Exclusive Album Launch: Twerkistan – Su Real

New Delhi bass producer and trapmaster Su Real is back with ‘Twerkistan,’ his second full-length album, packed with desi bass bangers and catchy dance beats. Growing organically as a follow-up to his debut album ‘Trapistan’, this album charts a journey into a different mythical land, featuring collaborations with a range of artists including Tanya Nambiar, P-Man and Ritviz. While Su Real‘s DJ set has always been about bringing the latest Western dance music into a homegrown context, his music production has consistently gone on to reflect this as well. “With this album, we shift focus from trap music and onto the booties shaking on the dancefloor,” the producer tells us about his latest release, which he has been working on for the past year. The head-turning artwork by Kunal Lodhia of Grime Riot Disco

Tune in right here:

/Magnetic Fields) evokes the legendary temples of Khajuraho, and speaks boldly of a land ruled by women. “I enlisted him as early as July 2015, actually, with just two reference points — Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda‘ cover and Savita Bhabi. He drew multiple versions by hand over many months, in intricate detail, until he got it just right. He then scanned it in and coloured it digitally to give it his trademark effect. We definitely wanted something daring, yet at the same time something that young desi women could identify with and appreciate. For example, I was insistent that my Twerkistani rani have chocolate brown skin, rather than some fair and lovely monstrosity. This cover is a tribute to all the strong, independent desi women I have known, and their beautiful round and brown booties.” “The Twerkistan video made in collaboration with Tanya

Nambiar and Lights on Films was my most involved video to date,” Su Real elaborates on the process. “For me, it was an epic feat of DIY film-making, largely thanks to Lights On Films. While the single’s music evokes the desert, the lyrics depict the Sultan of Twerkistan, who is on a quest to reclaim his rightful throne that had been usurped by an imposter. “It was important to get some dancers involved, and to try to portray twerking in a TV-friendly manner for Indian audiences.

Dancer/choreographers Nishi Joshi and Shambhavee Sharma rose to the challenge – I was ecstatic to find them as they seem to be at the forefront of an underground dance scene in Delhi that even I was unaware of.” A crew of 10 from Delhi and Mumbai set out on a two-day quest of D.I.Y. filming in the sun and sand of Jodhpur to chart the terrains of Twerkistan. As for hiccups with the censor board, “Ironically, once the video was ready, it wasn’t the twerking or empowered females that irked the censor board but the camels. Fortunately, we still have the Internet, and the Internet is cool with camels.” With a range of collaborations on the album with the likes of Ritviz, Mr Doss and P-Man, Su Real tells us, “The collaborators on the album are all

people whose work I respect, and friends who supported the Twerkistan effort. I think it was important to be clear up front on the release plans, and purpose of the track, after which we could get on a same page with the track regarding concept and style etc. What worked best was when collaborators sent me a few raw tracks to work with and develop.“Ritviz sent me a few killer synth lines for example, that I then built the track around; whereas Mr. Doss sent me a superhit beat, that I then added the topline vocals and synths on top of. With the more lyrical tracks like Soldiers, Jhook Gyal, Pakis in Paris, I definitely wanted something specific when it came to the lyrics. I learnt it’s important to remember that part of the reason for collaborating is – division of labour to save time, while still combining everyone’s unique strengths to develop a superior product.

”Having spent the past year working on his production technique and developing formulae and templates that work for him, Su Real has also been working on a feedback loop from his his favourite producers like Nucleya, Frame/Frame, Arsh Sharma of Fuzzculture and Sid Vashi. “My biggest takeaway from all this time in the game is ‘less talk, more rock’. You have got to put in the work, and don’t get it twisted — the music business is hard work and it can be unrewarding for the longest time before you start to see returns. You have to stay humble, and be grateful for what you have.”After mapping the worlds of ‘Trapistan’ and ‘Twerkistan’, Su Real plans to focus on putting out as much quality music as possible, besides clearing up the backlog of pending collabs unfinished tracks on the docket.“In dance music, trends change daily and I’ve got to stay on top of that. I hope to finish a couple of EP’s in slightly different genres, before focusing on the finale to the Trapistan/Twerkistan trilogy, tentatively titled Murdabad.”

Kumail Releases His New LP ‘Links’ At Magnetic Fields Festival Tonight

“This is definitely one of the darker tracks on the LP,” Kumail says. “It’s a lot more electronic, while the rest of the songs on the LP are more organic and I’d say earthy, featuring samples of the sitar, acoustic guitars and live vocals.”

When we last caught up with Kumail, he’d mentioned that a lot of sounds he’s used in this LP have been recorded from different places he’d travelled to. He tells us a little bit about working with organic sounds. “There are endless possibilities with sound, you can make

anything sound like that which you want it to, and it’s fascinating. You can manipulate water drops to sound like hi-hats, for instance…I’ve really enjoy working with sounds from nature for this LP.”

As for the artwork, which is a collaboration between Nirvair Nath and Dheer Kaku, he explains, “This is actually the third artwork that was drawn up before we went ahead and finalised it. ‘Links’ is a very colourful album, and Nirvair had made something initially which he later realised doesn’t fit the ethos of the album. He was going through his sketchbook one day when he hit upon this one, and sent it to me — I gave him the go ahead right away, and Dheer and him edited it to what it is right now; the actual original sketch is very different from the final product.”

If you’re headed to, or are just getting in to Magnetic Fields, you already know the scores of things to look forward to at the most intriguing festival in the country. Adding to the growing list is 22-year-old producer Kumail‘s release of his next LP ‘Links’, which launches today at the festival with an online release in January next year. Just to whet your appetite, check out his first single ‘D R K‘ off the new LP; a dark, brooding treat with some deft soundwork:“This is definitely one of the darker tracks on the LP,” Kumail says. “It’s a lot more electronic, while the rest of the songs on the LP are more organic and I’d say earthy, featuring samples of the sitar, acoustic guitars and live vocals.”When we last caught up with Kumail, he’d mentioned that a lot of sounds he’s used in this LP have been recorded from different places he’d travelled to. He tells us a little bit about working with organic sounds. “There are endless possibilities with sound, you can make anything sound like that which you want it to, and it’s fascinating.

You can manipulate water drops to sound like hi-hats, for instance…I’ve really enjoy working with sounds from nature for this LP.”As for the artwork, which is a collaboration between Nirvair Nath and Dheer Kaku, he explains, “This is actually the third artwork that was drawn up before we went ahead and finalised it. ‘Links’ is a very colourful album, and Nirvair had made something initially which he later realised doesn’t fit the ethos of the album. He was going through his sketchbook one day when he hit upon this one, and sent it to me — I gave him the go ahead right away, and Dheer and him edited it to what it is right now; the actual original sketch is very different from the final product.”

“Working with San was really great,” he shares his experience of working with Sandunes on ‘Let Me’. “She’s really, really talented; I gave her the song, and she had all the synths layered on it in under 20 minutes. There was a lot of space to be filled in the track, which she managed to do so perfectly.” Having worked on the album for almost a year now, Kumail’s raring to get it out there, and when it comes to releasing the album at Magnetic Fields Festival this year, he shares, “I’m really excited about the release, I really believe there’s nothing else like it in the scene right now. This album has a lot more to offer to a more varied audience than my previous work, I’d say. It’s very different from what I’ve done before, it’s got beats and it’s groovy, and not just experimental work.

I want to take people by surprise with this one.” With the online release coming up in January next year for those who aren’t going to be at Magnetic Fields Festival, Kumail also hints at a multi-city tour with a visual show following the release, and a music video release for his personal favourite track from the album ‘Fields’. Definitely something to look forward to in the new year for fans of left-of-field electronic music with an inclination for the subtler inflections.

Delhi Sultanate Is Building India’s First Mobile Reggae Sound System. Here’s How You Can Help.

[Log in to the campaign page on Indiegogo to contribute and be a part of this exciting journey.]

Delhi Sultanate‘s (AKA Taru Dalmia) new crowdfunding project on Indiegogo promises to take the music out of clubs, and straight to the people. Launched just two days ago, the idea is to bring to India a mobile, Jamaican-style sound system with powerful, handbuilt speaker stacks, with an emphasis on the bass so that the music is not just heard, but physically felt. Whether it’s as a part of New Delhi

-based BASSFoundation Roots, the lead singer of India’s first ska, reggae and rocksteady band The Ska Vengers, or his solo moniker Delhi Sultanate, he’s been pushing the sound system culture for years now. Also the founder of the not-for-profit organization Word Sound Power that creates films and musical collaborations around issues of social justice in India, he hopes to bring the unique sonic culture of sound systems to people in various cities and villages across the country.

[Log in to the campaign page on Indiegogo to contribute and be a part of this exciting journey.]

Delhi Sultanate‘s (AKA Taru Dalmia) new crowdfunding project on Indiegogo promises to take the music out of clubs, and straight to the people. Launched just two days ago, the idea is to bring to India a mobile, Jamaican-style sound system with powerful, handbuilt speaker stacks, with an emphasis on the bass so that the music is not just heard, but physically felt. Whether it’s as a part of New Delhi – based BASSFoundation Roots, the lead singer of India’s first ska, reggae and rocksteady band The Ska Vengers, or his solo moniker Delhi Sultanate, he’s been pushing the sound system culture for years now. Also the founder of the not-for-profit organization Word Sound Power that creates films and musical collaborations around issues of social justice in India, he hopes to bring the unique sonic culture of sound systems to people in various cities and villages across the country.

How The Idea Came About

“The idea came from a few different places,” Delhi Sultanate explains. “Ever since I first felt bass music back at my first reggae dances in Europe, I dreamt of being able to bring this extraordinary experience to India. When a lot of KRUNK artists from India travelled to perform at Outlook Festival (one of the biggest bass music festivals in the world) in Croatia a few years ago, we began to think more seriously about how to achieve this goal. “Another strong inspiration behind this project has been Janam, a street theatre group founded by Safdar Hashmi, which I joined in 2000 when I returned to India. Apart from street plays, Janam had also constructed a mobile stage, with the understanding that only certain people come to auditoriums to watch plays. He wanted to be able to take the stage to the people, and in a way, the sound system idea is not much different.”

What Is Sound System Culture?

A worldwide phenomenon today, the sound system concept traces its roots back to the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1950’s, when DJs would load up a truck with a generator, turntables, and huge speakers and set up street parties for the community, and sound system culture quickly became an integral part of Reggae music. It became a means to relay news, understand the hardships and suffering of those in Jamaica and to learn about Rastafari.

Why India Needs a Sound System

Delhi Sultanate makes a strong case, “I feel that independent music culture has suffered not from a dearth of talent in the country, but mainly two things — the scarcity of venues where non-commercial music is played, and secondly, the dependence on sponsors.”While music has the ability to bring people of different backgrounds together, the fact remains that India is a very socially segregated country; and not everyone can afford to frequent exclusive venues like clubs.

I also like the idea of collaborating with artists and performers from other fields,” he explains. “Dancers or performance artists for instance could benefit from having a powerful sound system at their shows that will impact people physically.” Having a sound system could lift the limitations to make for a much more inclusive context.

Gear Talk

The scoops and kick bass speakers have already been built at personal cost, and while the sound speakers are built and painted by hand, for amps and pre-amps, the idea is to source only the best components. The equipment needs to be able to withstand rugged touring, and also re-produce the sound optimally, to give people the real, amazing experience of a Jamaican sound system.

The details of the components are listed on the campaign page, and any additional funds will be put towards a car (A FORCE delivery Van 7.7 L — US$11000) to store the sound system (as well as to hit the road with), and other requirements like speaker paint and cables. As for the challenges of the endeavour,

“Owning one’s own system is the only way around the high cost of hiring a sound system; we need to gain experience running the whole thing.” With crowdfunding, Delhi Sultanate hopes that fans of reggae music, as well as those with a healthy appreciation for music and the arts, can come together and contribute towards this vision and help get it off the ground.

The First Few Stops

“The first few dances will probably be in Delhi — maybe in JNU — in a low-key way, so that we can learn the ropes of handling the speakers and amps,” he explains his future plans. “After that, the North East is probably going to be one of the first places where we will tour. A friend of mine from Shillong suggested basing the system there for a season,

renting a community or wedding halls. We could also tour villages in the surrounding areas.”. In addition to being part of a pioneering project like this, there are also several exciting perkslined up for campaign backers ranging from tunes, dubplates and a vinyl mixed by legendary dub pioneer Scientist (recorded on Delhi Sultanate and Begum X’s 2014 trip to Kabul, Afghanistan), to hoodie gift sets and backers’ names inscribed on the speakers.

[Log in to the campaign page on Indiegogo to contribute and be a part of this exciting journey.]

UK-Based Artists Gaudi, Soom T To Headline Bass Camp 2015 in Mumbai & Delhi

[Krunk’s been getting busy bringing you the latest edition of the 4-city festival, so stay tuned for the Pune & Bangalore Bass Camp 2015 line-ups, out this week.]

Accompanying them are heavyweight bass and electronica artists including Denmark-based Alo Wala, B.R.E.E.D.(fresh from his performances at Coachella and Low-End Theory festivals) and Nerm (of Shiva Soundsystem), to name just a few.

Not to mention — Mumbai, we’ve got a brand-new venue, The Pier, Radio Club, Colaba for you. Here’s the date to mark:

[Krunk’s been getting busy bringing you the latest edition of the 4-city festival, so stay tuned for the Pune & Bangalore Bass Camp 2015 line-ups, out this week.]

Bass Camp 2015 is back in its latest edition with two UK-based dubmasters in tow: London-based Gaudi and Glasgow-based artist of Indian origin, Soom T, are going to be headlining the festival in Mumbai and Delhi. Accompanying them are heavyweight bass and electronica artists including Denmark-based Alo Wala, B.R.E.E.D.(fresh from his performances at Coachella and Low-End Theory festivals) and Nerm (of Shiva Soundsystem), to name just a few. Not to mention — Mumbai, we’ve got a brand-new venue, The Pier, Radio Club, Colaba for you. Here’s the date to mark:

Dub, worldbeat and bass music producer at large, London-based Gaudi‘s extensive travels around the world will have him checking into both Mumbai and Delhi in the festival’s latest edition. Having released his last two albums with the legendary. Six Degrees Records, fans can expect his trademark atmospheric beats and mindbending dub at Bass Camp this year.Indian-Scottish rapper Soom T‘s inclination towards the experimental, on the other hand, has become a defining quality for her as an artist. Her recent video and single release ‘Broken Robots‘ had her doing an interesting ‘Indian Elvis impression’ that surprisingly grows on you, and her new album ‘Free As A Bird‘ is up for pre-order.With such a mixed bag of international and Indian artists, including younger players including

KumailProfound, we must admit we’re excited to approach Bass Camp Edition XIV this year, with artists who all have their unique takes on the sub-genres we love artists around the world since its first edition in February, 2010. Past editions have featured legends of bass music including, and as well as those pushing progressive sounds closer home such as Bandish Projekt, DJ Uri, and Nucleya

Charles Shaw 222 subscribers Gaudi – Live at Envision 2012 (Costa Rica) Come celebrate with us as BASS CAMP turns a ripe 5 years old, a breeding ground for an experiment that continues to push the progressive electronic, future bass, drum and bass sounds it has always been dedicated to. [Krunk’s been getting busy bringing you the latest edition of the 4-city festival, so stay tuned for the Pune & Bangalore >Bass Camp2015 line-ups, out this week.]

Exclusive Album Launch: Overthrowing Magnus – Aqua Dominatrix

Aqua Dominatrix live performances have been stirring things up the past year with the atmosphere he builds with his all-analogue, live electronic music, ranging anywhere from disco to synth-pop to straight-up techno. After his debut LP Sadomist in July this year, it became clear quickly that Akshay Rajpurohit, also a guitarist for experimental metal bands Pangea and Scribe, goes in no holds barred.

His latest album ‘Overthrowing Magnus’ heralds bigger and better sounds from the Mumbai artist. Listen to it here:

“When I started working on the album, I wanted it to be under one vibe,” he tells us. “That’s when I went back to my old stuff and felt like there was a sort of discontinuity between my songs, where each song was a different side of my influence. Even though the songs belonged to one genre, they were very different in terms of what they were trying to achieve. I wanted to bridge that disparity, and make an album that included songs which were in the same vein, I made up a story that would help me achieve this.” Akshay had visited Norway in 2011, and had heard lots of tales then, of old kings from there who were greatly disliked by the public.

There were a lot of assassination attempts in Norwegian history, but few were successful. One story he heard that stayed with him though, was that of a woman who had killed three kings, a feat no man had been able to achieve. “When this story came back to me recently, I realised it fit in so well with what I was trying to do with Aqua Dominatrix, with my theme and imagery, especially,” he says. “So essentially, this is a modern take on an old assassination attempt on Magnus, a Norwegian king in the story I created in the backstory for the album.

I wanted something dark and sinister, and better than what I did last time.”On the artwork, he says, “I really liked how we shot the cover of my last album Sadomist, with Bikramjit Bose and I wanted something that was in the same zone. So I wanted an image of the assassin in question, on a staircase. There’s a subtext of domination throughout. Sanket Avlani, who has also done the art direction, and I have worked on the cover for ‘Overthrowing Magnus’, shot by Prarthna Singh and styled by Shirin Salwan.” Over the past year and a half, Aqua Dominatrix has been played a number of live electronic shows.

“There’ll be DJs & live acts, and then there’d be me with four synthesisers trying to make live, all-analogue electronic music. It’s been a lot of fun, and what I learned is — people like to dance, and they like it hard. So I’ve gone all out with this album.” On what he’s looking forward to next, “I can’t wait to tour with this album, and play these songs live!”

Listen: Kumail’s Debut LP ‘Links’ Is Now Out!

After two well-received EPs – his debut Flashbulb Memories and 2015’s Shift – Kumail Hamid launches his most colourful compilation till date. ‘Links’ is a culmination of his travels across Rajasthan, Sri Lanka, Pondicherry and Goa of the last year; and explores the connections he has with his surroundings. Working with a lot more organic and raw sounds, as opposed to electronic sounds, the 10 – track ‘Links’ sees Kumail experiment with instruments such as the guitar and harmonica and samples of the sitar, and his own minimalistic vocals have been contributed to five tracks.‘Links’ is a narrative of music with nature, and the sonic elements and frequencies that come with it, as Kumail has incorporated sounds he’s recorded along his travels on the LP.

Tune in to the freshly-released LP right here:

Kumail’s believes travelling has been a potent influence for the evolution of his sound in ‘Links’, which features collaborations with drum ‘n’ bass producer Ox7gen and synth-player extraordinaire Sandunes. Bonus track ‘Bobby’, slated to release soon, witnesses Aditya Ashok (Ox7gen) on live drums. The track was inspired by Kumail listening to a lot of Brooklyn producer Taylor Mcferrin. “I’ve really started to appreciate the drums. I plan to pick them up myself and it’s the only instrument I haven’t used much of in the album,” he adds, while ‘Let Me’ see Sanaya Ardeshir (Sandunes) layering synths expertly on the track.

Another track ‘White Monkey’ takes after the eponymous venue in the mountains of Sri Lanka (which Hamid counts as one of his favourite places) and constitutes only of sounds recorded there from his last visit.‘Fields’, which comes out with a DIY video later this month, is Kumail’s personal favourite off ‘Links’, as he associates the music with a very happy and pleasant time in his life ‘inspired by a really good day with my homies’.One of the few pioneering ambient / downtempo producers in the country, he counts the styles of Shigeto and Shlohmo as major influences.

However, Links sees him mature from his signature experimental work for more beats and groove.[Kumail will be launching ‘Links’ with a 5-city tour, kicking it off with Mumbai tonight at Bonobo; check out the details here & here. To know more about his exclusive Magnetic Fields Festival LP release in 2015, click here.]

Krunk Picks 14 Indian Releases of 2015 To Remember The Year By

As we prime ourselves for the musical offerings of the new year, we cast a look back at the releases of 2015 that embodied a fresh and forward-thinking approach to electronic music. From ambient passages and thoughtful downtempo to funk, drum and bass and downright demented electronica — tune in for an immersive aural journey through 2015, right here:

I. Revolution Rising Vol II - High Chai Recordings

While Revolution Rising Vol I came out in 2009 to introduce audiences to ‘left-field Asian-tinged electronica’, the sequel Revolution Rising Vol. II features a fresh wave of electronic artists representing the future of subcontinental bass culture. Released on 4/20 this year, the 15 artists featured include promising talent such as Pippin, Fuzzy Logic, Echofloat and Kumailtraversing trap.

Another release by High Chai that’s worth checking out it the Sub-Continental Bass Vol II featuring 13 ‘genre-crushing tracks future garage, Post-dubstep, drumstep, chill out & hybrid breaks’. This one features DJ Nasha, Sidd Arta and Defunk to name a few.

II. Unfinish - Sandunes

“Earlier this year while on tour in the US, I lost 2 of my hard drives which contained the project files of all of the music I had been working on for the past couple of years. The only remains of this music – unfinished low quality files that I can’t necessarily do anything with. I’ve decided to go ahead and get the existing. I may never have found the courage to share this music otherwise!” Sandunes is someone who knows how to make the best of a bad situation, and her 4-track EP is testament to her rapidly diversifying sound even as it remains complex and layered. You can buy it on Bandcamp here, and check it out below.The other exciting project that Sanaya Ardeshir (AKA Sandunes) is working on that has us stoked is her collaboration with Jivraj Singh (AKA Jiver), ‘Perfect Timing’, released by Redbull Music Academy.

Showcasing easily how fluid electronic sub-genres are becoming, their single ‘Tangerine Fool’ has us looking forward to the whole album, to be released in 2016.

III. Staylo — Sid Vashi

His Motherland Tourism LP has had our ears perked up since its release in 2013, with its fresh as fuck Bollywood-influenced sound that never crosses over to cliché. With the release of the single ‘Staylo’, you get a real sense of how he’s been working on the nuances of his craft. “I’m working on a lot right now so things are all over the place, but this is the first song I’m releasing in a long time,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot since then – I took some time off to learn about sound design and engineering so it’s more of a realisation of what I’ve been trying to do. There’s still a Bollywood influence but I’m trying new styles, just arranging sounds in a way to create space and you know, still try to make pop tunes. I’m really happy with it.”

IV. Recess — Ox7gen

Mumbai-based drum and bass producer and drummer Aditya Ashok’s September release is another testimony to him being one of the most versatile artists in the country. His fifth EP ‘Recess’ definitely takes a different direction, with much experimentation in tempo, but it makes for a listen that stays with you long after the growling bass has faded. If you’ve got your ear to the ground, you might also recognise the first track from the Pepsi MTV Indies Krunk Superdry Live Sessions opening credits.

V. Handwired — Paraphoniks

‘Handwired’ is one of the more refreshing listens that came out of 2015. The Mumbai-based outfit consisting of Aman Nath, Shatrunjai Dewan and Sushant Joshi cite Apparat, John Hopkins and Modeselektor as some of their primary influences. On the immersive sounds in the album, they say, “Each sound on this album, from the kick to the bassline factors which has brought all the life to our sound and music and hence the title. Our main intention with this album is to share and spread the beauty of pure analog sound that we have been blessed to experience ourselves.”Get the album on Bandcamp here/give it a listen below:

VI. Bass Rani — Nucleya

VII. Bass Rani — Nucleya

Nucleya’s long been a pathbreaker with his sounds and sensibilities that blend bass with an innate ‘Indian-ness’. Having established himself as a key player in the bass scene, 2015 had him flipping the script with his album Bass Rani being released during a full-blown ganpati visarjan this year to an expectedly raucous response.

VIII. Bass Rani — Nucleya

Akshay Rajpurohit’s shower of releases in 2015 has us psyched for the year to come. His sensuous, dark synthpop has a way of staying with you after those headphones have come off, and it’s likely that — like us — you will be back for repeat listens. Check it:

IX. Bass Rani — Nucleya

While we wait for trapmaster Su Real’s Twerkistan album, he decided to whet our appetite with a ‘placeholder EP’. “Really, I’ve been working on the Twerkistan album, and it’s taking a while getting all the bangers in place!” he tells us. “Let people hear the evolution of my sound since Trapistan, with a flavour of what my live sets are more like these days.” You can buy it on OKlisten and give it a proper listen here:

X.Union Farm EP - Madboy/Mink

Always a serious disco party with this duo. The 4-track EP they managed to put together between an intense schedule of touring is a journey through their signature swinging retro sounds, supplemented with layers and hints of genres like garage and rock along with all that funk. If you’re a fan of their live sound, this one’s definitely going to strike your fancy.

XI. Zoya: Plugged In - Zoya Mohan

While Zoya’s vocals have been described as many things ranging from folk fusion to jazz to pop, her latest cheekily-named album ‘Zoya: Plugged In’ puts a new spin on things; nine of her electronic music producer friends and colleagues from Berklee College of Music have stepped in to rework old favourites from her previous acoustic releases Letters To Toska EP and The Girl Who Used To Live In My Room. All proceeds from the collaborative album, priced at USD$15, will go towards bringing electricity to various schools and child development facilities in remote areas in Udaipur. You can read more about the story behind the campaign here, and contribute to the campaign here.

XII. Spectral Void (Drafts – Bits – Pieces) — Echofloat

Fresh, exciting sounds don’t always come in a neat, little package. Giving us a taste of his works in progress such as ‘Walkabout‘ and ‘Lowlands (WIP)‘, Echofloat has us pumped for his full-blown release to come. Dark, layered and crunchy is our best guess. What does come in a rather neat package is this playlist, that’ll give you the lowdown on the experimental producer and designer’s inclinations. You can also read more about him here.

XIII. Hedon – Toymob

One half of Teddy Boy Kill, Ashhar Farooqui aka Toymob’s dark, demented electronica is something to leave you exploring your darker realities. You can expect some spoken word, a chaos of layers and glitch with other much deeper sounds resisting the trappings of labels, from this delicious Christmas gift of a release.

XIV. Returning Rituals - Profound

Layered with subliminal beats and lo-fi elements, Profound’s debut EP ‘Returning Rituals’ is a study of the range of the emotional landscape, rounding off a long period of experimentation in numerous genres. Settling the dust with what kicked off his journey musically, Profound‘s ‘Returning Rituals’ is a dedication to the art of hip hop.

#Powerofpower: How ‘Zoya: Plugged In’ Is Fuelling Electricity in Rural Udaipur Schools

[You can contribute to the #powerofpower initiative by chipping in on Zoya’s website, her Bandcamp page or on OKlisten. Get a sneak peek of ‘Zoya: Plugged In’ here.]

“Music is a search for what is my own,” singer-songwriter Zoya Mohan confesses. “But to be able to give back and contribute through music is highly gratifying.”

Releasing electronic remixes of her songs to fuel electricity for those who need it has an unmistakeably serendipitous ring to it, and when we asked her about how the idea originated, she shares,“My father would take me to schools in villages in the middle of Udaipur back when I was small whenever we visited India. We’d sing with them and give them biscuits, and he would install facilities to bring electricity to the villages.“That’s definitely where the idea originated from, and since it was electronic music, it made it that much more special. It’s insane — you know these realities exist, but when you see them yourself, it shifts your world. When I came down to visit, we’d taken a jeep out about 70 km off Udaipur and after we were done speaking with the families from the villages,it had gotten pretty late and it was pitch black. As we returned to the jeep, all the families walked away in the darkness towards the other direction, being so accustomed to living a life without electricity.It is so important for them to have light, especially the children.

”Zoya explains that she chose songs that were audience favourites for the unique album, and being surrounded by so many electronic music producers and musicians at Berklee, she was rather spoilt for choice when it came to collaborators. Her friend who produces under ‘Asteroids & Earthquakes’ had been keen on working with her for a while, and when she heard what he had done with the remix of ‘Fire’ from her Letters to Toska EP, she knew she had to turn this into a full-blown album. The other producers featured on the album include Twistyknobs, NuMind, The Crateful Head, Icaro, Jade Cicada, Smigonaut, He Will Add and CliffLight.“The producers had complete creative control once I’d handed my tracks over to them,” she shares. “It’s been exciting to see their individual takes on the tracks, ranging from dub to trance to drum and bass.”As independent

musicians, Zoya confesses, they don’t make much money to begin with, and once the nine tracks had been produced, they took the decision to contribute all proceeds from it to Khushiya Toy Library, an initiative of the larger Maitri Manthan non-profit organisation, and two government schools, Tulsidas Ki Saray and Suran Panchayat Jaswantgarh, in Udaipur. Over 300 students aged 6—16 years walk painfully long distances to attend classes each day at these schools, and reading and studying is only possible in sunlight, something she hopes to alter through her initiative that aims to install tube lights and fans in the premises.Calling the album ‘recycled art’, Zoya explains that all they did was come together and collaborate with whatever they were each good at. Zoya’s equation with creative forms goes back much further, though. Born in India and raised in California, she started off as a serious Kathak and Bharatnatyam dancer as a child, and turned to the visual arts when she began high school. She also began working on her vocals around then, and after encouragement from a professor of hers, decided to pursue music full-time at Berklee. “Berklee was crazy, it’s literally a city of musicians from around the

world,” she says. “I feel so lucky to have been a part of it, there’d be musicians from South America, France, Africa, India, and it became totally normal to be living next to a vibraphone player or a harp player. It was an incredible experience.” Although Zoya initially signed up for a songwriting program, she was put off by their cookie cutter approach to the medium, and decided to switch to studying music business, a decision which eventually turned out to be ‘a blessing in disguise’.

“I wouldn’t be here without that training,” she reflects, her experimental take on DIY songwriting a defining trait for her as an artist today. “I book all my own tours, shoots, music videos, recordings, and also do the mixing myself. It’s been an amazing two-three years doing this, and I think all independent artists should do it. I feel like I’m very protective of my work, having built it from scratch by myself.

I’ve also toured the US three times, and recently did an India tour of four cities as well, thanks to the ‘The Girl Who‘ Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.”Citing Fiona Apple, Annie DiFranco and Laura Marling as major influences, when probed about what we can look forward to from her next, she talks about a solo acoustic EP that’s in the works. Expected to release in August 2016, she intends to tour with a full band for its release and mentions that various tracks of it feature eclectic instrumentation including the sitar, the Argentinian drum, and the cello. “While I don’t necessarily classify my music as ‘fusion’ music, I do love experimenting with and incorporating sounds and instruments from different cultures.

I’m still looking for a sarod player, which is much harder that you’d think, even in a city like Mumbai,” she laughs. Wanderlust has undoubtedly been one of her biggest inspirations for her music, and co-relating it with her songwriting, she says, “I feel like when you’re travelling, you’re living life at a hyper level and opening up to experiences that you would never be aware of otherwise.” [You can contribute to the #powerofpower initiative by chipping in on Zoya’s website, her Bandcamp page or on OKlisten. Get a sneak peek of ‘Zoya: Plugged In’ here.]

Krunk Picks – 7 Things To Look Forward To At Magnetic Fields Festival 2015

Koze with his blunted sounds and in the most recent announcement, the dreamy Garden City Movement from Tel Aviv taking the stage at the 17th-century Alsisar Mahal — the line-up speaks for itself. As for the breathtaking location, we’ll let the photographs from past editions do the talking.

We’re talking about reasons to attend the festival, of course, besides the loaded line-up that’s had every music-lover in India worth their salt salivating since the first wave of artists at Magnetic Fields Festival 2015 was announced. With the likes of rocktronica duo Ratatat, beatmaker extraordinaire Shigeto playing live, Brainfeeder selectorKutmah, DJ Koze with his blunted sounds and in the most recent announcement, the dreamy Garden City Movement from Tel Aviv taking the stage at the 17th-century Alsisar Mahal — the line-up speaks for itself. As for the breathtaking location, we’ll let the photographs from past editions do the talking.

“This year’s edition of Magnetic Fields sees a partnership with one of our favourite international brands, Red Bull Music Academy,” Sarah Chawla, co-founder of Wild City and partner at Magnetic Fields. “A global institute that has become synonymous with challenging and future facing music and nightlife culture – we’re thrilled about sharing this platform with the music scene in India at Magnetic Fields.”

With Krunk squad Kumail, Aqua Dominatrix and Delhi Sultanate joining the contemporary underground local and international talent in performing at the festival, come out to represent and support with us — and revel in the gloriously extended sets. There is much else going on besides the music though, and if all of the above isn’t enough to have the desert beckoning you its way, here are 7 other reasons Magnetic Fields is where you need to be this winter:

I. Producers Without Borders: Consolidate X Forever South

The first-ever combined showcase of Indian/Pakistani electronic music producers awaits with prodigious Pakistani beatmaker Rudoh and Haamid Rahim (the other half of Forever South) joined by Consolidate (represented by Rahul Giri as _RHL ) and Islamabad-based experimental electronica producer Asfandyar Khan aka TMPST. This cultural collaboration comes at a time when we daresay our countries could really do with it. “The Forever South (Karachi) and Consolidate (Bangalore) showcase presented by Border Movement and Thump will be a real highlight for me,” Sarah shares. “Two of the regions’ most discerning music collectives playing side-by-side — this has been a dream for a long time.”Rahul Giri will also be bringing down the well-loved Sulk Station, with wife and co-creator Tanvi Rao.

II. Element-Themed Art Installations

The theme for the 2015 edition is “as the Bedouins traverse through the five elements” – earth or prithvi; water or jal; fire or agni; air or vayu and then aether or akasha – and the festival aesthetic shadows the theme with its various art installations this year, specially curated by artists and designers like Anjali Mody, writer, visual artist and innovator Shilo Shiv Suleman and textile and fashion designer Shreya Oza.The mystical experience created by this installation extends to the general aesthetic and ethos of the festival, and Shreya Oza tells us more about her installation, “The installation comprises of a hollow cube made of paper bricks; of a size of a standard brick used in building construction. The bricks will be of several colours with respect to the planned integrated pattern. The installation intends to be an interactive space for sound creators and dreamers since paper works best as an insulation medium, hence, not only making the hollow space soundproof but also cool in the desert. The opening of the installation will be an onsite planning based on the light and situational parameters of the space.”“Paper used to make the bricks is recycled from the discarded braille books and are made by the differently-abled kids of a trust based out of Gujarat. It is a skill that has been taught to the kids over a long period of time as a therapy which serves as a meditation occupation for them. The environment created around making this whole installation envisions holistic creative paths,” she continues.

“JOSMO has created two sculptures that are based on elements in and out of this world,” Anjali Mody, of JOSMO Furniture Design Studio fame, explains her installation at the festival. “We have focused our efforts on creating communal spaces through our installations that aid in bringing people together, aligning minds, spirits and conversation. The Lotus Mantra comprises of two metal flowers placed on either side of the courtyard fountain in the main palace grounds. Both lotuses (made of laser-cut mild steel) depict the elements of nature (earth, fire, wind,

water) on their petals in silhouetted forms of dancing women. With the help of light and fire, these forms will come alive under the Rajasthan Sky, warming festival goers along the way.”

III. Heineken Desert Disco: Strictly Vinyl with The 264 CruCut us some slack on going back to the line-up on this one, because the slew of genres this rechristened stage has up its sandy sleeve on Friday to kick the proceedings off with, actually warrants it. Afrobeat, jazz and funk meet hip-hop, reggae, disco and dub with Dubai-based The 264 Cru, a collective of DJs, music producers, creatives, and lateral thinkers dedicated to specialized music events and pushing independent sounds. “To The 264 Cru, the medium of vinyl holds a special place in this exploration of music because of the constructs of the format, every record holds a story behind it and represents a certain movement and ideology if you will,” DJ Mocity (AKA Mohammed Abood) shares.

“The 264 Cru pushes the idea of vinyl as a community building medium which helps bring like-minded individuals together due to the physical nature of the format and forces human interaction in this modern, segmented world of niches micro-genres and sub-genres. Sitting down and listening to an entire record as a whole brings to the fore the idea that music can’t be so easily classified and categorized as certain media tries to make it seem. Hearing subtle influences from all ends of the musical spectrum we can start to connect the dots and appreciate the deeply embedded themes and motifs behind all music of value, music created as a piece of art and not as a product.”Citing freshness and experimentation as the core elements behind their parties, Magnetic

Fields will have DJ MoCity, Kev Fresh, C.O.B , Essarai playing this year round.

IV. Downtime Sessions at the Festival

A music festival set in the desert seems unlikely to offer you healthy activity options, but that’s exactly where Magnetic Fields scores. Stretch out those sore, danced-out muscles in morning yoga sessions in the palace over the weekend, hosted by Namrata Sudhindra from Nikaya Yoga. When we say health, we do mean it in the holistic sense of the term because Magnetic’s got you covered with a dedicated welfare area managed and curated by mental health awareness and emotional wellness experts TATVA, ‘a space where there will always be a listening ear and a place to rest’.

V. The Famed Treasure Hunt: Back Bigger & Grander This Year

In collaboration with Nappa Dori, like last year, the adventurous can traipse out on a treasure hunt to solve clues hidden all over the festival over the three days. The luxury leather design brand will also be selling limited edition backpacks at the festival (which you can buy online here).

Since the festival takes place in a palace in the middle of the desert, the artwork employs the use of several isometric shapes and crystals, depicting the flamboyance and magical vibes of the environment that “exists within the fort walls and beyond,” Gautam Sinha, founder Nappa Dori, tells us a little about the custom-made Nappa Dori backpacks. “The upper regions of the bag carry a crystalline inverted palace with pieces of it falling from the skies onto the sparking dunes. While last year’s bag was a celebration of the festival, and how it is during the day, this year’s backpack speaks of the energy of the night with glitter dust on the ground and stars dripping from the skies. Our decision of doing white printing on black only emphasises this mood.”

VI. Dungeons & Secret Parties

In a thrilling first, the dungeons of the 17th century palace will be the site of one of the popular secret parties featuring Boston disco duo Soul Clap and Delhi-based producer Soulspace in collaboration with the respected online music magazine and brand Resident Advisor. What more could a festival-goer ask for?

VII. The Munchies On Hand

Getting down to real talk –mouthwatering hot naan wraps, aromatic Rajasthani curries,woodfired pizzas, waffles and desserts should keep you warm and toasty in the desert. To take things up a notch, Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat, who has been awarded prizes around the world for its single- origin Vietnamese chocolate, will also be hosting an exclusive chocolate tasting session at Alsisar Mahal.“There is definitely more interest in the festival this year and a lot more people who want to come and experience the magic that is Magnetic Fields,” Sarah Chawla winds up. “The most heartening has been the appreciation of our efforts to curate a festival like this, and the word-of-mouth, organic buzz that has built up around the festival.” The magic from the festival wanders from the desert to the coast this year with a special Magnetic Fields Boat Party in Goa on December 26, 2015. So if you haven’t had your fill of the heady experience, or weren’t able to make it for the actual festival, you know where you need to be as the year draws to an end.

Decoding The Electric NYC/Mumbai-Based Rock Band Ranjit & The Ambassadors

Ranjit’s mother was his first piano teacher, and once he got the hang of the instrument, coupled with some Music Theory he picked up in church, he was able to teach himself the guitar. There’s been no looking back since; he’s played in various bands since his first jam session in the summer before his ninth grade. Citing hometown-bands Spin Doctors and Blues Traveler as favourites, he is also a

Music Educator, a champion of early childhood music education, and is involved with art education in schools in general. We catch up with the main man to decode the myriad influences behind the band and more:

I. Tell us a little bit about how Ranjit & the Ambassadors was formed, and how you collaborate.

R&TA came about at a time in my life when I was getting tired of the solo singer-songwriter scene. I started writing more songs for electric guitar, and the need to add drums and bass was born as a result. I write all the songs, but when an Ambassador adds his own flavour to a part, making it his own, is when the music is at its best.

Born in Kerala, Ranjit is self-admittedly a diehard rock n roll fan. On vocals, guitars and keys for his NYC-based band today, his musical inclinations surfaced pretty early on; he moved to the USA as a small child, and grew up in New Jersey, singing in the church choir. “That’s probably where I got most of my early music education,” he recalls.Ranjit’s mother was his first piano teacher, and once he got the hang of the instrument, coupled with some Music Theory he picked up in church, he was able to teach himself the guitar. There’s been no looking back since; he’s played in various bands since his first jam session in the summer before his ninth grade. Citing hometown-bands Spin Doctors and Blues Traveler as favourites, he is also a Music Educator, a champion of early childhood music education, and is involved with art education in schools in general. We catch up with the main man to decode the myriad influences behind the band and more:

I. Tell us a little bit about how Ranjit & the Ambassadors was formed, and how you collaborate.

II. What are your biggest musical influences, as a band?

Thin Lizzie, Motörhead, The Pixies, The Smiths, Iggy Pop, The Stooges.

III. Ranjit – tell us a little bit about growing up in a musical household, and whether/how that shaped your outlook to music.

We had a Piano and a Veena in the house growing up. Access to instruments is vital to a young musician. I was certainly also exposed to a variety of music by my Father, from The Beatles to The Beach Boys, Bach to Chopin. And my folks sent me to church choir three times a week, from the age of 7, which was where I learned Music Theory for the first time, as well as classical vocal technique.

IV.What are some of the other genres you enjoy, besides rock?

I’m one of those musicians who likes a little of all genres, but is an aficionado of none. If I had to choose a favourite genre — even above rock — it would be funk. I’m talking about Parliament Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown, The Meters, Tower of Power kind of Funk. It’s dirty and naughty and subversive and at the same time, it’s very demanding musically. I mean, anyone can play funk music, but it’s one genre which gives so much breadth for excellence in musicianship. You can play funk like a virtuoso, but you can also play the Funk on one note, with a rotten look on your face.

V. How has performing in India been like, and what is it about it that appeals to you the most?

India is my motherland. I was born here, so I can’t even tell you how much it means to me to be able to perform here. What appeals to me most about India is this energy, this thing that’s going on right now. You could call it an awakening, a renaissance, or a youth movement. There’s a sexual revolution, a women’s rights’ movement, a gay rights’ movement, a counter-culture, and the emergence of new technologies, all going on at once. Audiences are informed and know what they want. Parties are pumping. Young people are starting to realize that the future is in their hands, and they are shaping it into something beautiful. I am attracted to that kind of energy. That’s why I’m here.

VI. What was your Blue Frog launch like?

The show was great fun! They always have such great sound at Blue Frog. I’m looking forward to playing at their other locations soon!

VII. What is the kind of energy you want to create at a gig of Ranjit & the Ambassadors, and how do you prepare for this?

The energy we are trying to create is wild and electric, but full of love. I want people to dance and mosh and break a sweat, but also to see the divinity in one another, and perhaps leave the show with a heightened awareness about one or another of the issues that I sing about in songs like Refugee and The Polar Bear Song.

VII. An artist it’d be a dream to collaborate with?

Prince.

VIII. Three words that describe the personality of your band.

Black eye-liner.

IX. One track that’s on loop in your headphones.

Really Love, from D’Angelo’s new album, Black Messiah.

X. What are your future plans for Ranjit and the Ambassadors?

Ranjit and the Ambassadors is my full band project. My next plans are to recruit and assemble a band of Ambassadors from the local talent pool and tour with them all around India. I’m preparing to release our new album, “Pianofortissimo!” in the Indian market, followed by touring, touring, touring. I’ve also got some music videos in editing which were shot recently in Goa. I’m so excited to get those on TV in India.

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