Scratching turntables and spinning songs is only part of the picture for the disc jockey Raj Dhaliwal, senior in finance. Dhaliwal, who uses the stage name “DJ Raji,” says there is a much bigger picture of what he wants to do with music.

“I have a passion for Indian music,” Dhaliwal says. “I want to keep my roots from my people going, and at the same time, I want to address the music to a different country and different culture.”

Dhaliwal started his DJ business, UrbanSoundzzz, last semester with his friend Rishab Chandra, junior in pre-business. However, Dhaliwal says he has been mixing his own songs for three or four years.

“I really like music,” Dhaliwal says. “Basically, when I heard some remixes, I felt that I could do better. Competitiveness — that’s how I got started mixing.”

Dhaliwal is originally from India, but he has been living in the United States for the past 11 years. He grew up in New Jersey, which he says had a lot to do with picking the name UrbanSoundzzz.

“The thing was I found hip-hop is a very influential sound you hear in urban areas,” Dhaliwal says.

“I grew up in New Jersey, always surrounded by urban areas. That name mixed with my Indian music.”

So far, the pair has played in Ames at Bali Satay House, 2424 Lincoln Way, and Boheme Bistro, 2900 West St. Dhaliwal says response to their parties has been good.

“We throw a party about once a month,” Dhaliwal says. “I try to pick different venues each time, because I want people to experience different things. I play different types of music, mostly a combination of hip-hop and Indian. I’d like to see the music converging; that’s my motive. I think people are ready for something different.”

Dhaliwal says it surprised him how much practice it takes to be able to pick the right songs for the crowd while DJing.

“One thing that surprised me a lot is to be a good DJ you have to feel the crowd, feel the people,” Dhaliwal says. “I’ve seen a lot of DJs just keep on playing stuff they like, but you have to look all around. It’s got to suit everybody.”

Dhaliwal says he likes to watch how people come together and dance once they like a song. He says it’s interesting how people can get into the music without even realizing it.

“I remember one time, they didn’t want the show to end,” Dhaliwal says.

“The people just kept on dancing. Finally, we had to just cut everything off, but they still didn’t want to stop dancing.”

Dhaliwal says after he graduates he wants to continue being involved in music, but not necessarily in the DJ booth.

“I should be graduating in December,” Dhaliwal says. “Actually, what I enjoy more than DJing is the purity of music, making pure music. I make beats on my computer. I’m doing this — DJing — just to get some practice. To make something really unique, something that everybody likes, that Indians will like and that Americans will like — that’s my goal.”

He gets his influence from several Indian artists, but Dhaliwal says one in particular stands out.

“Punjabi MC is my biggest inspiration,” Dhaliwal says. “One of his tracks was done as a Jay-Z remix. He was the first Indian artist to break into the mainstream. That’s what my goal is, to be something like that. He’s an icon for me to pursue.”

But the money that accompanies mainstream success isn’t what matters to Dhaliwal.

“I want to break cultural barriers,” Dhaliwal says.