Bengaluru, get set for an evening of non-stop EDM

The upcoming weekend in the city promises to be one big, boisterous party as Bangalore Mirror’s FiveSixZero, Bengaluru’s biggest Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival, will kick off on November 4 at White Orchid on the Hebbal-KR Puram Ring Road. It’s lineup of international electronic music giants, such as Ummet Ozcan, Fedde Le Grand, Christina Novelli, Wolfpack and Daddy’s Groove, as well as popular local stars DJ Ivan and Answer, is some of the best that the city has seen till date. And that has got EDM fans in the city excited.Ahead of the festival, we caught up with Bengaluru’s own artistes, DJ Ivan and Answer, to spill the beans on what the crowds can expect from them and the other performers…DJ IvanHe is one of Bengaluru’s most well-known DJ, having performed for over quarter of a century. DJ Ivan’s passion, originality and individuality have made him a name to reckon with in the electronic music scene, not just in the city, but in the country as well. As someone who will be performing earlier during the evening, he has the onerous responsibility of setting the tone for the festival. Speaking about it, he says, “I’m totally looking forward to shouldering that responsibility, if you can call that. Having performed here for so many years, I know exactly what kind of music gets the crowd excited. And what also helps is that the audience here is familiar with my music and enjoys it a lot, too. Because of the huge lineup, I’ll be playing a short set, so you can be sure that it’s going to be compact and power-packed, with a lot of Latin and tribal influences.” The DJ and music producer is also in praise of the lineup. He says, “For me, in terms of sheer musicality, this is the biggest lineup the city has ever seen. Fedde is a fantastic performer and has been in the electronic scene for so long, while Ummet is huge right now. It’s a heady mix of artists.”Answer Answer is a collaborative effort of local artistes Arjun Nair and Nishanth Naidu, who have brought the best of electronic music and audio-visual experiences for about five years now. Their ability to adapt, innovate and captivate a variety of audiences with their tight, energetic sets makes them a crowd favourite at music festivals. Their excitement over the lineup is evident, as Arjun says, “When you see the names, you know they’re all going to bring their A-game to the festival. Ummet is a festival slayer, while Fedde is a legend in his own right. You can easily get lost in Christina’s enchanting voice, while our good friends Wolfpack are known for their energy. It’s going to be one helluva festival.” Speaking about the duo’s dynamics and their set for FiveSixZero, Arjun adds, “Nishanth and I understand each other’s music preferences, likes and dislikes very well, and work our way around accordingly. While I focus on the musically designing the Answer experience, he brings in a lot of newer sounds. For the festival, we’ve prepared a special set, along with a unique intro mix. We’ll be playing a lot of newer, futuristic, bouncy sounds. Bengaluru audience is very open to new sounds, and we’ll try and make the most of that.”