As the sun dimmed above the skies of the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, scintillating beats could be heard echoing from every corner of the city as the iconic EDM duo —The Chainsmokers took everyone by storm with their heart thumping beats. “Delhi, Mumbai sang this one pretty loud. But I think you can sing louder,” said Alex Pall right before playing their popular number Something just like this. The duo also played Calvin Harris’s How Deep Is Your Love, the rock anthem We Will Rock You and ended their performance with Yellow vs Dont Let Me Down as they waved the Indian flag for their fans.
The duo, Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart from the US, is on their “Memories” tour and they have kicked off the Asia leg with their two gigs in India, which also featured a number of other Electronic Dance Music performers like Siana Catherine, Sam Feldt and Slushii. One of the finest Dutch DJs and Deep House music producers, Sam Feldt, who was also crowned the “modern house superstar” and was seen performing along with The Chainsmokers at the “Road to Ultra” shared his insights on the Indian music industry.
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Excerpts:
What fascinates you the most about India?
I’ve been really amazed by how many people are into electronic dance music in India. Before I visited, I always thought it was still pretty underground. But it’s just as mainstream and adored here as it is in Europe or the US. I’m also very fascinated by your cuisine. There simply is no food in the world that combines uncomplimentary flavours so well. Hot and fresh, sour and salty, spicy and fruity, it’s amazing.
We have seen many artists collaborating with Indian musicians. Are you also looking forward to collaborate with anyone?
Definitely! I’d love to collaborate with an Indian artist one time. I’m in touch with guys like Lost Stories and Shaan, so who knows something will pop up soon.
What future of EDM music do you see in India? Any comments?
I think India is very forward-thinking when it comes to dance music. You guys are really open to new and different styles and together with all the talent that is coming up, I see India at the forefront of the EDM movement.
What message would you like to give to your Indian fans?
Hey guys, it’s been way too long since we saw each other and I can’t wait to come back and show you everything I’ve been working on! See you soon, and thank you for all the support!
Tell us something you’ve heard about India and would love to experience.
While it’s not going to be possible this time, because of my really tight travel schedule but I’d love to just backpack and explore the country without any plan. I think your country has a lot to offer if you dare to go off the beaten path. My dad is travelling with me to India this time. He is not coming to Ultra, but instead he is visiting his girlfriend, who travelled to the North of the country to help the less fortunate. She’s been there for a couple of months now. He showed me some pictures his girlfriend sent to him and the landscapes and mountains there look very impressive.
Youtube has now become a platform for musicians across the globe.What do you think of this, and do you use this as a profile building tool?
It’s great! Platforms like YouTube enable creativity and allow people to learn a lot of stuff through tutorials etc. I spent a lot of time learning how to produce on YouTube too! For me personally, this is a great tool to showcase my video content such as my blogs and video clips.
Tell us about your future projects.
Glad you asked. Ha ha ha! My debut album called Sunrise is dropping on 6 October so I’m super excited for that. It has 12 tracks and will be diverse in terms of genres and styles. I’m ready to show the world everything Sam Feldt can be.