarkson.

"I want to mix it up, I'm not just a pop guy,'' Tedder says. "But OneRepublic is first and foremost my priority.''

It's also a priority for Timbaland, who has already publicly said he wants Coldplay to "watch out'' for OneRepublic.

"Our goal isn't to take on Coldplay, I think Timbaland's goal is,'' Tedder says.

"They're obviously on another level. My goal is to have as many wonderful songs come out as possible. Maybe in five years hopefully someone will listen to a new band and say 'They sound like OneRepublic'.''

The way Tedder's extracurricular songwriting is picking up, his musical DNA is likely to be all over the pop charts for the next few years.

Though his songwriting CV includes everyone from Tatu to Hilary Duff, Jennifer Lopez and
Natasha Bedingfield, he refuses to point out which acts insist on a songwriting credit for financial reasons despite having minimal creative input into a song.

"I've definitely had that happen,'' Tedder says.

"That is probably the most difficult thing in this business, dealing with songwriting splits. Everyone's friendly and artistic until it comes to money. Then people pull out their knives. It's not fun.''

Tedder is also prepared for those who believe his band will become one-hit wonders, despite the follow up Stop and Stare already moving up the US chart.

"The same application I've taken as far as a songwriter writing for other artists, I've applied it to this band,'' he says.

"For me, the lyrics have to be completely tangible and personal, but musically if the song doesn't have a hook I'm not listening to it. I'm a sucker for the Beatles, Police, U2, Oasis, all these bands with monster choruses and monster songs.

"Of course, when Apologize became so big I was worried we couldn't live up to it. The second hit is what helps define the band.

"Anybody can get lucky once. We want to prove it wasn't luck.''

Dreaming Out Loud (Universal) out now. OneRepublic, with Maroon 5. Rod Laver Arena, March 30. $89.90, Ticketek.

Company of friends

If anybody needs lessons how to have a blast at any party learn it from Vaibhav Narula, Mohd Ali, Sunny Chawla, Yatin and Shobhit chhabra who organised a fundoo party to catch up with close buddies.

Held at a popular discotheque of the city, the energy of this bash was infectious, packed with young ladies looking hot and happening and also handsome hunks giving a tough competition to the femme fetale.

The do also witnessed a cake cutting ceremony. We saw guests freaking out, grooving on the housemixes churned out by DJ Romi. Music played at this bash was simply awesome, we got to hear many trances from one of the best DJs of the world including DJ Tiesto, DJ Insomania and more. And without any doubts music had put the party-hearties in a state of trance, and they danced as if there was no tomorrow. Setting the floor afire with their energy and moves were Alisha Bhatia, Arti Trivedi, Pallavi Katiyar, Vaibhav Narula, Shobhit Chhabra and Sunny Chawla.

Mohd Ali, Ada Shamin and Umra Aslam, were also spotted shaking a leg. While the rest showed their dancing skills, some were a little shy to hit the floor. And the shy girls included Pratishtha Dixit, Neha Singh and Arti Trivedi.

Get infected

The following is the cover story of d"ash - The Israeli magazine for English speaking young people around the world. To subscribe, click here

The cover of d"ash

Asaf Kliger and Omer Yaniv were there when Infected Mushroom came home.

The psychedelic trance duo, Infected Mushroom, are Israel's most famous rock artists. Just two years after breaking into the Top 100 of DJ Magazine, Erez Aizen (also I.Zen) and Amit Duvdevani (Duvdev) have smashed their way into the Top 10 No. 9 actually, on the all-comers list. They're mentioned in the same breath as greats like DJ Tiesto, Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren. They came home briefly for a 10th anniversary concert.

The show

Outside it's cold, raining. Inside, it couldn't be hotter. Duvdev and Erez are home at last. For two hours, they captivate the fans packed into the Ganei Hata'aruha hall in north Tel Aviv. A night to remember, a concert to relish, a celebration of creation the 10th anniversary of our home-grown, now internationally renowned phenomenon known as Infected Mushroom.

Infected Mushroom are now LA-based and perform all over the world. They're more a household name abroad than they are at home. But Israel remains extremely important to them, insists producer Eyal Yankovich. "Israel is world famous for some of its high-tech creations. Infected Mushroom is a different kind of export all human all creation. In creativity, we lead!" The show warms up with Beit Habubot (House of Dolls). They're only the appetizer.

The entrיe is mushroom, deliciously Infected Mushroom, energetically joined by the unique sound and movement of another internationally renowned Israeli export Mayumana. Madness strokes the audience when DJ Skazi joins Duvdev and Erez for a rendition of their famous I Wish. The wildest moment of the night comes for dessert. Birthday is dished up, as it first was, together with rock guitarist Berry Sakharof. The sounds of DJ Asterix ring in our ears as we leave sometime after 2 a.m. "tired but happy" as we used to say in sixth grade after the annual school trip.

People of all ages were enchanted. Liran Hutmacher is 24, a long-time fan: "I'd been a bit nervous that there'd be chaos, but the only heat came from the boys. Wow, did they ever get us to forget our everyday worries for a few hours and to enjoy some insane sound. It'll be in our ears for a long time." Dr. Malkin is a middle-aged guy: "As long as I can remember I've been an electronic music enthusiast, so I was pleased when my two daughters invited me to join them.

The atmosphere was good, people were enthusiastic. I enjoyed it." Talk about understating things, Doc! You can be sure there's not a soul who was there who doesn't now feel part of the international Infected Mushroom fan base. It ranges from the US through South America and Europe across to Japan. Meanwhile, the infected mushrooms had no time to rest, with gigs in Barcelona, London and Rio coming up next.

Roots

Erez and Duvdev have been together since 1996. They've released seven albums starting with The Gathering in 1999 and through to Vicious Delicious (2007). Duvdev's 33, Erez, 27. They were born in the Krayot just north of Haifa. Both had conventional and classical musical training as kids.

Erez learned to play the organ at age four and started studying piano at the age of eight. Duvdev, too, played piano for nine years from age seven until he made the switch to heavy metal and punk rock. He went to his first trance party in 1991, a week before being conscripted into the army. It was a life-changing moment, he says. From then on he could think only trance.

In 2004, the boys were joined by guitarists Erez Netz and Tom Cunningham. Tom plays with IM in the US, Erez plays the rest of the gigs.

Here and there

They are celebrities in LA and they've played at festivals all over the US including Ultra, Virgin and Coachella ("best on the planet," they call it). They've shared a stage with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Eyed Peas and the great Jewish rapper Matisyahu. "We've also been playing pure rock venues," they confess. "We're happy about that because we never wanted to be categorized."

They are especially fond of the scene in the US. Erez told DJ Magazine, "We get the most energy from our US shows. In the UK it can be an old scene for people. But in America, people don't know what to expect. The shows are a revelation."

Their breakthrough into Israeli rock awareness came in 2002 with Birthday. And, their links to home are getting ever stronger. The next IM album will contain distinctly Israeli titles. Black Shwarma refers to a famous shwarma snack stand in Haifa, and Sa'ed was inspired by a hummous joint in Acre.

Seven things you didn't know about IM

Birthday is Israel's best selling single ever

The group's MySpace page has been viewed more than a million times, more than half the viewings for Eminem's page

The band's name commemorates a disbanded punk rock band of the same name, in which Duvdev was once a member.

IM recently recorded five tracks of the legendary The Doors.

They sometimes get inspiration for song titles from their fans Internet forum.

They've been invited to perform in Jordan and in Dubai

Duvdev got married this year; Erez had his first child

Catch Infected Mushroom on YouTube!