Burn & MTV present The Ultimate DJ Championship 2010 - A Submerge Property

After the complete fail that was the Kingfisher Flyp DJ Academy, I'm a little bit weary about DJ competitions.  However, this seems to be the real deal. Usually when Submerge are connected to these kinds of initiatives, it means it's going to be done right. A part of me wants to do this, all gung ho and shit, but unfortunately, fortunately, however you want to look at it, I'm employed and I'm loving it, drowning in work and couldn't be happier. Let's see though... :) 

Nikhil Chinapa teased this on the Submerge Forum and it was pretty cool to see how the idea developed into this massive monster. The winner earns himself a year long residency as a Submerge DJ - that will obviously mean multiple cities, the lucky bastard. haha, Well hardly lucky, because whoever it is, they're going to have to earn it. The winner also gets money - gets paid, a slot at a UK festival (that's fucking huge!) and professional DJ gear too. Might be Pioneer stuff, I'm not really sure on that though.

This is big and if interested, the best place to follow up on the rules, deadline dates, if you have questions for Nikhil or Submerge admin Tuhin Mehta, then I'd suggest you sign up now and get on that Submerge forum.  They've been promoting this on Twitter and there's quite a bit of interest in it.

Check out all the details on Burn & MTV's The Ultimate DJ Championship 2010 (A Submerge Property): Click here
Check out the official website for the Ultimate DJ Championship: Click here

Tours and Festivals: Submerge presents Gordon Edge (The Trumpet Man)

Flyer Design: Namita Sekhar

Submerge are at it again, bringing down one of their favourite DJs and Sunburn regular, the trumpet toting Bora Bora (Ibiza) resident - Gordon Edge. It's a proper 5 city tour and should be good times. Haven't really heard him before, but from what I see on youtube, his sound is a heady blend of beach house and tech-house laid with funky grooves, whilst playing, you guessed it, his trumpet over the beats. A friend laughs and tells me "I don't want to see you smirk when he plays Funkagenda's cover of 'Man With The Red Face' and does a live trumpet solo over it." Not so much the Funkagenda cover, but getting to see a live rendition of Laurent Garnier's classic straight from the DJ console has got to be pretty epic.

The good news for us? The Bangalore leg of this tour will be held by the pool side at the Chancery Pavilion. Get there early to catch Bangalore's own DJ Inferno and Vinod K as they warm up what's hoping to be a wicked cool party. Oh, one more thing, Submerge have got a pretty cool contest where they're giving away a signed Gordon Edge trumpet... make sure to check out the details!

SUBMERGE PRESENTS GORDON EDGE - TOUR DATES
July 21st - Touch, Hyderabad
July 22nd - 1 Lounge, Pune
July 23rd - Mambos, Goa
July 24th - Blue Frog, Mumbai
July 25th - Chancery Poolside, Bangalore

All the details on the latest Submerge Gordon Edge tour: Click here
RSVP the Gordon Edge India Tour on Facebook: Click here 

Bangalore Events: Submerge presents Vachan Chinnappa (DOWNLOAD his latest mix!)

It's been a while since I've given a healthy endorsement to a Banglore event and I couldn't think of a more perfect event to endorse than the cult Submerge Sundays @ Fuga (June 27th, 2010). The x factor this week? Vachan Chinnappa. He's the Bacchus music director and resident, he's been working the Bangalore circuit for well over a decade (maybe even two?) and if I'm being perfectly honest, he's nothing short of a legend. Without fail this man has destroyed my legs each and every time. He's the kind of DJ you catch and then end up having mad cramps the next morning from going beserk.

I kinda want to interview the man and do a proper profile, so I'll hold on all the descriptors for another time. Instead I'll urge you to make it on Sunday for his auricular assault. Chances are you're going to be taken by complete surprise by his programming. Expect a twisted variety of minimal, tech house, TECHNO and I'm talking about 'real' TECHNO. Maybe even a little Drum n Bass and nutty breakbeat as well. Submerge have described him as an 'Electronic God from Bangalore.' Here, here, I say. Hope to see all the YHIHF homies there... it's going to be intense.

Oh, I'm adding a download link to his latest techno mix. DO IT!

RSVP Submerge Sunday @ Fuga w/ Vachan Chinnappa, June 27th, 2010: Click here
Download Vachan Chinnappa's latest mixed set: Click here

India Tour: Sunburn presents Paolo Mojo, Pearl, Arjun Vagale, Vachan Chinnappa

So after bringing Sultan down a couple of months back, we're getting a serious taste of what the annual Sunburn Festival is all about with these dope teaser events through the year.  For May-June, Submerge and PDM have really got it so spot on.  Paolo Mojo.  Can't tell you how long I've been waiting for Paolo Mojo to do a tour here in India. He's got a classic track to his name, 1983 anyone?, he's quite possibly one of the best programmers of sexy house music (his Balance mixed compilation has stood the test of time) and he's also got a ridiculous record label, Oosh!, that consistently puts out top tunes.  Thumping house, funky house, latin house, tech house, prog house, he puts together the best of everything.  It is honestly an absolute pleasure to have him grace the motherland.  Fingers crossed, the curfew in Bangalore is going to be done away next week. Fingers crossed.  And note, Nightshift headliner Inferno is doing a warm up set!  What's more, Arjun Vagale from Jalebee Cartel and Bacchus bad ass Vachan Chinnappa are quite possibly India's best DJs right now and they've got slots.  Also, after Pearl's epic set during the Smirnoff Experience tour in Bangalore, pretty sure she's going to be i.n.s.a.n.e. No bias, no hype.  The country's finest no doubt.  This event is happening all over India.  Get the deets (from the flyer) on when it's happening in your city... you'd be thick to miss this.

In Pic: Sunburn Tour w/ Paolo Mojo

RSVP The Sunburn Tour w/ Paolo Mojo, Sunday, May 30th, 2010: Click here

Check out Paolo Mojo's interview on the Sunburn website: Click here

Join Paolo Mojo's Facebook page: Click here

Read RA's Paolo Mojo profile: Click here

Bangalore Events: Solder @ B52, May 21st and Nikhil Chinapa & Brute Force @ Fuga, May 23rd

Can I get a hells yes? This weekend is soo sorted.  Friday get some rock dosage from Solder @ B52, Saturday get some deep-techhouse goodness from Neil Quigley @ Opus By The Creek and on Sunday make your way to the cult Submerge Sundays, with Mr. Submerge himself, Nikhil Chinapa... and cream of the crop DJ, Tuhin Mehta AKA Brute Force.  This is the first time these guys are playing together in three years and when they get together, some thing special happens. Tuhin has also just put out a mix which has been described as a complete 'mindfuck' - so you guys have to give it a listen!  It's been a year since I've seen the T-Man play and he was easily one of the best DJs to rock Sunburn in 2008, this has to be epic.  Fuga this Sunday!

Flyer Design: Namita Sekhar

For more information on the Submerge gig with Nikhil Chinapa and Brute Force, Sunday, May 23rd: Click here

Download Brute Force's latest mix: Click here

In Pic: Solder playing at B52 this Friday

B52 are slowly but surely easing themselves into the rock circuit picking up the city's best bands to do live sets on a weekly basis.  This hot spot is really leaving it's mark, making sure there's a wide variety of quality music being played there consistently (Nightshift baby!).  This week they have local band Solder playing a live set. Hot on the heels off a stellar gig at Take 5, this band is on fire right now.  Lots of hype around them... I'm big fan of alternative/indie, so would love to see what these boys are all about!

Check out Solder's Facebook page: Click here

Check out Solder's MySpace page: Click here

RSVP Solder @ B52, Friday, May 21st: Click here

Fuck the curfew, it's good to see such a solid set of events in one weekend here in Bangalore and I'm still buzzing from Sasha and Cosmic Gate.  Am I smelling a revolution? I hope so.  -  SG

DJ Inferno playing at B52

Logo Design: Namita Sekhar

So we've got Inferno playing Nightshift this Friday, April 30th and yes, I'm super excited about this one. From what I've seen and heard of him, he's one of the few DJs who is really able to read a crowd and give them what they want.  Sees a bunch of candy ravers - he'll make sure to play some psy, sees a bunch of trendy nerds - he'll make sure to play some minimal techno, sees a bunch of cute girls - and he'll make sure to play some feel good house.  Technically sound, his mixing is mathematical in perfection and his tune selection should go down a storm. He's had residencies across the city (Bangalore), he's regularly gigging around the country and he also got himself a slot at the mighty Sunburn Festival. Bottom line, in Inferno, I trust. Word is we're going to be treated to an Ableton set... can't wait! This is going to be a great prelude to Dirty Vegas on Saturday!

In pic: DJ Inferno (Ashwin Babu Rao)

To join Inferno's Facebook fan page: Click Here

To preview and download Inferno's music: Click Here

To RSVP Nightshift w/ DJ Inferno and Sailen Ghosh: Click Here

Nightshift@B52 w/ DJ Inferno and Sailen Ghosh; April 30th, 2010

Flyer Design: Nihal Ghosh

ALRIGHT. Let's try that again. Nightshift is back for it's third installment! It's happening this Friday, a day before a huge gig, which all the punters must be wetting themselves over... If you haven't heard already, Dirty Vegas are in India!  And they'll be playing at Fuga this Saturday!

We had hoped to get Rithesh Nayak (click on his name to preview his music) to headline our night, since he's going to be the opening DJ for Dirty Vegas, unfortunately he's made other commitments in Chennai.  More on Mr. Nayak when he actually comes and plays at Nighshift. ;)

Since Azhar Meer (never a trust a man who puts his woman before music... :P) isn't here to help out, I'm thinking the next best thing for you, would be for me to play the first two hours completely on vinyl (we usually use Serato Scratch Live - so we don't have to lug the heavy 12 inches).  My EDM vinyl collection dates back to the early 90s all the way up to 2005 and the record label which I use to spend a lot of money on was 'Nightshift' - a west coast tech house label.  Since the label is in many ways an inspiration for our night at B52, I think why not give the Nighshift@B52 punters a preview of the label that shaped my taste in music. I  hope to see you there!

Note: Maybe, just maybe we'll surprise you with a headlining guest DJ who is a promising talent here in India. *taps fingers on table lightly*  

UPDATE: We do have an extremely talented DJ lined up for this Friday! Inferno!  I've known Inferno for a while now, opened for him awhile back at Sutra... absolute quality.  More details on Inferno in my next blog post! YAY! Headliner!

Back to Dirty Vegas in India - they're on a three date tour, playing in Mumbai (April 30th) @ Blue Frog, Bangalore (May 1st) @ Fuga and Pune (May 2nd) @ Stone Water Grill.  If you don't know who Dirty Vegas are, slap yourself around the head and click here... 

Ahh, have the memories come flooding back.  'Days Go By' is a brilliant, brilliant, tune - that may have got overtly commercialized but is still inherently beautiful.  Here's your chance to watch these guys live.  My favourite EDM organization, Submerge are the primary promoters... check out their forum to see if you can hook up with like-minded people at the Dirty Vegas gigs around the country.  More details on this event to come!  Stay tuned and remember... YHIHF. 

To RSVP Nightshift@B52; Friday, April 30th: Click Here
To RSVP Dirty Vegas in India: Click Here

Nightshift@B52, Bangalore

Flyer Design: Pia Alize Hazarika

I feel like a bit of a sell out shamelessly plugging my night at B52, Bangalore as my first blog post. In fairness to myself, isn't this what this is all about? Self indulgent plugging of one's own opinion and events and such! Well, I hope to make this little site interesting - movie reviews, restaurant and food reviews, talk about music, DJing, sports, TV shows and the likes... but for now since I'm a bit of a noob, thought I'd stick to something that's recent but which I hope grows and grows. Nightshift @ B52 is essentially a night of quality EDM (electronic dance music). None of the commercial shite that plague the clubs.

For the first two hours (8:00PM-10PM), we play deep house into tech house. The goal isn't to get anyone on the dancefloor. But to get them drinking, chatting, head nodding and feet tapping. From (10PM-11:30PM), we like to get as many people as we can on the floor and play out a much tougher sound that is tech house techno with hints of acid and psychedellic. We have no qualms busting out a bit of disco either.

You like your electronic music, give Nightshift at B52 a try... No cover charge, no entry charge, there's no stag discrimination, all are welcome. Plus Happy Hours is on till 10, buy 1 get 1 free, for ladies and gents. Contact me if you need directions... Here are a couple of pics from our first night - courtesy of Rithesh Nayak (brilliant deep house DJ, Bangalore represent!). Here's a bit of a self written review of our night, I, 'Diminished Responsibility,' wrote along with my DJ partner in crime Azhar Meer on the Submerge Forum (which I urge you to join if you're into this music).