Mumbai’s first open-air deep house based music festival By The Pier is merely 2 days away. The anticipation has got every music lover all over the city at the edge of the seats for the iconic showcase of incredible talent that’s about to take place on one of Mumbai city’s most breath-taking venues, The Bombay Presidency Radio Club.
We took some time out to talk to the incredible talent that’s scheduled to play that day, just to get an insight into what to expect and how much we should prepare ourselves to be blown away by the delicious, gorgeous music that we’d be getting the privilege to listen to.
Here they are:
Kevin Knapp
As an eminent patron of Berlin’s distinctive dance music community, Kevin is no rookie when it comes to commanding the dance floor. As a DJ, he rides the fine and unprecedented line between sonic architecture and straight up keeping it gangster.
TBB: How has your stay in India been so far?
I’ve actually been blown away. I must admit that growing up I never dreamed this was a country I’d have the opportunity to visit and immediately after leaving the airport, the mind blowing began. I’m hearing it takes 3 to 4 days to get accustomed to how different it is here but I felt after a good night’s sleep. I am good to go!
TBB:Where, in your opinion, is the best setting for deep house or any underground genre of electronic music?
I really dig small to medium sized venues, anywhere from 150 to 500 people. When you’re playing for peeps it’s all about connection, in my opinion, and in those types of settings I feel like the energy and house music loving mental mind meld dynamic are palpable. I love the bigger spots too, but there’s something about a dope, small party going off that just feels special.
TBB:What about Deejaying do you love the most?
I suppose DJ’ing is really cathartic for me both in terms of process and it’s effect on my overall sense of being. Regarding my sanity (hehe), I feel often times like behind the decks is the one place on this earth where I can be myself. Stereotypes and insecurities are out the window as well as my personal ability to overthink things at times. It’s about being present and making shit bump, live and direct, zero bullshit style and that kinda clarity is not a place I reach very often via any other means.
TBB:Why did you start & What is that one factor, that drives you?
I started because I’ve always been a beat head and this is a beat driven medium. I was in an art gallery in San Francisco back in 2001 called 111 Minna, at one of the cities best parties at that time called Qool. I was just observing the creative energy on the dance floor, in the booth, on the walls and something in me clicked and said I’ve arrived, I’ve got to do this. In terms of what drives me it’s hard to describe but it has to be the pressure/weight of the perfect bass line & track. I can dig the pretty moments but absolutely lose it for a “gangster” bass line with some claps. It’s like everything else in the world ceases to exist.
TBB:Who have your biggest inspirations been?
I have so many inspirations on so many different scales. From Robag Whrume, Koze, Jamie Jones to my industry homies Audiojack, Matt Tolfrey, Seth Troxler & Claude Vonstroke. Then there are the people who paved the way for me from the beginning back in SF (San Francisco) like Scott Carrelli, Spesh & Nikita. SF has some killer locals and I learned a lot from those guys.
TBB:What’s your opinion on the rise in attention genres like deep house/ tech house are getting today from the mainstream audience?
Haha, this seems to be a frequent topic of discussion these days. To be truthful, I feel like on the one hand it’s great because it hopefully lends itself to the creation of a marketplace where those of us who really love it get increased opportunities to work around and with what we love. On the other hand, once everyone knows about something that’s cool? Well, you know.
TBB:What are you looking forward to most at playing By The Pier?
Just being in such an iconic spot with some of my new friends (yes, I consider them friends already!) and enhancing everyone’s evening through music. I’ve been in Mumbai a couple days now and from what I can tell, even though the scene is somewhat in its infancy, the folks that are present are dddooowwwnnnn! I remember those days in SF where you could walk into a party and tell immediately it was for the heads, I caught a couple glimpses of that last weekend and am looking forward to throwing the big man contribution into the mix, so to speak.
TBB:What are the three essential #bangin tracks that you’re bound to drop in your set?
That’s a tough one to tell ya early, think we’ll just have to show up and see what the dance floor needs & wants. It’ll tell us all we need to know!
Qwiver/Blurry Slur
Blurry Slur is the deep, melodic, hypnotic alter-ego of Bombay based DJ Lynston Dsouza. His choice of sound is a unique mix of groove and intricate detail. Blurry Slur’s conceptual DJ sets, both in the studio for podcasts as well as at live gigs is a true indicator of his understanding of techno and dance music in general.
TBB: What about Deejaying do you love the most? Why did you start & What is that one factor, that drives you?
Ive been playing music for a few years now, however the Qwiver and Burry Slur projects are considerably new. As an artist, the driving factor is always the response that I get from my audiences during and after each set. More and more people are coming out for Deep-House and Techno gigs and thats super. Its always a great feeling being behind the decks, being able to control the music in a room, and with it control the overall mood, feel and vibe of the party. This is probably what I love the most.
TBB: What are you looking forward to most at playing By The Pier?
By The Pier is one of the gigs I’ve personally been looking forward to for a while! Playing for Regenerate gigs has always been great fun as they always get it spot on with their music, and also because of the super vibe they’ve had at every gig! Add to that a banging food lineup, some quality art, and a venue that is just spectacular.. I think its going to be EPIC! 😉
TBB: What are the three essential #bangin tracks that you’re bound to drop in your set?
I’m never really sure what im going to drop in a set, I never plan really.. But these are some tunes that I think would sound great open-air By The Pier 😉
1. Eddie Richards – Soul Is Life (Mihai Popoviciu Remix)
2. Compuphonic – Cinnamon Road (Original Mix)
3. Tuccillo – Groover (Original Mix)
Orbs&Zen
Musically speaking, Orbs & Zen love the deep. And the groovy. And a bit of disco. Just a whole lot of fun generally. Rather than stick to a genre, they trust what sounds good to their ears.
TBB: What about Deejaying do you love the most? Why did you start & What is that one factor, that drives you?
There was no conscious decision to start deejaying. We started mucking around at The Daily (Bandra) and one thing lead to another and the next thing we knew we landed ourselves a private gig and a gig at Sitara (Regenerate) in the first month itself.
Love everything about it. The music, the sound, the gear, the knobs and the dance.
But most importantly it’s the people you meet. Having a common music bond between two people is really underrated.
TBB: What are you looking forward to most at playing By The Pier?
Looking forward to play in the open, the way deep house is meant to be heard. And playing before and after friends. Its really a lot of fun.
Twokid Wickid
Twokid Wickid are melody maniacs that tame tempo tantrums and get you to groove and grind. Soulful syndications of beats that leave you in alternative planes of sub conscious reflections are a signature forte
TBB: What about Deejaying do you love the most? Why did you start & What is that one factor, that drives you?
Hi , well we just love making people dance and grooving to good music and with good people. Being disc jockeys allows us to do that, together so thats the best part !
We started because we love electronic music and we were inspired by the music we heard and the artists we heard back then. The more we were exposed to more music the more certain we were that we wanted to get there . As to what drives us , well, it’s the just the passion for the music we have , listen to and play. Thats more than enough motivation!
TBB: What are you looking forward to most at playing By The Pier?
The vibe. We have never been there but judging by the pictures, its surreal. Add the fact that its our first time in Mumbai, we are looking forward to throwing it down proper!
TBB: What are the three essential #bangin tracks that you’re bound to drop in your set?
Haha, well. To be really honest, we never plan our sets. Never have! (expect maybe the first time we played, we wrote them on a paper and realized the whole point of being a dj is lost). So we guess you just will have to wait and see.
Folic State
Folic State has his own signature sound of Techno which is dark, hypnotic and groovy; surely one of the rising stars of techno in India. His Djing skills have gained him much popularity and supporters, allowing him to showcase his talent along side the best in the business.
TBB: What about Deejaying do you love the most? Why did you start & What is that one factor, that drives you?
It all began as passion for music, more than anything.. Clubs had shabby music playing earlier on and we had no choice but to have our own little gatherings, my friends and I would dj and since then I didn’t look back. What I love about djing is you meet like minded people and everyone has a great time dancing to you’re tunes! passion for music being the prime driving factor. there are heaps of new producers in the scene making insane records, reckon that gets me going too!
TBB: What are you looking forward to most at playing By The Pier?
Excited in general about the first of its kind and being their 1st birthday, I’m sure there’s a lot to look forward to other than the great acts lined up !! Happy to close this massive event.
TBB: What are the three essential #bangin tracks that you’re bound to drop in your set?
1. Ash Roy – Elemenopee (original mix)
2. Folic State – Vulgar Story (original mix)
3. Moog conspiracy – The Light ( calm chor remix)
Oozeundat
Determined to produce and deliver intense, well-crafted sets focused on destroying dance- floors, Oozeundat’s sound is turning out to be as quirky as their name. Made from an amalgamation of their nicknames, their moniker is just a small display of their inherent madness.
TBB: What about Deejaying do you love the most? Why did you start & What is that one factor, that drives you?
It’s the energy and vibe that music can create, the connect.
TBB: What are you looking forward to most at playing By The Pier?
The sun, water, playing music along side our friends! And of course going deeper than usual 😉
TBB: What are the three essential #bangin tracks that you’re bound to drop in your set?
Re.You – Watching You
Let’s just leave the rest as a surprise!
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