The return of Rishi Rich

When we made Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal), we were just three guys jamming around in a London studio. I liked the sound of the flute, so we put that in. I thought it would sound cool with that hip hop thing we were trying out," says Rishpal Singh Rekhi, better known as Rishi Rich, while speaking about the song that pioneered the Indian R&B fusion movement. "What emerged was a sound nobody had ever heard before. Jay (Sean) sang in English and Juggy D rapped in Hindi. It was brand new."

Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

But, he never imagined what a hit the single would go on to become, says Rishi Rich, who is in Mumbai, to work on a new song with Mohit Suri for his next venture, Half-Girlfriend. "We didn't even know if it would work in London, let alone India," says the 36-year-old British Indian, who founded the Rishi Rich Project in 2003 with Jay Sean and Juggy D. Well it did.

Indian kids danced on it and how - at house parties and clubs across five-stars, and at every shaadi, the DJ played it with pride.

The Rishi Rich project which included (right) J Sean and (behind) Juggy D.

Dance With You also did well internationally. It peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Charts; won ‘Best Single R&B' at the 2003 UK Asian Music Awards, and was featured on Jay Sean's debut album Me Against Myself (2004), and his own album, Rishi Rich Project.

"People still come to me and talk about that song. And, if you listen to it, it's still so fresh. We had a party last Friday in Mumbai, and they played the song. People, who knew it danced on it, and those who didn't, danced on it too," says Rishi Rich, who went on to compose the title song for the 2004 hit, Hum Tum.

While the Rishi Rich Project didn't last - the trio split in 2007 - they collaborated in 2015 for the single, Freak. These days, Rishi Rich is keeping busy producing tracks in Atlanta, US, where he is now based. "Atlanta is the home of hip hop and rap - artistes like Drake have come from there. So, I am trying to drown myself in that genre."

Right now though, he is in Mumbai, working on a song with Suri for his adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's Half-Girlfriend. The song, says Rishi Rich, is quite "sexy". "It's a combination of things and it's keeping true to my roots, which means it's heavy on melody. It's taken from my Atlanta influences, which is hardcore rap, and it still retains that Mohit Suri sexy vibe."

He is also collaborating with artistes such as Mika and Baadshah on a couple of other filmy tracks. The results will be out in the months to come. "Jay (Sean) is also hoping to be come down soon, so we are wondering if we should do something together as well."

He's impressed with India's small, but growing indie music scene. "It's a very different time from when I came down to India in 2003. We broke into India in the indie way, and not the filmy way. Not everything should be about films. But, if directors like Mohit are willing to take a risk, then why not? That's good for the scene as well. Mohit is not about the name of the singer, he's more about ‘if the song is good, I will use it'," he says.

What tips does he have for Indian artistes, who want to make it internationally? How do they break out? Rishi Rich has a unique spin on it. "It's a tricky question and maybe the answer is to perform at festivals all over the world. But, after my experiences in Atlanta, and what I know of the music industry, I feel that if you make it in India, you can make it anywhere. The world is looking at India for cues. Just be yourself and success will come."