Australian-based doctor Avnesh Ratnanesan talks about his wellness movement that combines dance music with booze-free parties
MALAYSIANS are familiar with Dr Jason Leong, the medical practitioner who became a popular stand-up comedian.
But there is another Malaysian doctor, based Down Under, who is fast carving a name for himself in music, specifically dance music. Best of all, he advocates therapeutic use of music in his very own wellness movement, Move4Love.
He is Dr Avnesh Ratnanesan who runs an international digital health company headquartered in Sydney, Australia, his home of 16 years.
For the last five years, he has entered the music world and built a name for himself as DJ 1conscious.
MUSIC, DANCE AND MEDITATION
Together with his British-born Australian friend and fellow dance music producer Yemi Akinpelumi or YemiTheCat, Dr Avnesh, 45, created Move4Love in 2017 as a "clean-living initiative" advocating music, dance and meditation without drugs or alcohol.
Dr Avnesh and Yemi have just come out with their first song, Move4Love, and it is currently available on Spotify.
Embodying positive vibes, Move4Love will be used in Dr Avnesh's wellness programmes, where music lovers get to enjoy music and dance online and "party" from the comfort of their homes.
Composed by award-winning Navin Kumar or Navigator, the song also features popular Malaysian singer Elvira Arul, whose captivating voice amplifies its powerful tones.
Dr Avnesh has been "stuck" in Kuala Lumpur since the start of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March, but this has not stopped him from liaising with Yemi and their followers around the world via social media.
In fact, Dr Avnesh's debut song was released here in September, during the Recovery MCO.
The Seremban-born doctor and eldest of three siblings said he was a "latecomer" to the music scene, as he only decided to make a career out of music when he was 40.
"I did take piano lessons when I was 8, but I soon gave up. Nevertheless, like my parents and siblings, I have always enjoyed listening to good music," said Dr Avnesh in an interview recently.
During his 40th birthday in Sydney, Dr Avnesh made his own music playlist on Spotify with the music of Michael Jackson, Usher, Mary J. Blige and Robert Miles among other artistes.
"This was when a bright idea struck me, I decided to become a music mixer, and subsequently spent a few months taking disc jockeying lessons at the Sydney DJ School which was founded by well-known Australian disc jockey Andrew Samsara," he said, adding that he was one of its earlier students.
"During my brief stint there, I learnt that to become a successful disc jockey required passion for music, creating the right atmosphere for clubgoers, giving them the right emotions, and reading the dance crowd well by constantly observing them."
DOCTOR-CUM-MUSICIAN
Dr Avnesh is the first doctor and musician in his family, and studied medicine at Sheffield University, the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2000.
He subsequently worked in Northern General Hospital, Sheffield for a year, before joining Greenslopes Hospital in Brisbane, Australia from 2001 to 2004.
"My childhood dream was to become a doctor. Back then, music was a mere hobby for me."
Dr Avnesh grew up listening to Bollywood and Kollywood music as well as Indian spiritual music. He also enjoyed pop and R&B music from Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Naughty By Nature, Outkast, Aliyah, Blige, and Toni Braxton.
"I'm very much influenced by dance music which is progressive and upbeat. Over the years, I've learnt that upbeat music actually lifts one's spirits and is therapeutic.
"Eventually, I made up my mind to combine music and health, for music is a great medicine!"
Strictly against smoking and drinking alcohol, he stopped drinking in 2015 and chose to be a healthier person when he realised that such habits gave people stress and "slowed them down" in life.
Dr Avnesh chose to live and work in Australia after pursuing a masters degree in business at the University of Queensland from 2003 to 2004.
"Since 2012, I have had my own medical software company, Energesse, which I formed with three friends. We are based in Sydney and provide state-of-the-art medical programmes for hospitals," he said.
Dr Avnesh's movement provides both live streaming and live events.
"Live streaming events enable people to dance at home, regardless of age and health. Such events are a great way to promote good mental and emotional health within the confines of the home.
"In these events, Netizens view us playing music in our studio, and stretch, meditate dance and sing to our music beats at their own pace," he said.
"The menace of Covid-19 has resulted in many people around the world getting depressed. My music comes in handy to improve their moods."
In early October, Dr Avnesh streamed an event for World Mindfulness Day 2020 using social media platform Zoom, and people on wheelchairs and their beds moved to his infectious music.
"Our programmes have touched many people, who have testified the effectiveness and pure entertainment that can be found through our high-quality streams."
Dr Avnesh added that his live-streaming programmes encouraged people of all ages to exercise and refrain from sedentary lifestyles, which are bad for their health.
"Our effective use of social media has bridged geographical distances through communication with health-conscious Netizens 24-hours a day, and seven days a week."
As for concerts, Dr Avnesh has held them in Sydney and other parts of Australia since 2017.
"The most well-attended concert I've had was last year in Sydney. The crowd was huge, and they partied from 8pm to midnight to our playlist of 30 to 50 songs.
"During and after the show, many of them thanked me for keeping it drug, alcohol and tobacco free!"
Dr Avnesh has also organised dance parties for corporations and individuals celebrating their birthdays, in Sydney as well as Kuala Lumpur. The number of participants ranged from 20 to 50.
"Many people have approached us to conduct live-streaming, either for themselves or for dedicated events within their communities. We are happy to share such consciousness and mindfulness through music."
NEW PROJECT
Dr Avnesh's next project is a new single, and like Move4Love it will also be incorporated into his wellness programme.
"I plan to reach out to world-famous disc jockeys for new remixes. Among them are Tiesto, Moby, Diplo, and Fatboy Slim. The great thing about them is, they are sober musicians like me!"
Dr Avnesh's ultimate dream is to organise his very own sober dance party at the Tomorrowland Dance Music Festival which began in Belgium in 2005 but has been held around the world.
"My ultimate aim is to promote sober dance parties internationally, with messages of universal love that we greatly need in such challenging times."