Mr Entertainment

One of the biggest names on the air, Radio 1’s Nihal talks to Mela’s Gurpreet Kundi about Mark Wahlberg, working for Elton John and doing the Eurovision in 10 years!

Gurpreet: How difficult has it been for you to break into mainstream radio?
Nihal: As it was something I had never strived for each time I open a mic fader and it’s daytime Radio 1 I consider it a blessing. There are a few people here at Radio 1 who have put a lot of faith in me and I do not intend to let any of them down. I’m a grafter, I put my head down pull my sleeves up and work.

Gurpreet: What are your thoughts on the explosion of Asian culture within mainstream radio, TV and fashion?
Nihal: You’d have to define explosion. Is there one? Were we a fad that has passed? Other than Jay Sean, which Asian artist do you see crossing over. Is that an explosion? I think that that was a question you could have asked in 2004/2005. I’m not being a pessimist at all and I think we are in an amazing place but if you think the whole of the UK is going around whistling bhangra tunes and queueing up to see Bollywood movies you are sadly mistaken. On a deeper level there are many people making moves behind the scenes like Raoul Shah at Exposure PR and Shabs at Relentless Records.
Do not mistake the ubiquitous nature of the chicken tikka masala as an explosion.

Gurpreet: When was the first time you knew you were famous?
Nihal: I’m not famous. I used to work for Elton John, that’s famous.

Gurpreet: Who influenced you to persue DJing?
Nihal: I have been into music for as long as I can remember. I remember seeing scratch DJs like Cash Money, Cutmaster Swift and DJ Pogo back in the days but at that time I was an MC so left them to their mastery.

Gurpreet: What’s been your most embarrassing blooper on radio?
Nihal: Saying a very very very bad word on my weekend breakfast show. I mispronounced the word ‘count’. Also, every time Bobby Friction and I do our show we’re minutes away from some madness or another.

Gurpreet: Who, from your daily life, inspires you and who is your hero?
Nihal: People who are very successful and are nice people.
Raoul Shah of Exposure PR, Trevor Robinson of the advertising agency Quiet Storm, Chris Page who used to be my boss and Shabs from Relentless Records who is my Record Industry guru. I am not a businessman so I do envy these guys. Also everybody who works at Radio 1. It really is the best place that I have ever worked in. Ben Cooper and Andy Parfitt lead by example which is the best way to be.

Gurpreet: Is it difficult to stand in for other DJs, such as Chris Moyles and Edith Bowman? Do you feel you have to change your presenting style?
Nihal: I change my presenting style between my specialist show, my Asian Network Show and my Radio 1 weekend breakfast show. With stand-ins I do try to be myself and try not to copy anyone else’s style. Breakfast [shows] and “Drive” [shows] require a gear change though.

Gurpreet: If you could erase one musician from history, who would it be and why?
Nihal: Wow! There’d be artist genocide for those who sing, write or perform without soul, passion, belief, imagination, energy and conviction.

Gurpreet: Which band would you revive if you had the power?
Nihal: Bands have a shelf life, like Radio presenters. Their music lives on and when their careers come to an end then so be it. I don’t reminisce about a golden age of music and still believe that I have yet to hear the best music, otherwise why bother?

Gurpreet: What song are you playing in your car at the moment?
Nihal: New music from Busta Rhymes, Game, Superswamis, Jay Sean, and Radio 1 DJ Mary Anne Hobbs’ brilliant compilation album.

Gurpreet: If you weren’t a radio DJ what would you be doing?
Nihal: Wondering how to make money out of loving music so much.
Gurpreet: How would you describe your radio show?
Nihal: Inspiring infotainment.

Gurpreet: Who has been your most memorable interview?
Nihal: Mark Wahlberg this morning was a good one, especially when we finished and he said how much he usually hates interviews and had so much fun. We’re both Hip Hop heads so that got us off to a great start.

Gurpreet: Is there anyone you would love to interview?
Nihal: People say never meet your heroes. I approach each interview with the same irreverent enthusiasm.

Gurpreet: You are known not to shy away from controversial topics on radio....would a career in politics interest you?
Nihal: Hell NO! But never say never.

Gurpreet: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Nihal: Talking about the price of fig rolls at 3am on a Radio station no one has heard of, filling time until another caller comes on the line and all the time thinking of the paycheck. Either that or rapping the UKs Eurovision song contest entry.

Gurpreet: Describe yourself in one word.
Nihal: Happy.

Gurpreet: Your motto in life?
Nihal: Things are only as complicated as you want to make them or Audere est facere (To dare is to do).

Gurpreet: What else have you got in the pipeline?
Nihal: Oil. v

Nihal presents a weekday show on BBC Asian Network between 9am and 12noon. He is currently taking a 4-week break from this commitment however, covering for Edith Bowman on her Radio 1 show between 1 and 4pm while the presenter is on maternity leave. He also presents the weekend breakfast show on Radio 1 between 7 and 10am and co-hosts with Bobby Friction between midnight and 2am on Tuesdays on Radio 1, where they showcase the freshest Asian breaks and flavas around.

NIHAL’S FAVOURITES

Artist: James Brown.
Food: Egg Godumba roti with chicken curry or some saag paneer and jeera rice.
Drink: Mango lassi. Or a Zubrowska and fresh apple juice.
DJ: Every Radio 1 DJ.
Book: I’ll tell you when I finish one of the five that I currently haven’t finished.
Era of music: The future.
Genre of music: The outstandingly inspirational genre.

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