When Ankytrixx is in town for a gig, you just know that it’s going to be an evening to remember. Ankit Kochar, aka Ankytrixx, started his journey by teaching himself how to make his mark as a DJ and producer. Inspired by legends like John Digweed and Paul Oakenfold, he gradually rose to fame in Kolkata’s club circuit with his abstract exploration of electronic music, which earned him acclaim and over 100 shows annually. He’s been honoured with awards like INCA’s DJ Of The Year 2017 and VH1 MyFavAwards Best Electronic DJ and several tours in Europe’s underground clubs, from Amsterdam to Ibiza. His influence extends through founding AFE (Ankytrixx & Friends Entertainment), CTRL ALT DANCE festival and more, with his most recent venture being VisionX festival by FreeFolk. My Kolkata caught up with the DJ who is making waves in the electronic music scene. Excerpts:
My Kolkata: It was good to see you again on April 26 for GridLocked. What does Kolkata mean to you?
Ankytrixx: Kolkata, for me, is a city with a thousand souls. It’s the city’s vibe — that relaxed and easy-going atmosphere — which has always encouraged me to feel nostalgic and create something beautiful. It has been a place for me, which reflects my memory and imagination and I have carried a part of it everywhere I went.
Ankytrixx performing at the third edition of GridLocked The Grid
Your song from last year, Baby 2000, is still making waves in 2024. What sets this track apart from your previous releases?
For me, music making and production aren’t just a need to release music or the compulsion to fit in the circle of “artistes”. To me, DJing and producing music are two completely different dimensions and both have a magic of their own. Baby 2000 was produced from this newly developed space that took some time (almost a decade) to evolve. This track is me — it reflects the energy, the madness and the urge to dance like nobody’s watching.
Given that the track is on a label like Radikon, did you see yourself pushing your boundaries with it?
Oh yes, I’ve been eternally grateful for everything that happened with Baby 2000. Radikon holds a special place in my heart, thanks to their bomb releases, fabulous reputation globally and the compassionate geniuses behind it (Jonas Saalbach and Guzy). I feel incredibly fortunate to have embarked on this journey. And indeed, it’s only the beginning.
You also launched FreeFolk, a community for artistes, last year and we’ve seen many artistes on your roster. Can you tell us a bit about this new venture?
FreeFolk has more to do with talent managers — Ankit Nevatia, Gagan Bajaj, Rahul Rungta and Rakshit Jain. Their passion for music, genuine respect for artistes, commitment to enhancing life’s beauty and ability to uplift artistes’ performances are what attracts the audience.
Congratulations on hosting the first VisionX festival in Nepal. Tell us why Nepal was your first call.
Kolkata was the city of inception, however, Nepal is the place where I found growth. I evolved as a musician and a human being there. So, I feel obligated and responsible for the industry in Nepal. I was perhaps the first professional DJ in that country back in time. This is why the vision of bringing people together from numerous countries was my mission to help activate Nepal’s nightlife. India is already facing an overkill in terms of gigs and events... and so is Thailand and Dubai. So, Nepal is that one spot where all these different nationalities can come together.
What inspired the creation of VisionX? Nine stages, numerous artistes and two days… That sounds like a big one to pull off, especially for a debut festival. How did you do it?
It all happened in two weeks. I can proudly and confidently say that we were blessed with a great team. The FreeFolk crew, my friends from Nepal, the club owners and all the brothers and friends who had nothing to do showed up. In just a matter of hours, these nine venues were locked. People came in with their support and love and that’s how Nepal operates. We never gave so much thought about how much we needed to push because every door opened quite organically. Every venue came on board without us really trying. Sometimes these impromptu actions and ideas are just what you need to make things work. For the next edition, I’m sure the reality is going to set in.
DJ Ankytrixx is focusing on strengthening his weekend-to-weekend gigs
What else lies in the future for Ankytrixx?
At the moment I am focusing on strengthening my weekend-to-weekend gigs. There are a lot of new cities opening up and I want to connect to those music lovers as well. We’re all part of the scene and it’s important to know the honesty of an artiste. I want to show people the true hustlers of the scene and get them the love and support they deserve.
