[INTERVIEW] Bisaria Unveils Incredible Take On Hans Zimmer’s Dune Soundtrack

19 March, 2024

Armed with a subtle yet rumbling soundscape that gradually escalates into an intricately woven electronic frenzy, LA-based electronic producer Bisaria has marked himself as an artist who’s making incredible strides in the industry.

Known for weaving Indian themes into his music, he strongly believes in expressing elements of his culture through his sound and aesthetic. Similar sounds and touches can be heard in his original track “Fortress”. His live performances also feature something very distinct – the alto-saxophone – skillfully played by Bisaria himself. He has showcased his talent across major cities including Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas, serving as a supporting act for major artists such as Deadmau5, Flume, Rezz, Duke Dumont, Aluna, Aminé and more.

Now, he’s presented a breathtaking rendition of the renowned movie Dune’s expansive soundtrack. By starting with Hans Zimmer’s minimalist “Gom Jabbar” track as a foundation and incorporating a primal, tribal scream, Bisaria introduces slow-burning, pulsating percussion and an elegant sitar, yielding a remarkably refreshing interpretation. The result is simultaneously edgy, mysterious, haunting, and compelling, encapsulating a captivating blend of elements.

“The genesis of this remix was an homage to the ethereal and powerful essence captured in “Gom Jabbar” from the 2021 film, Dune. Hans Zimmer’s vision to “unleash that inner strength” through a singular, primal vocal note resonated deeply with me. This track is a fusion of that inspiration with the rich vibrancy of Indian music, embodied through a prominent sitar melody I composed. This piece is one of my attempts at bridging the world of electronic music with my cultural background, akin to Zimmer’s quest for music that defies the conventional, marrying modern with the classical.” – Bisaria

We had the opportunity to chat with Bisaria some more about this work. Check it out below!

What initially drew you to Hans Zimmer’s “Gom Jabbar” track from the Dune soundtrack, and what inspired you to create a remix of it? –

The vocal element of “Gom Jabbar” instantly evoked memories from my childhood, particularly the singers at the temples we visited in Rajasthan.

Did you often watch Dune throughout your studio sessions for this remix?

I didn’t necessarily watch the film throughout the studio sessions, but I did often explore the rest of the Dune soundtrack, as well as other pieces by Hans Zimmer from different films.

Separately, there was a re-release I attended ahead of Dune 2’s premiere. Watching it again in a theater setting made me glad I acted on the inspiration I felt two years ago upon my first viewing.

“Fortress,” your latest original track, also features Indian sonic elements. How do you ensure that these cultural elements are authentically represented in your music while still maintaining a contemporary electronic sound?

For tracks that lean towards Indian motifs, the inspiration often comes unexpectedly and from a variety of sources — perhaps most often while listening to (western) classical music if it’s in the minor pentatonic scale.

Just to be clear — I don’t position myself as a traditional Indian musician schooled in the genre, but rather as someone deeply influenced by classic Bollywood and religious Indian music from my upbringing — those melodies/scales/instruments resonate with me profoundly. I don’t know if that means it’s not “authentic,” but I suppose authenticity is subjective anyway in this context.

We understand that you incorporate the alto-saxophone into your live performances. How does this instrument add to the live experience, and what led you to include it in your sets?

I started playing the alto-saxophone, clarinet, and baritone-sax at age 12, eventually traveling the country in high school to perform as part of a jazz band. The real push to include the alto-sax in my live sets happened while watching a Big Wild show for the first time back in 2018 — his sets involve mixing live instruments with dance music in a way that just clicked for me. It made me think, “Hey, I can bring my own twist to this.”

So, having been able to play for so many years, it was easy for me to identify moments in a typical DJ set where a sax could enrich the track. The natural evolution of this was for me to start including it in my original music — the most prominent track with sax thus far has been “Chase” which I released last year.

Having supported major artists like Deadmau5, Flume, and Rezz, what have been some standout moments or lessons learned from these experiences that have influenced your own musical journey?

Sharing the stage with giants like Deadmau5, Duke Dumont, and Rezz was like taking an advanced course in how to truly connect with an audience. Watching them work, I saw firsthand how they craft a journey through their sets, blending emotions and energy to create unforgettable experiences.

Prior to opening for these artists, I adopted a highly analytical approach, dissecting their sets to understand the timing between tracks, transition styles, crossover elements, the pacing of BPM throughout a set, and more. Understanding their techniques in this way taught me the importance of flow in a live set, how to weave together different tracks while placing them in the larger context of the full performance.

The biggest takeaway for me has been the value of staying present and adaptable. I very quickly moved away from pre-planned sets in favor of a more fluid, dynamic approach, allowing me to better engage with the audience and react in real-time.