Theepan (a.k.a. DJ Brownsoul) is a very well known name in the Toronto Tamil community. Theepan came to Canada at a young age and started to DJ at the age of 10. He collected reggae vinyl records (sized at 45” and 12”) and remixed songs using software such as Acid Pro.
Theepan’s greatest inspirations have changed over the course of time. Between ages 10-14, it was Troyton Rami who produced songs including Give Me the Light by Sean Paul and Turn Me On by Kevin Lyttle. Troyton’s artistic excellence in his production inspired Theepan to work just like him. From the age of 15 until 20, Theepan was influenced by A.R Rahman’s work in the 90s. And since age 21, he is greatly inspired by Diplo, MIA, Lean On and Major Lazer, who works with musical genres including EDM, Moombahton, Fusion of House and Reggaeton.
Certain DJs stick to DJing for their gigs and to entertain people. However, Theepan produces music. Earlier this year, Theepan performed as a DJ at Kardinal Offishall’s New Year's Eve concert. Keep an ear out for Kardinal Offishall’s newest song as Theepan is one of many artists who collaborated to produce it. Theepan has several more artist collaboration works in progress that will be released on his various social media platforms.
TC: Coming to Canada at such a young age, who has helped you the most with your journey?
Theepan: I went through some hardship growing up. My parents were in Sri Lanka while I was here in Canada. The one thing I am thankful for is the friends that have become my family and supported me with my trade since day one.
TC: So what is going on with you and Major Lazer? Theepan: I am currently working on a song and will be hosting a concert in 2016.
TC: For the upcoming young DJs, what software do you use to produce and mix your music?
Theepan: I use Serato, CDJ 2000, Technics 1200 MK2 and Rane 68. To produce music I use Logic Pro and Ableton Live.
Not only does Theepan work in Toronto, he also hosts destination weddings and gigs. He often gets requests from Europe as well. Theepan’s high demand is due to the fact he shares all his productions on SoundCloud. His account has a large following, and as a follower I can attest that these mixes are awesome! His style of music and how he delivers an epic night for any gathering is what attracts him so much business.
One of Theepan's greatest accomplishments is creating a name in Canada and being known internationally both within the Tamil community and outside it. He hosts his own concert called Flashback, which is an awesome concert to go to (I can attest as a first hand witness).
https://vimeo.com/139749799
The greatest challenge in Theepan's career is that individuals tend to not appreciate the music and creativity he throws into every mix, gig and wedding reception. There were several people who didn’t believe in him and thought a DJ was not something worth paying for, so you can image how many times he has been asked for “free gigs”. But with the hard work he has thrown into his passion over the years, Theepan was able to overcome many obstacles and build himself the reputation he has today.
As of September 2015, Theepan has been signed under Major Lazer's Mad Decent label and will be working on his own personal project with Jamaican artists. In three year’s time, Theepan envisions hosting large scale concerts and collaborating with big name artists. The TamilCulture team would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations for Theepan's great accomplishments!
