This past weekend, Budweiser Presents Electric Daisy Carnival brought its neon fantasyland to New Delhi to epic proportions nothing short of its production in Las Vegas. A jewel in the crown of the dance music festival empire, le carnavale was a visual intoxicator, witnessing shining emerald fairies walking on stilts to tinselled Christmas trees. Here’s cheers to Budweiser and OML for powering the whole show, and looking back on some of the best moments that just made the India debut of EDC pop!
EDC India Revolutionised The Festival Game In India
If I were to wrap EDC India experience in one sentence, it would be that: “It ain’t just another dance music festival!“. The debut edition of the global phenomenon not only proved its masterclass within the Indian sub-continent but also stamped its authority as a festival to be reckoned with in the months to come as the Indian festival scene continues to grow exponentially!
Photo Credit: Mohit Mukhi Photography
The Next Big Thing In The Indian Dance Music Scene!
Budweiser and OML joined forces to team up with Insomniac in order to bring one of dance music’s biggest festivals in the world to India! Electric Daisy Carnival which officially set foot in the Asian continent with its debut edition in India has not only set a new precedent for the future of music festivals in the country, but has also assisted its headliners aka YOU to immerse yourselves for an experience like no other! One of those rare destinations where it’s truly more than just the headlining DJ itself, the EDC experience is truly going to be an annual affair the crowd would be anxiously waiting to be a part of!
Photo Credit: Mohit Mukhi Photography
Kinetic Field Was A Sight To Behold!
Electric Daisy Carnival’s very own mainstage which is popularly known as the kineticFIELD imported the Kinetic Cathedral design from EDC Las Vegas’s 2014 edition. And boy, how grand it was! While the size of things at all editions of EDC has amazed fans, the Indian crowd was finally welcomed to one of the most monumental mainstages that has gained a massive following in recent years! While it genuinely took some time for the audience to grasp the grandeur of things at the mainstage, they were treated to several stellar performances by the likes of Nucleya, Dualist Inquiry, Yellow Claw, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, Alesso and many more!
Alesso’s Monumental Return Was Truly Spectacular!
One of the most discussed performances of all time, Alesso’s return to India was inevitable! Fresh off an insane performance by R3hab, the Indian audience flocked in numbers to the kineticFIELD to catch the Swedish heavyweight return to the subcontinent. And he truly didn’t disappoint as he crafted an awe-worthy headlining performance on Day 1 of EDC India. With a phenomenal intro soundtracked to his latest single “Take My Breath Away”, the young gun dropped some of his biggest hits including “Years”, “Sweet Escape” and more! While he flawlessly coupled his enticing set with a worthy visual counterpart, the man delivered one of the best performances of the night as he concluded with his timeless remix of One Republic’s “If I Lose Myself”. A highly successful return, the Swede showed his brilliance once again!
Nucleya Showed Why He’s the King of the Indian Dance Music Scene!
Just as Anish Sood put an end to his incredible set at the kineticFIELD, the crowd was already in full motion chanting Nucleya‘s name and the lights went out which clearly indicated that the ‘Bass Raja‘ was in for an enthralling entry. After a perfect intro synced to his track “Bhayanak Atma“, the music slowly progressed and the tempo of the flashing lights kept increasing a notch and the roar from the crowd just became deafening as Nucleya finally emerged and the music blasted through the speakers sending the crowd into a tizzy.
Photo Credit: Mohit Mukhi Photography
Production And Visual Game Was On Point!
Pasquale Rotella’s brainchild, Electric Daisy Carnival is a true example of rave culture. And going by the magic which it has always managed to weave at its flagship event in Las Vegas, the expectations were off the charts! As EDC India ultimately gave birth to a new kind of hedonism amongst the Indian dance music community, an arsenal of lasers and pyrotechnics successfully left the crowd in awe, and it was ultimately the production value with an impeccable attention to detail which grabbed eyeballs throughout the weekend!
Photo Credit: Mohit Mukhi Photography
The Energy Of The Real Headliners Was Off The Charts!
EDC India’s highly awaited debut saw the festival pull in a crowd of about 20,000+ people over the weekend, and Delhi really showed us how to party. While the crowd was a mixed bag of people from all over India and other countries too, the powerful crowd lived up to the electric atmosphere at the Buddh International Circuit, and showed us why they are the ultimate headliners! As they incredibly matched the high-intensity performances of several artists spread across three stages, EDC India saw dance music enthusiasts join under the Electric Sky for an experience of a lifetime!
circuitGROUNDS was UNREAL!
If you were at the circuitGROUNDs, then I don’t need to go into further detail! An insane stage with four massive LED panels which were wrapped around the main LED panel backing the whole setup, EDC India threw their ace on the table with circuitGROUNDS. One of the most immersive experiences on offer, the surreal stage took over the tarmac at the Buddh International Circuit. A more intimate surrounding of sorts, the visual game which accompanied the music was unreal! Moreover, as the audience was attacked by a multi-sensory experience coupled with DreamState and Bassrush Experience on respective days and an insane display of strobe lights and lasers, pictures and videos can’t do justice to the memories which were ultimately crafted there!
Photo Credit: Mohit Mukhi Photography
neonGARDEN was a TRIP!
Much akin to a space exploration of sorts, neonGARDEN was one of the most fulfilling experiences at the inaugural edition of EDC India. An all-out lineup which blessed the scenic stage on the tarmac isolated from its sister stages, neonGARDEN boasted of some of the most exceptional names within the Indian underground music circuit as the likes of BLOT!, Pearl, Praveen Achary, Sandunes and more made sure to take listeners on a journey of a lifetime! And if the audience were craving for something a little more lethal, techno kingpin Arjun Vagale shut down the neonGARDEN in a way it truly deserved!
Photo Credit: Mohit Mukhi Photography
Brilliant Closing Ceremony!
All said and done, the audience at the Buddh International Circuit experienced their first ever Electric Daisy Carnival closing sets over the span of two days courtesy Alesso and Afrojack respectively. And following the blueprint of the flagship property of Insomniac, the closing set was concluded by a stellar display of fireworks which captured the true essence of gathering under the Electric Sky for an experience like no other!
Words by: Rajrishi Murthi & Mallika Pal
Photo Credits: EDC India, Mohit Mukhi Photography
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