After being present as a delegate for the last 3 years, sLick will be hosting its own showcase at this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event.
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is the biggest club-based festival and music conference in the world. Established in 1996, it has become the Mecca for the dance music industry – the ultimate platform for business and networking in the field of electronic music. The five-day music conference is held annually in mid-October. The event is divided into four categories: the Festival, the Playground (a special platform for promotional activities, interactive presentations, film screenings and more) the Conference (a platform for critical dialogue and debate in the electronic music field) and sub-events. To add to this massive celebration, ADE also hosts the prestigious DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll award ceremony.
sLick was established more than two years ago by the dynamic Prateek Pandey. The journey started when he got bored of listening to the same sounds at clubs, as he was heavily into the good side of progressive house. However, at that time, none of the Indian promoters were bringing down the artists who played that sound. There were also a lot of Indian DJs who did not have the right platform to showcase that sound. Over the years, sLick has brought down big underground artists such as John Digweed, Dubfire, Guy J and Dale Anderson among many others.
This year, sLick will be showcasing underground Indian talent in Europe at the Amsterdam Dance Event in October. The event will take place at one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs of Amsterdam, Club NL. sLick will be bringing some of the best Indian underground talents like Arjun Vagale, Anish Sood, Ankytrixx and Priyanjana and teaming them up with special guests from Europe like Miss Melera (known for her 6-8 hour marathon solo sets and consistent sell-out shows), Alex Mine (young and upcoming producer from Italy and the supremely talented Ant Brooks from UK.
When The Sherp asked Prateek Pandey, founder of sLick, how he managed to land such a massive opportunity for India, here’s what he had to say: “Pretty simple. I have been going for ADE for the last 3 years, practically know everybody, was asked if I want to do my own party with Indian DJs & voila. sLick! is quite known in the underground circles around the world, mainly due to the fact that it is really pushing the underground House/Techno scenein India with quality tours, almost single handedly. Almost. (smiles) Guys from Epiqurus Agency from Amsterdam have been super helpful in setting up things and guiding me.”
When The Sherp asked Anish Sood about how he feels to be representing India on an international platform, the 23-year-old producer exclaimed “Very exciting and extremely gratifying. I’ve played some of my best shows in the past year with sLick and it feels great to represent India along with them.” He also has a bunch of meetings lined up at ADE apart from 5-days of non-stop partying on his schedule.
Arjun Vagale, one of India’s most coveted DJs, has attended ADE a few times before. Vagale said “I think I’ve been representing India internationally for many years now. But what is exciting is that an Indian brand is making it on to the international stage, and we’re all there to support it!”
This is not the first time an Indian company will be showcasing local talent at the esteemed ADE. In 2011, one of Mumbai’s premier venues, blueFROG had showcased Indian talents like Jalebee Cartel and Ma Faiza among others.