This past month saw the unison of two of the most alternative approaches from two gamechangers from their respective industries. India’s de-facto Dance music ambassador Nikhil Chinapa partnered with Online fashion retailing mogul Koovs to launch their exciting new NIKHILXKOOVS collection! The fresh new clothing line, draws inspiration from the underground dance music scene – quirky, fresh, chic and most importantly, just like the underground scene, very alternative! To commemorate their union, the two decided to extend their avant-garde approach by choosing to have a “Secret Gig” – in the true spirit of Underground music. With a select crop of guests, promoters, partners, fans and audience members, the secret gig garnered tremendous hype over social media to the days leading up to the event. But on August 21st, all hell broke loose as the venue was revealed only in the final few hours – making the excitement palpable stirring plenty guesses and investigations by fans who wanted to be there!
In the days leading up to the event, we had the chance to speak to both Nikhil Chinapa & Emma Reed – Head of Men’s Wear at Koovs, and they both gave their own perspectives on the clothing line & the secret gig. However, both were very tightlipped about the event, as Nikhil stayed true to the sanctity of Underground music, putting all the focus on the music and the spirit of the gathering rather than divulging into spatial details. The Warm up set was by upcoming EDM artist Abhimanyu Meer A.K.A Norcotiq, who was handpicked by Nikhil Chinapa as part of a nationwide talent hunt by NIKHILXKOOVS, aimed at giving a chance to rising Underground talent to be in the spotlight. The winner was chosen after much deliberation from seven shortlisted contestants each of whom submitted sets displaying an extremely evolved depth and understanding of Underground music.
The venue itself, was concealed from general view, tucked away deep inside a location, which we still may not be at liberty to disclose! Leading up through a series of clandestine signages and a giant spinning ‘X’ marked on its entrance, the venue was sprawling with energy and people on our entrance. We had stepped into a carefully molded universe of the spirit of Underground music – where there was no VIP sections, no gimmicky services and no pretentious facades – a universe where we all were about to celebrate the attitude of thinking out-of-the-box and taking an alternative approach from the norm!
Speaking on the occasion, Robert Bready, Creative and Retail Director, KOOVS.COM said, “We are very excited to be involved with one of the key founding individuals in the EDM scene. KOOVS loves working with talented people in all creative professions and believes that our customers like this also. The underground music event is the perfect kick off for this collaboration, linking the worlds of fashion and music, which are both about generating energy and passion.”
The venue was designed with utmost simplicity with a minimalistic approach. A short stage at one end, cleverly decked up with a brick wall montage surrounded by cubes in a skeletal form. The bar was neatly tucked away on one side, allowing more room on the dancefloor. However, the venue really came to life much later in the night as lights & effects altered the space entirely! Proceedings kicked off with Norcotiq spinning his tunes of soulful, sexy, deep house music. He added later, “It’s still pretty surreal to me and I am unbelievably excited for this opportunity. Warming the decks for Nikhil Chinapa and Browncoat has been an absolute privilege!” Building up the tempo for the remainder of the acts for the night, Abhimanyu Meer skillfully controlled and gradually lifted the tempo to bring in the next act for the night. The prolific Nawed Khan, taking up the moniker of Brown Coat, took to the decks, as he relentlessly dropped some beautiful deep house and tech gems, garnishing the broth simmered by Norcotiq. Keeping an adequate bass quotient within his artillery he showered us with Simon Doty & Savi Leon‘s ‘Lose Control‘ before the lights dimmed out completely and hues of blues introduced the alluring sounds of 16 Bit Lolitas‘ ‘Beat Organ‘. Headliner for the night, Nikhil Chinapa stepped up frequently onto the decks, introducing Brown Coat as he premiered plenty of his new productions & remixes. Nikhil reminded us time & again, at the exclusivity of the event and how we were at this secret venue, adorned with minimalistic elements all around us. That said, and out rolled Cajmere‘s ‘Percolator (Jamie Jones Vault Remix)‘ adding plenty of kick & bass!
Brown Coat continued his and our dive deeper into underground as he unleashed the alluring Tiga VS Audion‘s ‘Let’s Go Dancing (Solomun Remix)‘ and the hard hitting Metodi Hristov‘s ‘Grab For Ya‘. One of the highlight tracks from his set, besides tracks from his own portfolio, was the explosive Shadow Child‘s ‘So High (Hot Since 82 Remix)‘. Thumping basslines pretty much changed the tempo making way for Nikhil Chinapa to finally arrive onto the decks.
As Nikhil came on to play, in the blink of an eye, the entire venue transformed,as the skeletal cubes revealed carefully placed LED strips that alternated colors, creating a sort of 3D environment of an assortment of shapes & forms! The lights atop revealed spotlights in various colors as the venue came alive with hues & shades, turning the environment more surreal and darker than ever! Nikhil stepped up & immediately dwelled into the delightful world of Techno. With a vocal sample stating “..wake up..wake up..wake up….let reality be your dream..“, we entered the dark & sinister recesses of true underground!
Unlike big room sounds, which have us celebrating the moment together, techno finds us finding our own personal utopia in the moments of the grooves and delectable basslines, and that’s what we witnessed as people marked their own spaces and danced unabashed to the tunes unleashed. Nikhil dominated the energy & tempo as he dropped a mysterious remix of Who Da Funk‘s legendary ‘Shiny disco balls‘ with Taras Van De Voorde‘s ‘Chasing Autumns (Dosem Remix)‘. Keeping the beats pumping & energy levels persistent, he lifted us all up with the smashing Super Flu & Monkey Safari’s ‘Me Roar (Format:B Remix)‘. The guests had arrived to full capacity as we seemed to be an eager audience of 250 looking to party late into the night albeit in the true spirit of alternative music – The Underground.
Things turned exotic & Balearic, as India’s Dance ambassador unwinded the alluring Leonardo Gonnelli, Chus & Ceballos‘s magical ‘Soledad‘ right on the heels of the dance-fuel replenishing D. Ramirez & Mark Knight‘s ‘Colombian Soul‘ in a magical Gabriel & Dresden Tuscan Soul Reconstruction! Sounds we heard in that night were resistant of every other sound we’ve been hearing these past couple of months, as a fresh approach to music & fashion outlines the essence of the entire event. And just when you thought, all secrets have been unveiled, another surprise performer took to the decks turning the night quite upon itself. It was none other than Global Gathering performer, India’s queen of Electronica, Pearl!
While Norcotiq, Brown Coat & Chinapa‘s performances gradually took us deeper into the underground shades, it wasn’t before Pearl‘s masterfully skilled half hour set that we truly felt inescapably immersed into the genre! With speakers & bass blaring the sounds of Sonic Future‘s insistive ‘L.O.V.E.’ followed quickly by the catchy Axel Karakasis‘s creation ‘Gobble‘, the crowd unleashed themselves onto the sonic elements circling us on the dancefloor. Dark, sinister & ever-encompassing – this was underground music at its best! With a dash of Coyu & Ramiro Lopez‘s ‘That’s Not Happening‘ and a thumping yet euphoric rendition that was Alan Fitzpatrick‘s ‘Skeksis‘, the night had to be called to a close owing to permissions, as Pearl stuttered the final track to an unfortunate close.
An emotional Nikhil Chinapa took to the decks and cited that ‘how in 17 years, he hadn’t witnessed an event like this’! He further enticed the KOOVS officials present to initiate more of such underground events that help promote their alternative thinking. Calling out for more secret gigs in the future, Nikhil made a few final pleasantries before we all gradually stepped outside – a little dazed, a little confused as our transition into the norm took us more than a few hours as the underground spirit resisted escape!
Special thanks to KOOVS & Submerge team..
[…] TRIP DOWN THE UNDERGROUND WITH NIKHILXKOOVS SECRET GIG! […]