As the sun sets and casts its soft, faded glow through stained glass windows, past ornate frescoes and vast courtyards, Rajasthan's Alsisar Mahal becomes a picture of joy. Rebuilt after being bombed by the British in 1954, the fort shows no sign of the approaching night as powerful techno wafts through the hallowed halls.
At the top of Badal Mahal, inside the domed fort, Delhi-based music producer and international DJ Albo plays the best mix of Indian sounds and electronic music. A relaxing and perfect end to the day. Traversing the Durbar Hall's miniature covered snake staircase, Rajasthani folk musician Moti Khan sways like a storm as a captivated audience transforms the sacred space into a one-of-a-kind dance floor. The magnetic field has a surprise at every step. But be prepared to be rough in the "Bedouin tent," which is uninsulated and sometimes runs on hot water.
The contemporary art and music festival, which has just concluded its 11th edition, welcomed 6,000 people for three hot days and (more) cold nights at Alsisar Mahal. The festival is known for its electronic and left-field sounds and this year was no different. With seven stages inside the Alsisar Mahal, a historic hotel now run by the eighth generation of the Shekhawati clan of Alsisar, and a camping area 100 meters away, the festival managed to attract a crowd of die-hard, electronic audiences. - Temporary search engines for experienced clubbers.
One of the most anticipated events of the festival, Glass Beams | Photo: Uday Rana
This year, however, the festival had its highlights. An almost hypnotic set by Melbourne's Glass Rays took center stage on the large grass stage, Jameson Connects South Stage, and was a relaxing mix of oriental scales. inspired by the group's South Asian origins.
The masked trio calls their type of music "snake psychedelia." His onstage physicality (the bassist glides while playing) somehow stayed true to his brand and sent the crowd into a trance. In stark contrast, DJ had ADHD. The British music producer's techno and bass-fuzzy club music filled the crowd from the large Haveli patio at the BudX North stage. It was fun, fresh and praiseworthy, a projection map that captured the façade, a roadmap to 17th century Rajputana architecture.
Aerial Artist Ocean at Dragalactiq Vivarium |: Photo: Aarohi Mehra
Often referred to as the "paragon of Indian electronica", Dualist Inquiry presented to the public his next album, which is about childhood, life, love and fatherhood. Its soundscape was backed by beautiful custom visuals with beautiful guitar interludes. Hard techno aside, left-wing artists like Zequenx deviated from the norm for genre stalwarts.
The Durbar Hall, which has large portraits of the former Alsisar royal family on its walls, also hosts Hindustani classical musicians on its stage. Although the festival curator had a great influence on contemporary music, classical and folk works also attracted large crowds.
View of Alsisar Mahal |: Photo: Parikshit Deshpande
Genre Mapping
“Each stage came to occupy its own space and atmosphere,” says Munbir Chawla, creator and director of music and collaborations at Magnetic Fields. “On the South Stage you'll find electronic music with a healthy mix of jazz, psychedelia, hip-hop, R'n'B and beautiful visuals, while the Sundowner Stage on the roof of the palace is a crowd favorite for listening to electronic music in alive. . For example, work with the sunset background. Where an artist decides what kind of music he plays and how versatile it can be." Alsisar Mahal is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars of the festival, says Munbir: “The architecture and heritage fit perfectly with the Indian history we want to show .if it's about "
For artists like Goan-born DJ and drummer OX7GEN, playing the festival is a gateway to introducing new sounds to their repertoire and audiences. "After about three years of being a drummer and playing with others in bands I got into the drum and bass genre. When I was a kid I played a lot of house and listened to techno, but this was different. I got interested in electronic music," he says. OX7GEN, who played Budweiser's Budweiser Stage on the 2nd. Over the past two years, he says his sound has evolved from what is traditionally considered house and techno.
Vinay Ramadasan at Fieldlines Jam Photo: Saubhagya Saxena
Bengaluru-based DJ Rishi Sippy, known for playing great house music, was at Magnetic Fields for the first time. Presented by Budweiser on the BudX North Stage, he played a techno-oriented set to a packed audience. For a musician who began playing clubs almost 20 years ago, at the age of 19, before fully transitioning to DJing in 2014, Magnetic Fields is a testament to the sounds of electronic music's continued evolution. “If we look at the number of people coming onto the scene right now, there are simply not enough places to play in India. This is a problem. As an artiste, a good sound system is also important,” says Rishi.
The sense of community also includes the composition of music. "We want to showcase artists and sounds that are fresh, different and forward-looking. There are so many amazing artists in India that we want to show to the world. And international acts that we love and want to introduce to the Indian audience. So whether it's an upcoming play or a new show by a popular artist, we would like to believe that Magnetic Fields is a place where they will find an appreciative audience,” says Munbir.
Glass beams in magnetic fields Photo: Saubhagya Saxena
As OX7GEN says, “They are always looking for artists who push the boundaries. With this balanced programming, you will allow people who haven't heard 80 percent of music to discover new artists, genres and sounds. As musicians, we are also influenced by all these boundary-pushing artists. This allows us to be safe and not tend to do anything commercial."
These sounds will ultimately lead the way for the evolution of electronic music in the years to come. Rishi adds: "The electronic music space has evolved over the last decade. almost 10 times. But there is still a long way to go. Young people have greater visibility with access to Instagram and world music. "Festivals like this help people discover new music."
The final buildup continues as the newly formed sunlight attempts to break through the dense fog. Tired legs return to the fields to leave Alsisar, and someone says: “I can continue. It's only 7 (in the morning).
Such a big family
The theme of this year's festival was "conservation." Music aside, the festival has reshaped the approach to alternative arts over the years. At the Architectural Story campus in Chennai, a giant hammock with bright blue-green curved hinges is always open to the public. According to the creators, finding your community is one of the greatest achievements of festivals like this. "The festival is about meeting people and making new friends. Our goal is to find ways to enhance that experience, and one of the ways was to create this collective seating," says Deepak Jawahar, co-founder of Architecture Story. This installation is the second of a series, the first was made for Magnetic Fields 2019. "It is an artistic experience inspired by Charpaia , a typology unique in its curvature and strength. It is often placed in a public space that invites engagement." added co-founder
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