Rapper, singer-songwriter, composer, music producer, storyteller and YouTube sensation, Dino James is a self-made burgeoning talent, who frequently credits most of his success to his mentor - his mother, with his debut album released in May last year dedicated to her, where pays a modest tribute to her on the album by featuring a prayer in her enthralling voice whilst also paying homage to his South Indian roots and culture.

Dino is a story in himself. The story of a man driven by the raw, unadulterated passion for songwriting, who rose from within the masses, to emerge as an iconic persona in the Indian hip-hop circuit. Hailing from humble origins, Dino’s verses are often dripping with hard-hitting truths gathered from real-life experiences.

What truly sets him apart is his ability to translate thought-provoking words into an equally powerful visual narrative.

In 2016, Dino James released his debut song Lose which struck a sensitive chord with people. Dino’s audience is one that cuts across different walks of life.

Verus Ferreira met up with the singer to know more on his journey in music, his debut album, his collaboration with IKKA and Badshah and his recent single released this year Boyfriend with Benafsha Soonawala.

What inspires you to be a singer / songwriter?

Hip hop is one of the most powerful art forms in India and across the globe today, and rap specifically is incredibly versatile. I got into rap to talk about real life by giving a voice to what my experiences, my life, and my story have been about. The beauty of rap is that it is like water; it can take the shape of whatever format you want to fit it in, whatever story you want to tell. This is how some of the hip hop legends like Eminem, Kendrick, and Jay Z carved a niche for themselves in the genre, which was by telling true and authentic stories through rap. This is where I draw inspiration from – from authentic stories, real people, and the versatility of the art form.

Tell us about your family, how they supported you?

I come from a humble background, and a career in hip hop was unheard of for my family. But despite that, they have been incredibly supportive of me and my pursuits, both in my life and my career. In the years that it took me to establish myself, they stood by me because they saw the growing power of hip hop and the community around it.  Throughout my journey, my mother has been my mentor and continues to inspire me to follow my passion. I recently paid a tribute to her in my album ‘D’, which features a prayer in her enthralling voice. Undoubtedly, my family has been my biggest source of encouragement, especially through the initial years when I was still finding my footing in this space, and I definitely owe a big part of my success to them.

Your album too was released in May 2022. Tell us about it.

My album is called ‘D’ and has the song Pyaar Pyaar among others and was released worldwide via Def Jam India, the iconic global hip hop label.The self-titled entrance album spans across 13 tracks and features talents like Emmy Award winning producer Aakash, singers Kaprila and Nikhita Gandhi. The energetic self-reflective album touches on my life by spotlighting my creative evolution and professional accomplishments. I’m indeed ever so grateful to be releasing this album at such a significant juncture in my life and having the opportunity to mark not just mine, but also Def Jam India’s first ever album. This album is really precious to me, not only because it's my maiden outing, but also because it represents my untold story which was private up until now. People grow, evolve and change but this album is about not forgetting where we come from. The other songs you must listen to are Lost and Chosen.

Can you give us a track by track storyline of the songs?

It will be really too long to go into the details, but in short I can probably tell you. So there’s D N Me about standing up for yourself when no one is rooting for you. The track reflects on the adage of ‘how it started v/s how it ended up’ and focuses on the hustle and hard-work backing the merit. It also stands for my dual sides, public moniker and my personal profile.  Dhundhla touches upon the complexities of differentiating between real and phony in a rap set. Chosen which was also one of my singles is about following your life path and passions when you have a belly full of dreams and ambitions. It’s about realizing that you are the Almighty's chosen one and you are here for a purpose that is tailormade for you. The sound is old school hip-hop, while fusing my South Indian roots with underlying Indian classical vocals. The music video was shot in Kerala to pay tribute to my motherland. Lost is a bittersweet breakup song, where Dino reminisces the feeling of being in and out of love and about an ideal relationship that went sour. Pyaar Pyaar is a fun filled track that captures how an ordinary girl doesn’t understand the celebrity lifestyle that an artist lives. Inspired by Afrobeat, the track shows how a boy is ready to sweep a girl off her feet while being fluid and fun. Jealous ft. Kaprila focuses on jealousy. So this is one of my fond memories on how I loved this girl who is now committed to somebody else and my desire to win her back (Laughs). Arambol ft. Nikhita Gandhi has the name of the place in Goa where I was sometime. I was in a spiritual bent of mind in Goa and penned this tropical laden track with a vision of detoxing from the materialistic world. On Sabka Rapper Ek I tried to put in some melody and bars and heavy lyrics. The fun song Supercop is a take on the so called ‘studio gangsters’ in India. I portray myself as a ‘Supercop’ who is keeping everything in ‘check’. Higher delves into thinking on the need of coming from a more evolved and elevated state of being and being more authentic to achieve your true worth and innate potential. On The Rocks is purely Mumbai based and this actually happened to me. Bleive me its true. I was sitting on the rocks at Versova Beach in Mumbai and I was wondering abouit my life and how it didn’t appear as it should’ve been, and thinking of moving back, until a street singer randomly approached me with a guitar to singalong. Its abouit where I was a few years ago and where I am now. Lastly D is an ode to my mother, Rani James who has been his day one support and motivation throughout my entire career that had its fair share of ups and downs. I am so grateful to her, that my last track Rani (Outro) is a prayer in my mother's voice who has played a great part in my success. The track serves a gesture of good luck and blessings that a mother bestows on her child on a brand-new outing 

So then tell us about your struggle in the industry, how you met people, any stories from the past you would like to share.

I have definitely struggled a lot to establish myself in this unconventional industry, but I strongly believe that these experiences have made me a better person, which, to me, is critical for being a good artist. Being an artist is just an extension of who you are as a person. To be a good person, you need to have experiences in life, but these don't always come easy and are often difficult and even painful at times.

So wow, you’ve already told us your story. But what prompted you to make this move to Mumbai?

I was born in Sarni, Madhya Pradesh, and I came to Mumbai when I was eighteen or nineteen years of age, without any clear plan for making it into this industry. I was not even sure that I wanted to get into the hip hop space. I made many mistakes along the journey, but eventually found my way to the right opportunities. Facing this challenging and often intimidating journey has made me the artist I am today. I can proudly say that Sarni remains my hometown, but Mumbai has become my second home, and I am excited to see where this journey takes me next.

So how do you go about to write a song and how does rap comes to you for a particular song?

My artistic process is very simple and spontaneous – it cannot be forced. I wait for the correct time to come and the ideas just flow by themselves. Inspiration can come from any corner, in any form. The moment that that inspiration is sparked, I hold onto it and build it into a story with a vision. As a creative artist, I always want to find new ideas, sounds, and visuals to break the monotony and keep my work fresh and relevant.

Your songs have unique names, would you like to put light on how you finalize the title?

I am someone who believes that as long as you are having fun, the entire creative process becomes a breeze – and that I take that understanding to all aspects of my work including ideating, writing, and even naming my songs. I like to bounce off ideas with my friends and that makes it into a fun experience. For titles, I enjoy sitting and discussing them with my creative friends to really see the impact of the title on the overall vibe of the song. I really enjoy this approach of going with the flow till we eventually click on something that just works.

Your journey as an artist had different shades. Would you like to say something about it?

I’ve definitely seen a lot of struggles and a lot of success as well in my journey. I’m proud of both since it has made me a unique artist today, there are a lot of rappers in the scene, but nobody looks like Dino, nobody sounds like Dino, nobody thinks like Dino, and nobody creates like Dino. There is no competition for me as long as I am just being myself.There are so many talented artists in India and across the globe today, it’s truly energizing. While I am not actively planning anything at the moment, I’m open to collaborating and creating some great, fresh music if and when I find the right fit with someone.

Anything new you have worked on?

Yes, I collaborated with IKKA and Badshah for a song Woh. Both rappers are known as the most prominent names in India's hip-hop culture, so we have come together for the first time to give fans something new. The song is a first-time collaboration. I also did a song Boyfriend  that featured Benafsha Soonawala. It premiered in April 2023.  

Tell us what the song Woh is about?

The song Woh describes a man’s emotions and their journey through heartbreak. The song perfectly captures the extreme hurt, emotions, and male vulnerability that come with a breakup. Badshah and I wrote about our rawest emotions and the journey of our heartbreaks, describing how difficult it is to miss someone and not be able to be with them. I share my inner emotions and the feeling of missing someone I once loved. Ikka on the other hand grieves as he realizes he is unable to repair the broken relationship and cannot bear the heartache any longer. Furthermore, Badshah, who contributed a special verse to the song, discusses the male perspective of heartbreak and says that it is acceptable to show the pain and go through the distressing feeling of a vanishing love. 

What about Boyfriend?

Boyfriend portrays the insecurities and toxicity that an individual can go through in a relationship and the trauma that follows if they let themselves fall deep into the dark hole of insecurities. Its an uncomfortable truth that a lot of people face. Through this song, I try to send out a message “If this is what people face, best for both parties to walk away. Toxicity and trauma is never okay”

What would you like to say to aspiring artists?

There’s no substitute for your own journey or hard work. Every step you take is just building your story, even if it is through your struggles. Stay in your lane and be consistent, and the rest will follow. That's my idea of making it work, and also my advice to aspiring artists in the scene.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira