1. MitchHyare: Why did you choose to stick with your
original name rather than picking up an alias like
Dholi Mitch?
My name is mitch. It is my legal name alongside
mahaveer. Mitch was given to me at birth. It wasn't
something I chose to stick with. It's more that most
people call me by that name and have always called me
by that name.
2. How long have you playing the dhol and where did
you learn how to play?
I've been playing dhol for nearly 19 years now. My
ustaad was lal singh bhatti. I used to see him every
thursday for bhangra practice and then he used to come
stay with me for entire weekend. He became family.
3. Were you ever apart of any groups or were you
always flying solo?
I have always been a part of many groups and bands.
The solo part of things has been the promotors doing..
Hehehe. Most promotors feel that it was an asset to
them to promote me as well. Over time I have been
somewhat of a freelance dholi. Never strictly with
just one group or band. I never thought I was flying
solo. I was just doing what I do.
4. Many say that you are the best in the business.
Others say DBI's (Dhol Beat International) dholis are
just as wicked? Do you agree and what do you have to
say about that?
I don't agree that I'm the best. I feel I am amongst
some of the top but not the best. There are many more
out there that have yet been given the chance for
starlight. I'm always trying to promote and help those
who can do well with it. Dbi dholis are wicked. I've
ran across them many times. In fact, I had to judge a
dhol competition where they were competing.
5. Which dholis did you look up to when you were
younger and who do you look up to today?
I only really knew of kaeser paji ( bhinda jatt's
brother ), my ustaad, gurcharan mall, and winnie paj.
In the past years I have had the chance to meet and to
play along with some of these dholis. It was a dream
come true to meet them since I had looked up to them
al when I was younger. Today? It's hard.. Too many
dholis doing the same thing. Shinda paj is
always the ultimate.
6. You are well known around the world, but for those
out there that may not know who Mitch really is, let
them know. Let them know which artists you've played
with and who you will be hooking up with in the near
future.
Oh my.. I don't know if I can remember them all. I
started by doing a lot of fusion. The ultimate cheb I
sabbah, medival punditz, karsh kale, soundtripps, rdb,
indy sagu, e=mc, manak-e, surinder shinda, kuldeep
manak, stereo nation, b21, sukhbir,malkoo ( pakistan
), tanto metro and devonte ( jamaica ), shezad roy,
punjabi mc, premi, daljeet matu, lalli
, lember, many more desi and non desi artists.
7. We all know you've played for RDB on several
occasions, but are you RDB's "official" Dholi?
Yes I am.
8. How many dhol's have you gone through? Have you
torn a lot of them, or have you always had the same
one?
I have 8 dhols total. I have torn many skins. I will
be auctioning off some of them for a dhols for young
dholis fund that I and a few many others will be
starting up soon.
9. How did you get into the spotlight and start
playing Dhol for all the big time artists?
I guess it was luck. A promtor had seen me play at a
wedding and then things just led from there.
