My sound is underground: Ankit Kochar

Ankit Kochar to some, Ankytrixx to most, he's one of the country's best DJs and according to one poll, the No. 1 DJ in the country two years in a row. But that's not why we're talking to him today. He's been on the scene longer than most of us have and this year alone, he's played at 100 gigs. He's in a good place - he's a provider of high quality underground music, has hosted renowned international artists and has co-produced Mayday with Spartaque which has received fantastic support from the international scene.

Here, he offers his take on the EDM scene, the kind of stuff he'd like to do and even reckons he'll write something for the girl in his life (she's from Bollywood) but when "it's something extraordinary and what one can expect from him going forward.
Here goes...

100 gigs in 2014. As an artist, what does that number mean to you?
Means a lot! To survive in this over-commercialised industry playing underground music, getting to build listeners, meet and pass on the education, building bonds and friendships, these 100 gigs have brought all that and much more into my life.

Define your party formula.
As a DJ, create journeys, introduce sounds & elements, be super-sharp with your technical skills, show them how it's done, the pure way!

What's Mayday about?
Mayday is a techno tune produced by me & the Ukrainian techno superstar Spartaque. The track climbed upto #32 on the Beatport Techno Charts upon it's release and has been played by the all the major league chiefs of the techno scene globally!

You're organising an underground music festival later this month. What prompted it? How did you manage to put it together?
Today's India is thriving with creativity and talent but sadly most of it is sold today in commercial forms. In our industry, intelligent stuff ain't really promoted or pushed the way commercial sounds are!
Secondly, over the past few years the dance music scene in India has rocketed off! And he credit largely goes to the local homegrown artists, who have pushed it day and night. They have kept the flag hoisting high throughout the year & why not have a stage made only for them.. A three-day pure music experience with only local stars from India! Hence, I've had this thought for a while & with the help of all of them, we have managed to architect CTRL ALT DANCE for those who seek an alternate getaway from the commercial.

You've done India-wide tours. Which city in India is most receptive to EDM and which one is the least.
Mumbai, of course, takes the cake! But of course, this city is most exposed to newer trends in all departments! For me, I would give it to places like Guwahati or Indore where you find 300 people bending their minds to intelligent music.. That's great levels of dedication! I wish our capital city could add up to our scene.. Some of the top notch acts come from Delhi but no mega gigs involving only Indian artists!

Think EDM is alive and kicking or dying a slow death?
EDM has taken over almost 70% of the music industry! Banks are running the show. From DJMag awards to Beatport, the mantra has changed from selling quality to selling quantity! So yeah, its not dying at all! However, there is a huge debate going along all around the globe about its originality & how much of that remains today! The essence of music is somehow lost Hence, the ushering of new genres such as deep house & Deep techno, which were once a part of EDM but now are independent genres, also known as underground!

As more and more EDM genres surface everyday, does it seem more and more unnecessary that they exist at all?
From an outsider's point of view, it looks like a joke. but within the industry there isn't any other choice as the evolved, and the intelligent will always try and break away from the commercial and ordinary! Today's listeners are learning and absorbing quick, they know that there is always a better outlook to everything and these new genres have made a huge impact in the last 3-4 years amongst the fans.

What's the most maddening thing about the business?
The satisfaction! Of 1. riding on your passion 2. the unconditional love from all the connection across the world 3. being a part of an era where we started from DAT tapes & having w ifi DJ mixers which runs through an app on your phone. 4. All the Dancing!

What the most heartening thing about the scene?
Fans! Sometimes I ask myself and my friends around as to how do these guys come back every single time, and for what purpose. Nothing is bigger than unconditional love.

We heard you're dating Shazahn. Have you made some music for her. Does she in any way impact your work (as a muse)?
She has an incredible sense of music, knack to distinguish between a intelligent tune and the ordinary. She's extremely musical, having lived all these years amidst family who rode on music, it's a huge win! Yes, I've made several attempts at building something for her, she's loves them too, but I think it has to be extra ordinary, no?

EDM has hit Bollywood in a big way this year. You were offered a film last year, but had to give it the skip. Think you missed out?
Not at all! I'm still far away from the mainstream EDM that we are talking about here. My sound is underground. however, if there's something that needs more intelligent, soulful elements or pure music to a piece, I'm game to give it a shot!

What's coming up. Any new albums?
Coming up.. a string of properties, tailor-made to suit the urge and need of the ones who are looking for more than ordinary! Ctrl Alt Dance, to begin with! its a little gift that we are preparing to give back to our friends & lovers, for standing by us this entire year! 2015 has a mix of all it takes to push the game a few notches up. Solo releases, an album, a string of international gigs and festivals, some mega-colabs, and a lot of yoga and a lot of love!

Beginnings
- As a DJ in 1999, a producer in 2012
- "Turned the fashion design institute I was studying at into a weekend party spot, to get a chance to play some tapes."

Equipment of choice
_ "Wish i could say 2 turntables & vinyls. But someday hopefully. As of now, its just a pair of headphones and my 8 pen drives which look identical to each other.

Name
"My friends thought there was more to me than just playing music. I used to go uber cray few years back on the console, hence, it was that moment that my friend Ruchi suggested I call my project - Ankytrixx."