Herald Cafe: You played at
Supersonic and the very next day you played at Krank? Did you have to modify
your set accordingly? If yes, how?
Arjun Vagale: It really
depends on where I’m playing. I mould my set depending on the location and the
kind of venue that I’m playing at. At a festival, you play a little more fun,
upbeat sort of music. I wouldn’t play dark stuff at the festival. Since Krank
is a clubby kind of a gig and my set is later in the night, it was a little
heavier and harder. I mean, for me it is really the venue that influences the
kind of music that I’m playing.
HC: You’re someone who
loves to play dark, techno beats. How did you adapt to the festival needs of
VH1 Supersonic?
AV: I have been doing this
for a very long time, so I’m used to playing at festivals. I sort of know what
the festival needs. It also depends on the time one is playing. I knew I was
playing after Magda; I sort of played a little more slower or funkier than
usual. It is important to fit in the line-up that you are playing for.
HC: You’ll be playing at
the BPM festival in Mexico in January next year. How did that happen?
AV: It is my second year
at BPM; I played last year as well. It has now kind of become a part of my
January schedule. This year, I’m playing for a label party of one of the labels
that I will be released on, called Octopus Recordings, which should be fun.
Last year I played at a day party, this time I’ll be playing for a night party,
so it is going to be different. Last year it was more like funky, sexy music
with girls in bikinis… now it will be more people, drunk, ‘going for the
after-party’ kind of vibe.
HC: Being a lead figure in
the Electronic Music scene in India, you motivate young aspirants and nurture
talent through the ‘I Love Music Academy’ in Delhi. Since EDM is mostly
consumed in Goa, don’t you think Goa would have been a better venue for the
institution?
AV: I was living in Goa
for two years till about eight months ago and I just moved to New York now. Goa
is an amazing place to relax and chill and everything is very calm which is
amazing about it and I love it. But for a school, we thought Delhi would work
better, because the infrastructure is a little bit superior. In Goa, I’m left
begging for smooth internet connection; in Delhi, we have hi-speed internet.
That alone is the biggest reason why I wouldn’t do it in Goa right now. Maybe
in the future, but the motive now is to have it in a metro city in order to get
maximum exposure.
HC: Any plans of Jalebee
Cartel coming together post the split?
AV: No plans as of right
now. I mean, we all are great friends and all that but like every relationship
has an expiry date, Jalebee had an expiry date and we sort of did our thing. We
did amazing things and had fun doing it and it is time to move on.
HC: Any other plans of
teaming up with any other artists in the future?
AV: No. Not at the moment. I
am planning to concentrate on my own personal career. Maybe in the future; you
never know.
