I think we’ll remember 2013 as the year thatย EDM really exploded in India.
We once complained that the superstar DJs never performed for us on our soil, but that’s no longer the case. Every massive DJ sees India as a must visit destination, and the iconic artists who have yet to make the tripย will do soย in the opening months of 2014.
If you look back at all the shows we’ve seen since 2013 began — seriously check your calendar and Facebook albums — it’s just astounding. There have been so many amazing memories and unforgettable moments. The Sherp’s been running himself ragged covering everything that’s been happening. He’s barely survived all the traveling, but he’s done anย excellent job documenting it all!
It’s really heartening to see so much interest in electronic music, and of course to see so many young people inspired by the fantastic sense of community that it creates. If you ask me, there really is no better feeling that a good old fashioned dance party with your friends.
From a promoter’s perspective, I’m always trying to ask myself: what’s next? How do we broaden this country’s electronic music palette and give Indian music lovers as many options as possible? How do we deepen and strengthen India’s appreciation for dance music culture? The answer to these questions is actually pretty simple: we need to experiment.
It’s important that the industry tries new things. Something that we’ve yet to see, for example, is dubstep showcased on a large scale. That’s certainly not to say that dubstep has been ignored — there have been someย fantastic, electrifying gigsย this year — but I don’t think anyone has tried to present bass music as a spectacle, the same way that big room EDM has been spotlighted in India this year.
We’ve askedย Neroย andย Ruskoย to perform for us at the Smirnoff Experience because we think itโs important for Indian music fans to have access to the very best in bass music. To me, Nero and Rusko are two of the most influential yet perpetually relevant dubstep acts of all time โ and once youโve seen them both play, you can form an educated opinion about whether or not you enjoy the genre. Dubstep isnโt for everyone, but if youโre willing to give it a shot, I canโt think of many better acts to start your bass adventure with.
I love dubstep because it adds a multi-sensory dimension to dance music. You donโt just hear the music โ you feel it. You hear the melodies and the vocals, but you feel the basslines, a delicious physical heaviness that submerges your body in sound. When a good bass artist is playing, itโs like being on another planet, because the gravity is different. The music transforms the crowd from a collection of individuals into one heaving, seething mass, like an ocean of energy. I donโt know how else to put it! Ultimately, dance music is about shared experiences and communal moments. When youโre united by bass, those moments are easy to come by.