Summary of this article
Siddharth Negi goes by the moniker of Boh!b.
An open-format DJ with multiple years of experience, his earliest influences came from hip-hop and he learnt DJing on turntables.
Beyond his social media popularity, there’s a philosophy at play: DJing as curation, as storytelling, as archiving culture rather than chasing trends.
His name is unpronounceable. His sets are unskippable. Siddharth Negi DJs under the moniker Boh!b. Through his series, “Besharam”, he reimagines space for desi music that we all grew up loving but wouldn’t admit.
An open-format DJ with multiple years of experience, his earliest influences came from hip-hop and he learnt DJing on turntables. In an era where DJs are expected to be part-performer, part-content creator, Boh!b stands out by leaning into instinct. His rise hasn’t followed a conventional trajectory but happened through years of work.
His popularity is defined by the sold-out open-to-close set in Bombay, a surge of viral Instagram clips and a growing community that understands his hybrid sound—equal parts international and equal parts desi. But beyond the numbers, there’s a philosophy at play: DJing as curation, as storytelling, as archiving culture rather than chasing trends. In this interview with Sarthak Sharma for Outlook, Boh!B reflects on his process, pressures and why, at the end of the day, he hopes people just pronounce his name right. Edited excerpts:
What does DJing mean to you? Is it about curating the atmosphere of the party, just being yourself, or a mix of both?
At the core of it, a DJ is a collector, curator and at times, even a journalist of music—someone who discovers, documents and shares sound. Beyond that, it’s really a balance. You’re shaping the atmosphere while also expressing your own identity. The best sets happen when those two things meet—when what you love connects with what the crowd feels in the moment.
What have been some of your favourite gigs? Why?
“Besharam” in Bombay. It was the first time I did a solo open-to-close set in a different city. It ended up being a sold-out show—definitely the most fun I’ve had.
I rinsed the footage from that show on Instagram, which led to millions of views and around 150k+ followers, just from that show’s content.
Who are some of your favourite music artists? Which DJs inspire you? What genres move you the most?
There are so many, how do I choose? But if I had to pick one artist, it would be Notorious B.I.G..
DJs who have inspired me include DJ Kan-i (India), Eskei83 (Germany) and DJ GL & Xirex (India).
Your mixes blend international and desi sounds—someone called it ‘VH1 meets 9XM’—What do you think of that?
Pretty spot on!
What is your ideal audience?
The ones who know who they’re coming to see and what they’re in for. Those are the best ones. The worst ones are the ones who pronounce my name wrong.
How do you balance algorithmic demands with artistic integrity?
It doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t put out reels for the algorithm, I don’t even know what works these days.
I just put out what I think is ‘dope’, using simple editing tools, on my own social media, at random times. I always choose the most easily executable way to do anything with the least dependency on external factors.
Does virality help or distort an artist’s growth? How different is performing for an algorithm versus a crowd? Has virality ever felt like pressure?
It can do both—it totally depends on how an artist deals with the virality. I only know how to perform for a crowd; I have no clue on how to perform for an algorithm.
Honestly, yes! Virality did feel like pressure at one point. But then I slept over it and it doesn’t anymore. Let’s talk again if I ever hit a million followers.
What does your core community understand about you that casual listeners might miss?
Casual listeners think I’m a Bollywood DJ.
Real ones know I’m a ‘dope’ DJ who enjoys playing different styles of music and also plays some sick Bollywood for the “Besharam” show.
In such a saturated space, how do you protect your distinct voice?
By not trying too hard to be like someone else and being my authentic self—it’s not that hard.
What’s the most misunderstood part of being a DJ today?
It's that just being a DJ is not enough, that you need to eventually learn how to produce music in order to stay relevant for long.
What’s something about your process that would surprise people?
I used to obsessively over-prepare my sets. I take my own sweet time doing it; sometimes its days, even months. It’s my favourite thing to do.
One piece of advice for someone who wants to be a DJ?
It’s a great hobby to have. You don’t really have to monetise it.
If someone walks away from your set remembering just one feeling, what do you hope it is?
I just hope they get my name right. I swear.
