MUSIC SPECIAL..PLEASE DONT STOP THE MUSIC

PLEASE DONT STOP THE MUSIC

Among India’s best-known DJs, Ankit Kocher writes about how desi electronic music makers are being proudly courted internationally

    Never has the electronic dance music scene in Mumbai been more under the scanner than over the past month. Gigs by prominent DJs — both Indian and international — have been canned as nightclubs don’t want to be “raided” by Dhoble entendres, and early deadlines make doing business difficult. What’s more, patrons are now afraid to step out for fear of being branded “immoral” for enjoying a tipple and being caught unawares at parties that are wrongly being described as a “rave”. The message from the authorities seems to be clear. If you want to listen to music, stay at home and turn on the radio.
    Music has, and always will be, one the best ways to touch people hearts and make them joyous. The world over, all kinds of music are respected and enjoyed, whether it is jazz, opera, devotional music, rock, pop or electronic; people have the freedom to enjoy any kind of music without judgment. But that doesn’t seem to be the case in Mumbai.
    Electronic music, in particular, seems to be bearing the brunt. But for every gig that is canned in Mumbai, some of India’s best known names are being courted by international promoters to play at big-ticket club gigs and festivals globally. This year alone, a bunch of DJs and producers have been invited to play at prominent clubs that were till now the sole preserve of global names like Paul Van Dyk, Tiesto and David Guetta. The world has opened its doors to the sound of India.
    Ash Roy, one-fourth of the Techno outfit Jalebee Cartel, says that their current calendar is packed with gigs at prestigious nightspots in Germany, among other places. But the situation in Mumbai leaves him with cause to worry. “I’m wondering if it’s a good idea to shift out of India. At the moment, I’m based in Berlin for two months and will be playing at several festivals and clubs every weekend. There was a time when I used to proudly talk about the growing dance music scene in India to people outside, about how we have some brilliant clubs back home who support it, but now we have so many restrictions and clubs are being made to close early. Some of them have even shut shop because of this.”
    Internationally clubs, restaurants and pubs make up a huge part of the attraction of cities around the world — from the world famous street-side cafés of Paris and Prague, to the bars and pubs in Dublin and London, to the super clubs in major cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin and New York. These places respect the laws of the land and are run within a system designed to protect the interests of both, the establishment and the individual frequenting the place. People choosing to go out at a certain time, dressing a certain way, drinking a certain beverage and being out until a certain time are not looked upon as the evils of society, but rather as individuals helping a thriving hospitality industry sustain itself. Police forces there work in tandem with clubbing districts and pub locations. They protect patrons and observe law and order. Deadlines for closing extend well into the wee hours, with bars and eateries closing at 5 or 6 am, and food being available 24 hours a day.
    Adds Sohail Arora of Bay Beat Collective (BBC), a city-based Dubstep group that will be playing gigs in Norway, Croatia, London and Hong Kong, “Given that Mumbai is going backwards thanks to archaic laws from the 60s, we are focusing on international gigs at the moment. I hope things return to normal soon.”
    For the moment though, our local heroes will be nailing one international dance floor after another, and making lots of news in their territory, only to return to a city where citizens don’t event have the right to choose how they want to be entertained.
Who’s playing where
Jehan Johar/ Janux – Turkey, Amsterdam
Clement DSouza – London, Greece
Ankytrixx/ Firefly – Baobab Festival (Lebanon), Tree Of Life Festival (Turkey), SO36 (Berlin), Ruigoord Church (Amsterdam), Club Essence (Ibiza)
Bay Beat Collective (BBC) – Norway, Croatia, London, Singapore, Hong Kong
Jalebee Cartel – Pitstop Club (Denmark), Sektor Evolution (Dresden), Mikz (Berlin), Kater Holzig (Berlin), Tresor (Berlin), Fusion Festival (Lars)

Cities that pull in tourism purely on their clubbing and music experiences
    Ibiza (Spain) Mykonos (Greece) Barcelona (Spain)  Amsterdam (Netherlands) Berlin (Germany)

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