Chatting up the Chai-Mamas in INDIA
India is best done without a plan, since even if you make one, it’s going to change.
Population: 1.1 billion (with about 5,000 local trancers)
Good time to visit: November-March (winter); July-September (monsoon)
Body: The biggest contribution of India to the world is the number zero, and perhaps Goa, from where it was ‘discovered’ by the West. That Goa also happens to be the birthplace of its own genre of cutting-edge music gives psypeople in India much reason to celebrate, as these days, lament.
Since 2002, the seasons in Goa have become bleaker, with emphasis on small parties than the regular fare large-scale ones. Given the political climate, and a conscious effort to stifle backpacking tourism, one can never be sure of a big party in Goa these days, well not atleast the ones massing 1,000 people, though one can still always be reasonably confident of a good time. Everyone hopes the tide will turn soon. For those planning a trip, the season begins in mid-November, and lasts until March, when it becomes too hot to heave. Given the experience in 2006 new year’s eve, it is perhaps better to arrive sometime in January when the heat from the system has cooled off a bit. This year, breaking from tradition, possibly due to the Anjuna area becoming more commercial and heavily policed, party activity has moved towards Arambol-Morjim beaches, though it will be best to evaluate the fresh situation when you arrive.
Apart from that, a decent lot Indians party to trance, and clubs in most major cities play the sound, even though sometimes without the faintest idea of PLUR. Mumbai leads the pack, but is a little on the expensive side as at least 20 euros per day have to be accounted for – excluding party. Delhi is cheaper, and cleaner, yet to catch a party here is like banking on your traveller’s cheque to work in a small town. But with the new superclub Elevate embracing trance, and bringing down international acts regularly, this has somewhat changed recently.
The other tripped-out destinations include Hampi-Om Beach (south-west, next to Goa), Manali-Dharamsala-Rishikesh-Pushkar (north, some crazy parties in summer), Pondicherry (Auroville)-Mammallapuram-Bangalore (south-east, small psy-gatherings), Kolkatta-Assam (east, some parties are beginning to be organised in this beautiful though less travelled land) and ofcourse the small unknown places dedicated to the dedicated. In any case, it is best to follow your pipe to wherever it wants to go.
The best news has to be anyhow that talent-wise, the country is exploding, and so it is in terms of professional labels and, though the scene has moved mostly indoors, organisers who have flooded with past years with quality international acts.
Among the notable labels in India are Temple Twister Recs (two releases in 2005, Lethal Doses hit No. 1 on psyshop, the other, Lost Souls Depot, No. 3) and their sister morning label Digital Distortion Recs, Beyong Logic (V/A Endless Euphoria), Third Eye Recs (two releases – Audialize album and V/A Power - for 2006), Foot Stompin Recs (Network of Thought – Footstompin vs Mechanic Recs), Tantrumm Recs (V/A Freshy Squeezed) and Serephana Recs (Goa).
As for talent, there is a lot brewing in the country. Led by Asad aka Freeaatmah, and then DjBrian26, the list moves to Karan Third Eye, Dj Dale (resident at Elevate, Delhi), Boombay Central, Daash, Shiv-e, Niel, Tarun and the multitude of fresh talent lurking in the number of sound engineering schools.
Labels
Promoters
Mags and info
Text
Samrat
Edits Indian psymag, Psynapse – www.psynapse.in
"let your dance amaze you"
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photos by dharamsala & mataji |
