The countdown to the highly anticipated Enchanted Valley Carnival has narrowed down to a few days. While you pack your bags and kiss your family goodbye, The Sherp puts together a list of international and local acts you cannot afford to miss at this music extravaganza!
DAY 1: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
1. UMEK
From: Slovenia
Key Genres: Techno, tech house
Popular Tracks: Posing As Me, Slap, Army of Two, You Might Hear Nothing
Record Label (owner): 1605 (pronounced ‘sixteen-o-five’)
Notable Achievements: Often regarded as one of the top 10 techno DJs in the world – performed an Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 in 2007.
Fun Fact: On his birthday (May 16) he organizes a musical event – Dan Elektronike (Electronica Day)
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch UMEK:
He is known to play music simultaneously… from 4 turntables! ‘Nuff said!
2. MYON & SHANE 54
From: Hungary
Key Genres: Trance, progressive house
Popular Tracks: Strangers, The Great Divide, All Around You, Lights
Record Labels: Armada, Anjunabeats, Black Hole
Notable Achievements: Host one of the most popular music podcasts ‘International Departures’ – renowned for their mashups, bootlegs and remixes, especially the ‘Myon & Shane Summer of Love Mix’)
Fun Fact: The duo has an ‘Anjunaband’ called ‘Velvetine’ – a partnership with trance vocalist Aruna.
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Myon & Shane 54:
Reason #1: THIS.
Reason #2:
3. KOHRA
From: New Delhi
Key Genres: Techno, progressive, minimal, psychedelic, dub
Popular Tracks: Pyramids, Panorama, Dusty Hit, Unstoppable
Record Labels: Qilla Records, Monocline Records, Zenon Records
Notable Achievements: First Indian to have hit the international top 10 charts such as Beatport – has his music signed to prestigious international labels such as Wide Angle Recordings, Echoes Music and more.
Fun Fact: Kohra aka Madhav Shorey has been officially endorsed by Blackberry & Puma.
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Kohra:
Reason #1: He is India’s leading intelligent dance music artist.
Reason #2: His mysterious productions comprise of raw analog signals, lush soundscapes mixed with percussions and sharp glitches.
DAY 2: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
1. ATB
From: Germany
Key Genres: Trance
Popular Tracks: Ecstasy, The Fields of Love, Apollo Road, 9 PM (Till I Come), Move On
Record Labels: Kontor Records, Armada Music
Notable Achievements: ALL of his studio albums – each one is beyond spectacular!
Fun Fact: In 2014, you will see a more ‘chilled’ side of ATB as ‘ATB – At The Beach’.
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch ATB:
Reason #1: He has been in the music industry for more than 20 years, so yeah, he is a big daddy in the scene!
Reason #2: His name is synonymous with energy – those who remember his remarkable set at this year’s A State of Trance 600 in Miami would agree!
2. COSMIC GATE + EMMA HEWITT
From: Germany (Cosmic Gate) and Australia (Emma Hewitt)
Key Genres: Trance, progressive trance
Popular Tracks: Be Your Sound, Calm Down, Not Enough Time
Record Label: Black Hole
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Them:
Reason #1: It’s EMMA HEWITT FTW!
[That in itself is reason enough, but if you still aren’t convinced…]
Reason #2: Cosmic Gate’s perfect melodies in combination with Emma Hewitt’s sugarsweet vocals will only leave you asking for more!
3. DUALIST INQUIRY
From: New Delhi
Key Genres: Electronica, guitar-based rock
Popular Tracks: Qualia, Orbital, Specter,Exile
Record Label: Dualism Records
Notable Achievements: Dualist Inquiry aka Sahej Bakshi has performed at the Berlin Music Week in 2010 and the Great Escape Festival in 2011.
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Dualist Inquiry:
Because…
“Dualist Inquiry is adding another dimension to the EDM scene in the country”
– Rolling Stone, Sept 2011
“The newest kid in town is perhaps the farthest ahead”
– Rolling Stone, Aug 2011
“Indian Electronica’s Rising Star”
– Rolling Stone, Sept 2011
4. ANISH SOOD + LOST STORIES
From: Maharashtra
Key Genres: Electro, progressive house
Popular Tracks: AS [Hello World, Wanna Be Your Only Love], LS [How You Like Me Now, False Promises]
Record Labels: AS [Musical Madness, Times Music], LS [Black Hole Recordings, Universal Music]
Notable Achievements: AS [Performed alongside dance music luminaries like Steve Aoki, Gareth Emery, Fedde Le Grand and more – Did a 6-city India tour with Ramona Arena in August 2013 to promote his single ‘Hello World’], LS [‘False Promises’ was voted Tune of the Week on an episode of A State of Trance]
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Anish Sood & Lost Stories:
These 20-somethings have achieved immense success at a young age by representing India on international platforms and are on their way to take the dance music world by storm!
DAY 3: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
1. Martin Garrix
From: Netherlands […that’s reason enough!]
Key Genres: Electro house, big room house
Popular Tracks: Animals, Wizard, Trojan, Set Me Free
Record Labels: Spinnin’ Records, Musical Freedom, DOORN Records
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Martin Garrix:
Reason #1: You’re sure as hell going to get inspired because he’s ONLY 17 years old (and has already crossed 1 million likes on Facebook! Woah!)
Reason #2: This is his first time in India and he is ecstatic to play here!
2. GABRIEL & DRESDEN
From: San Francisco
Key genres: Electronica, house, progressive trance
Popular Tracks: Tracking Treasure Down, As The Rush Comes, Without You Near, Play It Back
Record Labels: Armada, Organized Nature
Notable Achievements: Won Best American DJ in 2007 and 2008 at WMC.
Fun Fact: One half of the duo – Josh Gabriel – is also part of the Andain project. (Andain is best known for the tracks: Promises, Beautiful Things and Turn Up The Sound)
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch G&D:
Reason #1: Their music is heavily influenced by legendary musicians like Sasha, James Holden, Depeche Mode and The Cure.
Reason #2: Their single ‘Tracking Treasure Down (Revisited)’ is nothing like you’ve heard before!
3. SUPER8 & TAB
From: Finland
Key Genres: Trance
Popular Tracks: Teardrops, Your Secret’s Safe, The Way You Want, Empire
Record Label: Anjunabeats
Notable Achievements: Performed at EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, Global Gathering, ASOT 550 Den Bosch and many other eminent events.
Fun Fact: Super8 & Tab met Above & Beyond because they were producing in the same building.
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Super8 & Tab:
If you love all things Anjuna, this is where you ought to be!
4. ARJUN VAGALE
From: Bangalore
Key Genres: Techno
Popular Tracks: Consumed, Into The Void, Helter
Record Labels: Tronic, Octopus, Waveform
Notable Achievements: Performed alongside Sasha, Carl Cox, Modeselektor and others – one-third of India’s biggest live act: Jalebee Cartel
Why The Sherp Wants You To Watch Arjun Vagale:
He plays over 100 gigs a year all across Europe, Asia, USA and the Middle East – packing dance floors wherever he goes! If you haven’t watched him yet, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!