Exploring the Dance Scenes of the World With India's Pioneering Techno DJ Arjun Vagale

Both a pioneering hero in India and a globetrotting renegade who has performed in such legendary places like Tresor, Verboten, and Paradiso, Arjun Vagale’s dedication to beat craft is hard to match in this day and age. Simply put: dude makes world-class techno music.

Known for his intense, driven, innovative, and ever-evolving productions, Vagale’s strive to keep ahead of the curve has also found the artist keeping busy co-running a successful booking agency (UnMute), a booming school for India’s budding talent (I Love Music Academy), and a futuristic Indo-Spanish cross-pollinated record label ODD Recordings, which he runs with Ramiro Lopez, that’s been causing quite the stir with industry folk and ravers alike. He’s played all the biggies: Awakenings, BPM, Sonar; he’s dropped tracks with Planet Rhythm, Drumcode, and Second State; and he’s headlined alongside everyone from Adam Beyer to Josh Wink.

At this point, there’s hardly anything Vagale hasn’t done, rightfully earning him the title of one of “Asia’s Finest Underground Music Exports.” To add another accolade under his belt, India’s techno ambassador heads to Lantern this Saturday (Apr 27), kindly answering a few questions beforehand about relentless touring, how he juggles his various roles, and the rise of electronic music in India.

You’ve played and lived in some of the world’s leading techno scenes – including Berlin and New York – what led you to finally settle in Goa? How was the scene developed there over the past decade?
I guess I’m a vagabond at heart and constant movement has been a part of my life ever since I was a kid, but at some point, I guess one needs to settle down. My wife and I have called Goa home for a few years before we moved to NYC and eventually we decided to move back and just stay put (at least for now). It’s possibly the only city in India to still have relatively clean air and the fresh seafood is a winner.

The scene in India (in general) is at an amazing place right now. I might even say it’s on par with any other leading electronic music destination. The last decade has seen a serious rise in quality, local producers and DJs who are extremely talented and very on the ball. There are also a handful of dedicated promoters who are bringing down amazing ‘underground’ artists, so practically any given week has at least a handful of quality parties and world-class boutique festivals.

What’s your year look like in terms of touring and hitting the road? I imagine you travel around quite a bit. How do audiences differ across India?
To be honest I’ve taken a conscious decision to slow down a bit as I’ve been doing this for the last 23/24 years now – nonstop! But the road is always calling. After China, I head to Europe for a few dates and then onwards to the US for a couple of gigs. Between those dates, I’m taking a few weeks off in NYC. It’s also monsoon season in Goa so it’s nice to be away during this time.

I think the Indian audience are some of the most responsive anywhere in the world – I’m pretty sure every artist that has played here will agree to that. They are passionate and know their music – and if they trust you, then one can really experiment.

In an age when club music can become overstuffed and convoluted there’s something primal and direct about your tracks. How do you approach putting together a track? What’s the most important element, especially when you’re looking to get the crowd moving?
Yes, I completely agree with you, which is why a few years ago I totally changed my approach to producing music. Now I just ‘jam’ in the studio with all my gear and try and just have fun and let the spontaneous side shine. I think that’s when the best come out. I see a lot of people over-plan or over-think – producing music is a form of release for me, so I just let it come out in the most natural way possible. I also like to leave my tracks a bit raw as the over-polished stuff just sounds fake to me. I guess it’s that ‘raw’ vibe that I like and it resonates with people on the floor.

What are some of the challenges of running a music label while being a DJ and producer constantly on the move?
Well, the market is saturated with labels now so it can be very easy to start and run a label in the digital domain. It’s also why there is way too much rubbish coming out because everyone wants a release. The bigger question is how do you stand out? With ODD I firmly believe in ‘quality over quantity’ so we have a tough A&R process.

The admin side is what takes up most of my time – we pretty much do everything ourselves (I even make all the label cover artwork). But yes, with a million other things going on, we eventually needed help so now we have a label manager who takes care of some stuff.

The past decade has seen the rise of electronic music in India as well as its international influence – what are some of the records that define electronic music in India for you?
I think the first album from [Delhi-based Indian fusion duo] MIDIval Punditz was a milestone for independent electronic music in India. Not only did they influence and motivate an entire generation of producers, they pushed club/rave culture well before the boom.

Are there any outlets or sites that you would recommend to artists and fans who want to keep up the wealth of electronic music coming out of India?
Unfortunately, there aren’t too many left standing as music journalism rarely pays but Wild City is a good starting point. Also following a bunch of local artists helps because the scene is pretty small, so we all support each other. That’s actually the best way to keep in touch with what’s going on.

What can Chinese audiences look forward to when you touch down in Lantern? What are you looking forward to the most?
I’ve been to China a few times before but this is the first time I am actually playing there and I’m honestly quite excited. The last time I was there for IMS (International Music Summit) in Shanghai; we went to a whole bunch of clubs and I was extremely impressed with the scene. I’ve also been hearing great things about Lantern in Beijing from some of my friends who played there. And lastly, by no means the least, some great Chinese food.

You can catch Arjun Vagale spin his magic this Saturday, Apr 27 at Lantern. Doors open at 10pm and tickets cost RMB 100.

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Photos: JVB, Supersonic