Magnetic Fields Serves All Avatars Of Electronic Music Over A Threeday Festival In Rajasthans Desert
At sunset, stained glass windows, ornate frescoes from the past and the soft light of the expansive courtyard transform Rajasthan's Alsis Palace into a picture of serenity. He gives no hint of the night ahead, when energetic techno will echo through the hallowed halls of the fortress, rebuilt after British bombing in 1954.
Delhi-based international music producer and DJ Albo, famous for his dome atop the Badal Mahal Fort, plays an eclectic mix of Indian sounds and electronic music. A relaxing break, the perfect end to the day. Behind the miniature spiral staircase of the Durbar Hall, Rajasthani folk musician Moti Khan creates a spectacular stir as an enthusiastic audience transforms the sacred space into a dance floor like no other. In magnetic fields, every corner holds a surprise. However, in “Bedouin tents” with insulation and sometimes even hot water, you have to be prepared for difficulties.
The recently concluded contemporary art and music festival, the eleventh in a row, brought together 6,000 people who stayed at the Alsis Palace for three hot days and (even more) very cold nights. The festival is known for its left-field electronic sounds and this year was no exception. With over seven steps inside the Alsisa Palace, now a traditional hotel run by the eighth generation of the Shekhawati Alsisa clan, and its own campsite just 100 meters away, the festival managed to attract a crowd of dedicated electronic music fans and explorers . with the first pick from an experienced club.
One of the most anticipated shows of the festival is “Glass Rays.” Photo credit: Uday Rana
The masked trio calls their music genre “Snake Psychedelia.” Their physicality on stage (the bassist disappears while playing) somehow stays true to their brand and puts the audience in a trance. In stark contrast was DJ ADHD. The British music producer's club music, which blurred the boundaries between techno and bass, had the audience streaming from the large Haveli terrace to the BudX North stage. It was fun, fresh and complemented the projection screen on the facade, which was otherwise a map of 17th century Rajputana architecture.
Air Artist Ocean at the Dragolactic Vivarium Photo credit: Arohi Mehra
Hindustani classical musicians also perform on the stage of the Durbar Hall, where huge portraits of former members of the Alsisaar royal family hang on the walls. Although the festival was full of contemporary music, classical and popular music also attracted large audiences.
View of the Alsis Palace. Photo: Parikshit Deshpande.
Genre assignment
“Each stage is special and has an atmosphere,” says Munbir Chawla, co-founder and head of music and partnerships at Magnetic Fields. “The South Stage offers electronic music with a healthy mix of jazz, psychedelia, hip-hop, R'n'B and beautiful visuals, while the Sundowner Stage on the roof of the palace is a crowd favorite for live electronic music. . . For example, he works against the background of the setting sun. Where an artist ultimately performs depends on the type of music they can create and perform and how versatile they can be. “Mahal Alsisa is undoubtedly one of the brightest stars of the festival,” said Munveer. - The architecture and heritage fit perfectly with the Indian history we want to show. "
For artists like Goan DJ and percussionist OX7GEN, performing at festivals is an opportunity to bring new sounds into their repertoire and audience. “After about three years of working as a drummer and playing with other bands, I discovered the drum and bass genre. As a child I listened to a lot of house and techno, but this was different. I’m interested in electronic music,” said OX7GEN. , who performed on the Budweiser BudXYard stage on day two. For the last two years, he says, he considers his sound to be house and techno to be mainstream.
Vinay Ramdasan during a jam session on the field. Photo credit: Sogya Saxena.
A sense of community also permeates the music. “We want to present fresh, diverse and future-oriented artists and sounds. There are so many great artists in India that we want to showcase to the world. And also international events that we enjoy and want to introduce to the Indian audience. “That’s why we want to believe that ‘Magnetic Fields’ will find an appreciative audience,” says Munveer.
Glass beam in a magnetic field. Photo credit: Sogya Saxena.
These sounds would later pave the way for the development of electronic music in the coming years. “We are currently seeing a lot of interest in the electronic music and hip-hop genres,” said Vineet Sharma, vice president of marketing for South Asia at AB InBev. The brand equipped two stages and a music bar at the festival. He added: “Looking ahead to 2024, we are developing several exciting initiatives as part of our global IP BudX. This includes innovative shows and performances as well as a commitment to creating a platform for global and local production in India.
Rishi added, “The electronic music space has grown almost 10 times in the last decade. But there is still a long way to go. With young people's influence on Instagram and access to world music, this is becoming more and more visible. Festivals like this help people discover new music.”
As the light of the rising sun tries to break through the thick fog, the last movement begins. A pair of tired legs picks Alsis up and heads back to camp to leave, and someone says, "I can still walk." It's only 7 a.m.!
Such a big family
The theme of this year's festival was “Nature Conservation”. In addition to music, a focus of the festival over the years has been alternative art. The installation at The Architecture Story campsite in Chennai consists of a giant hammock with bright blue-green curved rings, always open to everyone. The creators believe that finding your own community is one of the most important lessons from these festivals. “The festival is about meeting people and making new friends. We’re focused on finding ways to enhance that experience, and one way to do that is to create this community space,” said Deepak Jawahar, co-founder of Architecture Story. This installation is the second in a series, the first being created for Magnetic Fields 2019. “It is an artistic practice inspired by the crane , representing a unique typology in terms of the way it hangs and its durability.” It is often placed in public places that encourage interaction,” adds co-founder Justin Deepning added.
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