As Dance Music carries on its relentless march into musical history, by garnering the fancy of one generation too many, it may just be an indisputable fact that 2014 has been the best year for Dance Music! With an army of artists invading the hearts of their fans across the world over the past twelve months, new music being released by the second, digitally and in stores and superstar DJs touring tirelessly more than ever, it has been clear that the EDM bug has caught on in all the markets it hadn’t been yet explored. And as discernible it has been, that India has grown into an EDM superpower in its own right, given its rich potential as being one of the top consumers of Dance Music, we must say that it has been a glorious year for Dance Music here in India as well! We’ve seen a barrage of events, gigs and festivals sprawled all across the season calendar for fans of every genre to choose from, satisfying the dance buds of all electronica aficionados. As we head into the next year, we look forward with great enthusiasm, renewed passion and a surge of energy, but not before we take a few steps back and peer over our shoulder at the marvelous 2014 we’ve had and the incredible events and artists that have graced our shores!
Over the course of the next few days, we’ll be unveiling our definitive list of Top Events, Top Artists, Top Albums and more, to round off this splendid year. You can follow the list of results using #Beatsof2014 over our social media handles as well, and get involved in discussions for the same! Up first, is our list of Top 10 Events In India in 2014!
10. NIKHILXKOOVS SECRET UNDERGROUND GIG, MUMBAI
While the year 2014 would always be remembered for its dazzling array of Underground gigs that saw the surge of the genre in the country, one particular gig can be pointed as singular in spirit and musical finesse when it comes to paying homage to the true Underground style. A business collaboration between India’s Dance Music Titan Nikhil Chinapa and Online Fashion retail mogul Koovs resulted in the stunning NIKHILXKOOVS collection and an exciting secret Underground event, that saw a selected few from the industry alongwith die-hard fans be part of this sublime experience. In true spirit of the Underground flavor, the lineup wasn’t revealed till the last moment, neither the location, as patrons made their way to a secret location that was only symbolized by a rotating “X”. The event was headlined with Chinapa but he was assisted behind the decks with the phenomenal talents of Norcotiq, Brown Coat and Pearl. The music was delectable, but the fascinating stagework set the venue alive with its 3d cube fiesta that enthralled the audience making the experience as stunningly visual as it was aural. Head over here to check out our Gig Review for this event!
9. DAVID GUETTA AT SUPERNOVA ARENA, BANGALORE
Its not everyday that a Grammy Winning former World Number 1 DJ comes onto our shores! David Guetta, who pretty much has steered the course of the Dance Music ship in his own right, came to India in the third week of December, rounding off an eventful year for the veteran. He certainly did not disappoint as his flawless DJing skills could only be matched by his humble stage persona. Ever-smiling and full of enthusiasm, the Frenchman kept the happy people of Bangalore on their feet all night long, and the audience gladly responded with ceaseless love and adoration.
8. SUNBURN ARENA WITH AFROJACK, HYDERABAD
It should come as no surprise that Nick Van de Wall aka Afrojack chose to perform in India as part of his initial tour plan after the release of his highly-anticipated debut album. The fact that his social media handles have followers with a loyal population from the subcontinent is just a count of numbers; but Afrojack has always maintained that the love he encountered on his earlier visits to the country always lured him back home. And the King did return – in the city of Nawabs, that too! His performance at Hyderabad as part of the leviathan Sunburn Arena. Accompanied by Apster and Gregor Salto, who themselves did a fine job behind the decks, Afrojack was just swept away by the love and adoration he received from India’s silently-devoted Dance Music hotspot. Never before had the city seen a crowd pulled in at that capacity and for an occasion so fine, and at the end of it, it was Afrojack who bought them all together and stood Ten Feet Tall. Check out our Gig Review for this revolutionary event here!
7. BY THE PIER 2014 AT RADIO CLUB, MUMBAI
Rarely do you walk away from an event absolutely gratified and feeling blessed simultaneously. By The Pier was just one of those nights. Headlined by none other than Kevin Knapp, and assisted by a host of homegrown talents recruited by the loving Regenerate family, the event lingered on long into the memory of everyone who attended as one of the finest musical experiences of their year. Everything about the event just fit together to make it a wholesome experience – the fantastic venue, the breathtaking backdrop, the culinary delights, the intriguing artwork and of course, the most enigmatic open-air Deep House music you could experience. If you’re not convince by just how amazing this event had been, we highly recommend you head over and read all about it here!
6. GO:MADRAS VI ELECTRONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL, CHENNAI
The Chennai based Music Festival reached a stunning crescendo this year, which gave many die-hard fans in the city a chance of calling themselves host to one of the finest events of the year. The two-day festival featured some impressive domestic talent in the guise of Shiva Moon, Jitter, M.Mat, Dance Republic, Ash Roy among many many more, alongwith the stunning headlining feature by Slam and James Harcourt. The more Techno flavor of the festival seemed to appeal to the audiences who recounted it as one of the finest nights they’ve experienced! Stunning visuals and impeccable sound quality further makes GO:MADras as one of the best events from the year.
5. AXWELL /\ INGROSSO AT SUNBURN ARENA, MUMBAI
Let’s face it. There are legends, and then there are these Swedes. Post the Swedish House Mafia madness, when Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso decided to join forces, they pretty much sent every single music lover into a wishful tizzy of a reminiscent joy. Their collaboration DEP/\RT\/RES, came to India in its year of inception, further cementing the notion of the subcontinent as an evolved center for Dance Music over the world. Performing at the iconic NSCI stadium in Mumbai, fans got more than their money’s worth as the two dished out classics as well as unreleased material, besides some fantastic visuals and sound production. The event was thronged by 10,000 odd fans who went home completely spent and in utter glee at the unison of these two Dance Music giants. Check out our extensive Gig Review for the event here!
4. RESET, PUNE
A concept that begins under the footfalls of excellence, rarely settles for anything less. That was the stunning story of RESET. With the first event kicking off in March, the tour extended into a four city tour in November that featured some of the best local Homegrown talent, under the backdrop of mesmerizing visuals and the iconic Funktion-One Sound system. Focused on the pursuit of absolute audio quality, RESET pioneered in innovative and efficient sound design delivery, involving sound without the harshness often associated with more conventional approaches. The combination of their creative vision and technical understanding gave rise to events with exceptional transient capability, sonic purity and realism! Check out our extended Gig review for the event here!
3. SUNBURN ARENA WITH DEADMAU5 & R3HAB, DELHI
An event that had legendary written all over it, with thousands anticipating his arrival for months, Deadmau5 arrived under the promise of a meeting with Daler Mehndi and thrilling his loyal fans in Mumbai and Delhi. For a meeting that caught the fancy of millions worldwide, it was a matter of personal pride for us that their interaction stemmed from an interview we did with Joel months earlier (you can find the link to the same here), that culminated into an on-the-spot remix, a spontaneous performance by Daler Mehndi and a much publicized Coffee Run at the Buddh International Racing circuit! Of course, when it comes to music that matters, Deadmau5 has never disappointed and his performance was as magnificent as ever, with ethereal anthems showered on teary audiences and the most breathtaking visuals Indian audiences had experienced. If there’s anyone who can entertain an audience inside the arena as much as he can outside it, its Deadmau5 and his Delhi Gig was a standing testament to this. Check out our detailed review of his fantastic performance alongside R3hab!
2. BUDWEISER PRESENTS MADE STAGE, SOCIAL, HAUZ KHAS VILLAGE, DELHI
Budweiser continued its strong association with Dance Music this year, and none more befitting than their innovative MADE stage concept that traveled four cities and exposed the audiences to some incredible local talent. A combination of performing arts, fine arts and musical performance, the MADE stage nights were about giving the homegrown talents a solid push in the right direction towards the masses, with a visionary approach towards music and media. One specifically careful detail was the elaboracy in planning the visual setup in these events, with some of the most fantastic visuals we’ve laid eyes upon yet. The musical performances were unforgettable and so were all the other art attractions making the Budweiser MADE stage a truly one-of-its-kind musical experience. Catch our Gig Review for the Delhi leg here!
1. ARMIN ONLY: INTENSE, MUMBAI
It should come as little as surprise to those who were in attendance, that January’s Armin Only extravaganza was clearly one of the single best events in Indian music history! With an absolutely packed audience at the NSCI Stadium, the King of Trance himself Armin Van Buuren arrived to Mumbai to perform an intense 6 hour marathon set, alongside performances by 6 renowned trance vocalists, dancers & acrobats and a full live band, all in tandem with cutting-edge light, sound, visuals and pyrotechnics. One can never forget the debut of his anthemic Ping Pong anthem and the manner in which we first bore witness to those oscillating frenetic balls that came showering down at the acid break! The Armin Only show was directed by renowned artist Jos Thie, who had repeatedly spoken about the mergence of dance music with a theatre-esque appeal to create a unique and seamless experience for the audiences, and the show went many a times beyond the physical, as the euphoric and uplifting nature of trance music occasionally took us on journeys like never before. Brought down to India by premier dance music event organizer, Sunburn, the show was a melange of never seen before experiences and the meticulously crafted details of the event were rewarded by the giant smiles and beaming faces that left exhausted from the venue only in the wee hours of the night! Check out our extensive Review for the Armin Only show right here!
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