Nightlife is a way to unwind after your nine-to-five job. But in Goa, it is a lifestyle. North Goa is packed with clubs, parties and new music experiences that locals and tourists are waiting to experience. My Kolkata made a short trip to Morjim and Chapora over two nights and got to experience music across different sub-genres.
Techno takeover at antiSOCIAL, Morjim
Being one of the hottest and newest spots in Goa, of course the place would be packed on New Year’s Eve. Add to that names like Jacob Gomes, Mohinesh, Arnova, Akshit Shetty, Arpan, Kohra, Dotdat and Bullzeye as the line-up! When we stepped into antiSOCIAL, partners Bullzeye aka Siddhanth Kapoor and Arnova were going back-to-back. The two shared an in-sync flow where they flawlessly lifted the vibe, one track at the time. The sound was melodious but had a more energetic feel to it. Along with the music, even their stage presence had a great impact on their set as they vibed with each other and shared little conversations here and there.
The next act to take over was Kohra and Dotdat going back-to-back. The two were the last acts of the night and that meant they were going to give the audience full energy. The BPM rose during their set giving a harder feel and each melody or sample had a loopy impression. The two boys jammed away behind the console and their coordination and understanding of each other’s music ensured a smooth flow going upwards.
Russian rave at Kiss & Fly, Living Room Beach Resort, Morjim
After such high energetic vibes, before the club shut and the jam began, we set out to walk back to our car to accidentally walk into another party. It was taking place at Kiss & Fly, which will be starting their operations this month. Stumbling into this party felt like walking into a Russian rave which is exactly what it was. UV lights set the mood, everyone was happy and smiling and the DJ was spinning some intense acid and drum n bass sounds. We had probably caught the last hour of the set where we were in awe of this tightly knit community who were not only welcoming but also happy in spirit.
Darker sounds at House of Chapora, Chapora
A type of sound we hadn’t experienced there yet was the dark-psy sound which happens in abundance at festivals and clubs. House of Chapora is known for its dark ambient music sounds be it minimal techno or psytrance. That night they had kickstarted their Psy On The Fly festival where international and Indian acts were going to perform their sets with psychedelic sounds. The names on the line-up were Atriohm, Tadayan, Monkey Space, DJ Rise, DJ Dhira, Sosalto and Harshvardhan.
We had walked in on Atriohm, who was at the peak of his set. He played a semi-live set where his DAW Ableton was connected to the console. The music was about dark, ambient sounds over a rapid BPM. A whisper here, an opaque melody there and before you know it there’s a bass change that brings the set higher. People around the venue are all in a similar state of mind where they’re either enjoying the music or each other’s company. The friendliness of the company there is sure to make you feel secure.
