New York’s Finest, Jay Dabhi demonstrates why he’s earned that title. Now known as the International Party Rocker, earlier this year both ‘Kawan’s Other Life’ and ‘Mumbai After Dark’ received tremendous airplay in the UK and US and gave audiences a taste of this DJ’s incredible skills. Now this New York based DJ/producer is about to embark on a deal that will grant him the exposure to show global audiences just what Jay Dabhi is all about.

Slated to release sometime next year, Jay has signed a deal with VIP records to do a full length production album. Though still in its initial stages Jay has revealed that the album will consist of a mix of everything from Hindi, Bhangra and House to Club music with its main influence being dance. He’s also just recorded a track with house legend Louie Vega’s wife Anane and it will be released on Tommy Boy Records next year.

If you don’t know Jay Dabhi, then you’re way behind. He’s been in the game for over ten years and was dubbed North America’s Greatest South Asian DJ. His first album ‘Lil Jay – New York’s Finest’ was released in 1996 with the follow up Part 2 -‘America’s Most Wanted’ and marked the beginning of his career. Known for his unique style of mashups, Jay’s talent has landed his productions on the famed Crooklyn Clan’s website. Consisting of DJ Riz and DJ Sizzahandz, The Crooklyn Clan are most famous for the Fatman Scoop mashup single ‘Be Faithful’.

However, Crooklyn Clan’s site is not the only place where Jay’s mashups are featured. More recently he’s been collaborating with other DJs on BollywoodMashups.com. Bollywood Mashups is a website that provides an outlet to aspiring DJs and producers that features their mashups exclusively for those interested in gaining access to their music. Dabhi sees this as being extremely beneficial to up and coming producers and DJs who are trying to gain recognition for their production talents. Due to the technological advances and changes to the music industry, Dabhi laments on the lack of outlets for producers and DJs in the South Asian scene today. When he had just started, there were a number of outlets for distribution and recognition that have been limited now by the consumer habits of the digital age (CD sales and consumer interest for them have vastly diminished). Bollywood Mashups’ aim is to help artists take control of their own careers without having to be attached to a label.

As for labels, Dabhi created his own dubbed – SolTrenz and EthNYC Beats – with “Da Groove Doctors” partners Duane Harden and Moises Modesto. The launch of the record label recently got picked up by major house label – Strictly Rhythm/Defected Records and will soon be releasing his tracks.

Apart from his production work he’s also been globe trotting to as far as Australia where he recently did a tour in Perth and Melbourne headlining at massive events such as Masala Mix which is held twice a year. Aside from doing his monthly gigs in Texas and New York, Dabhi looks forward to doing a lot more traveling next year as he plans on touring India and South East Asia. However, his focus as of now is on tailor making his own album and looking for artists to feature on it.

He admits to wholeheartedly loving what he does stating that he does not try to be number one but believes those who have a passion for what they do have longevity in their careers. He used his experience DJing at mainstream/urban clubs at his South Asian parties which he says helped him to become a better DJ. “In DJing it’s not about just playing songs it’s about other things like programming. It’s about how you play and when you play it.” He attributes the recognition he gained on stations like New York’s Z-100 and 103.5 KTU to him fusing music from his South Asian heritage together with the mainstream such as hip-hop.

Jay puts it best when he said, “As long as you’re talented and you have a passion I’m ready and always looking for people to collaborate with.”