One of the world’s largest and most successful dance music festivals, Sunburn marches into another season with a massive city festival planned in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

The event kick-started on the 12th of November in Bengaluru followed by Mumbai on the 13^th at Mahalaxmi, and now moves onto Hyderabad on the 14th and culminating in New Delhi on the 15th. 

The eclectic line-up features R3HAB, DJ Snake, Chuckie, Matisse Sadko, Shaan, Sartek, Joshi, Mojojojo and DJ SA_.

Danielle Pitter met up with DJ Snake and R3hab for a quick interaction. Here are excerpts from the interview:

Now if you did not know who DJ Snake was, here are a few markers you should know. He is French DJ, rapper and producer who mixes hip hop and elcetronic music. He is a Grammy nominated producer and artist who debuted into the international scene with singles hits Bird Machine and Turn Down for What in 2013.Bird Machine is collaboration with fellow French act Alesia. DJ Snake was labeled as an "Artist to Watch" by Fox Weekly. 

DJ Snake:

Would you like to collaborate with an Indian DJ?

Before collaborating with any DJ, I want to visit and get the vibe, to learn about the culture, because I don’t want to use people and make something fake. I want to make it authentic and definitely make a record with Indian artists. I’m open minded. Making music with different types of cultures, languages is the next thing on my list. India is big country and the culture is so vast, there’s a lot to do here.

If that is the case about India, what have you laid your hands on so far?

Butter Chicken (laughs)

Here is a lowdown on R3hab: Fadil El Ghoulbetter known by his stage name R3hab is a Dutch DJ and record producer of Moroccan origin. Alongside Afrojack and Chuckie R3hab is one of the proponents of the modern "Dutch house" subgenre, although his style and sound at the time were usually darker, somewhat reminiscent of early psytrance or gabber compositions. During the 2012 WMC in Miami, USA, R3hab won the IDMA Best Breakthrough Artist Award. He has toured India last year with DJ Hardwell at Sunburn Arena! Some of R3hab’s hits are Revolution, Samurai.

R3hab:

Do you feel like Indian DJs have a lot of potential?

I have just released a teaser of my record with Cashmere, its releasing next week; he started this inspiration thing where he used some Jammu (and Kashmir) Indian melodies. I did something similar in Pump the Party back in 2010 with flutes and little Middle Eastern India. All this triggers new emotions. I also know that (DJ) Chuckie made a really cool mash up with Indian folk.

What other genre of music are you interested in at the moment other than your own?

I really like hip hop, Drakes doing really well, Travis Scott, I think it’s really cool.

What do you like about India?

I like the food, I feel like having a rainbow on my plate.

DJ Shaan:

Now here is one of our own desi DJs talking to us - DJ Shaan.

What does it feel like to be spinning all those tracks up there in front of the crowd?

It’s a completely different experience, it’s unexplainable.

Do you feel the rigors of Djing are very monotonous? Do you love what you do?

Yes, I love it, it’s overwhelming to be up there, but I hate being in crowds, so it really works for me. (Laughs)

What is it like to be a DJ in a competitive industry? Is the job very stressful?

It’s a great feeling; it definitely is very stressful since you have to go International. Indian industry is very family like, people don’t think that. We generally get pissed off ‘cause people say “Oh He’s the first Indian DJ to go up”. I really don’t’ care, first fourth or fifth, I’m still up there.

Photos by Danielle Pitter.