Cool down with a rager

Anyasa plays at an open-air concert in 2023

It's that time of the year when the words ‘bringing in the heat with the next song' uttered in a closed club might draw more concerned looks than excitement from the audience. As the city's temperatures soar higher with every passing day, it's understandable why. For Priyaank Sharma, it's one of the driving forces behind building Rage by the Bay, a new open-air electro music concert that brings together headliners and new talents under the same proverbial roof.

The electronic music bug bit Sharma, a professional actor and electro music enthusiast, when he noticed that the genre was thriving overseas. "You head to the coasts of Mykonos or Ibiza, and the love for electronic music is palpable. Rage by the Bay is an attempt to bring that experience to Mumbai, a city that has all the makings of an electronic music hub," Sharma shares.

Priyaank Sharma

It's not just the sunny, waterfront locales that make Mumbai a potential electro hub. The line-up at the upcoming event reflects a community of city-based electro artistes on the verge of blowing up including Nipun Divecha, Manav Mehta and Shristy Sidar; names that aficionados of the genre might recognise. We learn that an ongoing competition, which ends today, will also open the doors for another budding musician who will join the lineup this weekend. "This is something we aim to do with all our shows in the future to push the genre in the city," Sharma reveals.

The headliners - Anyasa, Nikhil Chinapa, and Siddhanth Kapoor AKA Bullzeye were relatively easy picks for the organiser. "These artistes, with their decades of experience, represent what it is to be Indian through their familiarly Indian, yet fresh sounds. Anyasa, for instance, shows up in a kurta and spins mixes of Indian classical instruments like the sitar and international vocals that create a complete multisensory experience," he elaborates.

Anyasa, who recently returned from a tour across the USA, Mauritius, and Bali, lets us in on his game plan to ace his headlining set. "Open-air shows are always a refreshing change. But with shorter sets, it's important to keep the energy high and build up to an exciting climax. Between my tracks that will feature a mix of Indian classical and afro house vocals, I will include some melodic breakdowns so that people can soak in the atmosphere between all the dancing," he reveals, adding that he's excited to present his newest single titled Closure, recorded in collaboration with English musician Luke
Coulson, for the first time in the city.

Elevating the multi-sensory sensory experience will be fashion, food, and bar lounges spread across the waterfront venue. "The aim is to host an organic, earthy gathering. To that end, the stage will be set near a historic watchtower at the venue. Pulsating beats, good food, and some hand-crafted cocktails from an open-air bar to sip on while you watch the sun set. Just the way electronic music should be enjoyed," he concludes.

ON May 4; 3.10 pm onwards
AT Bayview Lawns, Princess Dock Building, Victoria Docks, Mazgaon.
LOG ON TO insider.in
ENTRY Rs 999 onwards

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ON Today; 7 pm
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Tune into a night of ghazals and Sufi music by Snehdeep Kalsi.
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ENTRY Rs 300 onwards