Techno lovers lived it up a few weeks ago as JW Marriott Kolkata played host to the first edition of The Warehouse, in association with The Telegraph. The event saw underground music biggies Lifafa, Nikhil Chinapa and Arjun Vagale take charge of the console. Also in the line-up were beloved city acts — Zak b2b Ronii, Edge, CMYK, Techdrone, Adelphi Muses, Kunal G, Vikrant and 8 Bit Culprit. The event, hosted by Nikhil Chinapa, Offline CCU and Reality, was also a treat for the eyes as VJs Philip Gordon and Richi had put in their best.
“The success of The Warehouse event was primarily a result of the consistent effort put in every weekend by all of us, hosting some of the best national, international and local talents. More than 2,500 music lovers validated our effort by making it one for the books. The vibe was contagious and one that people are looking forward to experiencing again. We will announce the second edition of The Warehouse in a few days,” said Sonu Agarwal, co-founder, Offline CCU.
The Music
Lifafa’s set was stunning and made for a great warm-up show for the rest of the night. The artiste kept the DJ console aside and manned his live set-up (as usual) and performed songs like Jaago, Laash and Nikamma. And, of course, he did not forget to sing live, allowing his voice to echo through the banquet halls.
Host and in the line-up of the event, Nikhil Chinapa kept a melodic vibe. He was also responsible for setting the stage for Arjun Vagale (“Let’s make a dark room right now. I want all the lights off,” he said), amping up his set and dabbling in a little bit of hard-style techno.
Being the last act of the night meant Arjun Vagale was not going to hold back. Through his set, Arjun maintained a hard, bass-hitting, 4x4 beat which the audience could not get enough of. Melody was not the main factor but there was (what sounded like) a loop of noises and sounds that kept the set going. And, of course, just like his productions, sci-fi sounds were played around with.
8-Bit Culprit is considered one of the top-notch artistes in the techno music community. Playing his set before Nikhil Chinapa, Faraz kept the vibe melodic with a groovy bassline to back it up. His set was a mixed bag of unreleased tracks that will be released later this year, progressing sounds which went into some peak time and cutting-edge indie dance and techno. “The Offline and Reality crew outdid themselves by putting up such a stellar show despite all odds. The production and lighting made the entire experience even more wholesome with VJ Philip Gordon at the helm. Performing for a 2000-plus audience in a growing market like Kolkata felt like the onset of bigger things to come,” he said.
Vikrant’s techno set was right after Lifafa’s. He added energy to his mix which he played at a higher BPM and did not shy away from melodies. His melodic techno set not only fit perfectly with well transition mixes, lyrics also added a different flavour to it. His playlist included songs like Drown by Oostil & Juan Hansen (Massono Remix) and Where To Start by Q. U. A. K. E & HRAG (Modeplex Remix). “It was an amazing set up, amazing vibe and lots of energy on the dance floor,” he said.
Kunal G or Kunni played a smooth progressive house set with a bit of energy. Melody was something that gave him a driving factor but the build-ups and drops were also fresh. We loved how effortlessly he warmed up the audience but just enough to not tire the audience out. “The Warehouse gig at JW was terrific and the production and turnout were next level. I had a fantastic time playing my deep progressive grooves and the response was brilliant,” he said.
Organiser Speak
“JW Marriott Kolkata, in collaboration with Reality and Offline, was delighted to host this one-of-a-kind high-energy musical evening . Kolkatans were seen grooving and swaying to techno music and taking in the cutting-edge performance. We look forward to hosting many such events for our valued patrons,” said Sumeet Suri, general manager, JW Marriott Kolkata, who was present with wife Roma.
The Set-Up
LED lights, multi-coloured lights and different hues, why would the crowd not enjoy such an audio-visual experience? The banquet was divided into three sections where techno lovers could enjoy right up in front and the booked tables and VIP sections were behind the dance floor. Yet the vibe reached every corner of the hall. We asked Philip Gordon and Richi what methods they had used to keep the party groovy. “We did a lot of pixel mapping and lighting, The entire banquet was like a huge light box. We had done all the lights live as well, as it went with the music,” said Philip Gordon.
Outside the banquet hall a buffet was set up to offer yummy dishes from the hotel. From pasta to biryani and sweets, music lovers were spoilt for choice.
The Crowd
A packed banquet hall with no place to stand... that is how Kolkata parties. Techno heads partied all the way up to 4am
Actor Mishmee Das, after a long break in Goa, was spotted at the party. “I think all of Kolkata was present at the gig. The energy on the dance floor was amazing and had a great vibe. Great sets were played by 8 -Bit Culprit and Nikhil Chinapa and I just loved Arjun Vagale as always,” she said.
Kheya Chattopadhyay was techno-ready and was spotted dancing to the music at all times. “I witnessed such a high-energy gig in Kolkata after so long. I literally long for good electronic gigs in the city and this one ticked all the right boxes. 8-Bit Culprit, our homeboy, got the crowd primed brilliantly for the night ahead and Arjun Vagale... his dark techno made the dark night a power-packed and energetic one,” she said.
No they don’t want to socialise, no they don’t like sudden light flashes. Hence, sunglasses indoors
The bartenders of the hotel were having a lot of fun while pouring drinks
Sanjay Dutta was also present to support all his friends on the line-up that night. “Terrific energy and mood all around. It’s evident that Kolkata loves electronic music (trance/house/techno) and is craving more. It was also great to see the incredible support from the people of Kolkata for our local talent... perhaps as much as they would support international names. All of this is supremely encouraging indeed,” he said.
Pictures: JW Marriott Kolkata