RAJA, the acclaimed electronic music artist, recently opened up about his latest project, the GURU EP, which draws inspiration from his travels in India and his desire to fuse modern techno with authentic cultural elements. In this exclusive interview, RAJA shares the story behind GURU, his creative process, and the deeper meaning behind the music.
T.H.E – What inspired you to create the GURU EP?
RAJA – While traveling through India on my music tour, I felt a deep need to create something special for this region. I often use Indian elements in my sound, but this time I wanted to live inside the atmosphere, not just observe it from afar. Usually, I would write music elsewhere, but in India I decided to stay and create from within. That feeling became the beginning of GURU.
T.H.E – Why did you choose India and the Taj Mahal as the central setting?
RAJA – I reached out to several production teams in India, and the one that responded was Seed Production from Bangalore. Their energy felt open and fearless. When we met, we started developing ideas and quickly realized that Agra and the Taj Mahal held a universal symbolism of love and eternity. It felt like the perfect place to tell this story. We traveled there together not as tourists, but as people trying to capture something real.
T.H.E – How did being in India influence your sound and creative process?
RAJA – India had influenced me long before I ever visited it. As a child, I watched Bollywood movies that felt like magical tales. The melodies, voices, and rhythms stayed inside me for years. So when I finally arrived, it felt more like returning to something familiar than discovering something new. I was reconnecting with a sound that had always been part of me.
T.H.E – What does the word GURU mean to you personally?
RAJA – For me, a guru is a seeker. It is not someone who already knows everything but someone who keeps asking questions about life. In India, I came searching for my own guru, but in truth, a guru can be anyone, even a stranger who gives you an unexpected answer. India is full of those moments when the world speaks to you if you are quiet enough to listen.
T.H.E – What about NURI? Is it a continuation or a contrast to GURU?
RAJA – NURI continues the story of GURU, but in a more emotional and romantic way. While GURU carries a strong and dynamic rhythm, NURI dives deeper into feeling. It is softer yet equally powerful, with a female vocal that brings light and tenderness. They are like two chapters of one story, different moods with the same essence.
T.H.E – What was it like collaborating with Nikita Bogdanov?
RAJA – Working with Nikita is always a flow. He has a rare sensitivity to sound and space. Even when we are far from any ethnic environment, he manages to channel that energy naturally. Our process is never forced. We just listen, connect, and let the sound guide us. Creating together feels like meditation.
T.H.E – You’ve said this project is an invitation, not an instruction. What do you mean by that?
RAJA – I want people to experience the music freely. It is not a message to understand, it is a journey to feel. Close your eyes and let it take you wherever your soul wants to go. Every listener will see and feel something different, and that is the beauty of it. The music already contains everything I wanted to say. After that, it belongs to the listener.
T.H.E – How did the people you met in Agra shape the project’s energy?
RAJA – The streets of Agra are full of life. Women smiled from their windows as if they were part of a film. Children joined the filming with joy and without fear. Everyone carried this natural charisma. It felt like Bollywood lives in their blood. Nothing was staged. The city itself directed the scenes. That human energy became part of the sound.
T.H.E – How do you blend modern techno with real-world culture without falling into clichés?
RAJA – The key is honesty. I never try to imitate or decorate. I study, I listen, I learn. The goal is to respect the roots and connect them with the present. When you understand where a sound truly comes from, you do not need to force it. You become a bridge between cultures instead of a collector of stereotypes.
T.H.E – If someone listened to GURU for the first time, what feeling would you want them to walk away with?
RAJA –I would not want to dictate a feeling. The music itself will guide the listener. Maybe it brings peace, maybe movement, maybe a sudden memory. Whatever it awakens is what it is meant to be. Music is alive, it speaks to each person differently.
T.H.E – If GURU were a film, how would you describe its final scene?
RAJA – It would end like a classic Bollywood story where the seeker finally finds what he has been searching for, not through answers but through love and inner peace. The camera would slowly pull away, the light would grow warmer, and the sound would fade into silence.
T.H.E – Interviewer: Is there a personal prayer or message inside this project?
RAJA – Every song created with love is already a prayer. For me, creation itself is a sacred act. I am always searching, always learning. Sometimes the desire to be heard can distract from the essence of simply being a creator. GURU reminded me to breathe deeply, to create honestly, and to trust that the sound will find its way. Each project is another prayer to remain true as an artist and as a human being.
Through GURU, RAJA has created more than just an EP – it is a journey through sound, culture, and emotion. The music invites listeners to explore, feel, and reflect, offering an immersive experience that captures the spirit of India while blending it seamlessly with modern electronic artistry.
- Chloe Florence Embraces Emotion And Motion On Endlessly Borrowed EP - November 7, 2025
- RayRay Unleashes Fierce Hard-Techno Anthem ‘Feeling Better’ - November 7, 2025
- Steve Aoki and Nicky Romero Join Forces For Higher Off The Ground EP - November 7, 2025
