Last week, SuperdrySounds, in partnership with Submerge, and in association with Vh1 announced a curated list of twelve Indian electronic musicians. One of these twelve will go on to play at the Field Day Festival in London, alongside the likes of DJ Seinfeld, Moscoman, Mafalda, and Fever Ray.
The list included some of the most exciting sounds in the electronic scene today- Audio Units from Bangalore, SickFlip best known for “The Ladakh Project”, NDS inspired by the sound in video games, Mumbai based Spryk, and collaborative act Nosh & SJ, Delhi based Seven & Seven, the very infectious Zokhuma, twenty one year old sensation Backclash, Shaun Moses who has been integral to the Goa scene, underground music definer 8-Bit Culprit, Monophonik, and Blurry Slur.
After their profiles on the SuperdrySounds portal were scrutinized by our list of industry experts, including India’s most loved VJ, DJ and Festival Curator Nikhil Chinapa, Head of Artist programmer at VH1, Ishaan Ahluwalia, ex Blue Frog Programming Head, Owner at RA music Jehan Johar aka Dj Janux, and leading DJs/Music Producers, Kohra, & Ankytrixx, the top 3 artists have been selected. They will go on on a three city tour and play at Moonshine Café & Bar in Mumbai on the 17th of May alongside Nikhil Chinapa, at Raasta in Delhi on the 18th of May with Sandunes, and on the 19th of May with Kohra at Bang, in Bangalore.
It wasn’t easy for the experts to choose from such a wide and interesting soundscape. After countless hours spent analysing the sounds, they have narrowed down on Zokhuma, NDS, and 8-Bit Culprit. Here’s a sneak peak into their minds and work.
Zokhuma represents “the end of old things, the beginning of new ones, and a forged alliance with those making alternative electronic music in previously uncharted territories”. His music sensibilities which criss-crosses over a wide range of conventional and unheard sounds, coupled with his infectious energy behind the console can put any audience at ease. Zokhuma is one of the founders of DASTA, a music collective that was started as an initiative to create a community for artists in the electronic music world, and has performed in Croatia, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and India.
NDS doesn’t subscribe to a particular music philosophy. He just wishes to create rhythm / beat structures which people haven’t heard before, and is soothing to the ear. Six years back he tried creating his own track incorporating all the things that inspired him, and there’s been no looking back ever since. Heavily inspired by the background electronic score in video games, this Delhi boy has already performed alongside several international artists including Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Avicii, Axwell^Ingrosso, Yves, and Quintino.
8-Bit Culprit has been producing music for over 7 years, and has evolved to create some mean dancefloor tracks. He spends long hours at the studio exposing himself to diverse styles of music. During his live shows, he strives to deliver his signature deep, dark and melancholic atmosphere of intelligent underground music to take people on an unforgettable journey. “Music is art, and art for me is purely about expression. I believe in “less is more”, as sometimes, all you need, is the simplest possible way to put something across,” he says, summing up his music philosophy. His biggest inspirations are Shpongle and Perfect Stranger.
The tour next week looks lit with these three electronic music mavericks ready to set the stages on fire. Fans can expect an extraordinary experience and register their support for their favourite artist, who will then head on to perform at London.