Ahead of World Dance Day, Bhairavi Jhaveri picks Mumbai's weekend sonic masters who will do whatever it takes to make you feel the beat. Here's where you can catch their energy, tonight
Ahead of World Dance Day, Bhairavi Jhaveri picks Mumbai's weekend sonic masters who will do whatever it takes to make you feel the beat. Here's where you can catch their energy, tonightDJ Lloyd Resident at: Bling, Andheri and poison, Bandra Lloyd's DJ files: Mainstream Bollywood + popular dance music
Residencies at former clubs Cyclone and Fire 'n' Ice have taught this DJ how Mumbai likes to party on a Saturday night real hard! Unlike DJs who want to specialise in any one genre, Lloyd likes to mix it up.
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"I am versatile, and I love it. I spin popular dance music in every genre, from Hip Hop and House to Bollywood," he says.
The crowd that comes on Saturdays wants to dance to music they know, can sing and relate to; you have to give them mainstream. "But, I do my own mixes of most tracks.
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That's my signature style," he adds. Llyod tries his best to interact with the audience, understand their mood and chooses tracks accordingly.
"Anthem tracks like Rise Up, though old, have to be played because people feel their night was incomplete without them."
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Time: 10 pm onwards
Entry: Rs 2,000 per couple
At: Bling, Leela Kempinski Hotel, Sahar Airport, Sahar, Andheri (E). Call: 66911234
DJ Mac Resident at: Henry Tham's Lounge, ColabaMac's DJ files: Progressive house + Tech
He begins the night with downtempo chillout music, and then transports the crowd into a groovy, melodic space with his progressive tunes.
Since a bar atmosphere is different from that of a club, it is the music that sets the vibe, making it a distinct experience.
Mac loves spinning the likes of Rio, Axwell and Wet Love, but also throws in a lot of mainstream and commercial house music on Saturdays to please the crowd.
Before Henry Tham, the 29 year-old was freelancing for Seijo and the Soul Dish, Shiro and Zenzi.u00a0
At: Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder, Colaba.
Call: 22023186
Entry: Free
DJ Priyanjana Resident at: China House, Grand HyattPriyanjana's DJ files: Progressive + Minimal
With all the schmoozing, there is hardly a dull night at this high-end partying spot. But Priyanjana, one of the only female DJs on the circuit makes sure it doesn't drop even a notch.
Saturdays here are replete with grandslam mixing of her favourite progressive and minimal sounds to crank up energy levels.
Daniel Portman, James Harcourt, Dinka, EDX, Pryda are some of her favourites. But, "knowing to play the right sounds at the right time is most important," she says.
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She got her big break at Poison, but is currently a resident at China House five nights a week.
By 1 am, there is a big buzz on the dance floor when she drops all the big hits back-to-back. "Frankly, anything bouncy works at peak time. But, I don't like getting requests; as a DJ I can gauge what the crowd likes to move to."
Time: 10 pm onwards
At: Grand Hyatt, Vakola, Santacruz (E).
Call: 66761086
Entry: Rs 1,500 per couple
DJ Roane Resident at: Shiro and Hard Rock Cafe, WorliRoane's DJ files: Funky House + Electro Club
Around dinner time, Roane (Abhishek Chatterjee) plays Soulful Hip Hop and R 'n' B but breaks into commercial club music as soon as the drinks are guzzled and the crowd is on the floor. "DeadmauS, Axwell, Sebastian Leger and Thomas Gold are some of the artists I like spinning.
Laidback Luke is my favourite producer right now," says the 25 year-old who started off as a resident for Club Cabana, Goa and Lush in Mumbai.
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He loves playing underground tracks, but makes sure to mix them with the commercial David Guetta variety like World Hold On. DJ Mars accompanies him on the console at Shiro, and the duo manage to create quite a buzz, Saturday-after-Saturday.
Time: 10 pm onwards
At: Shiro, Bombay Dyeing Mills Compound, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli. Call: 66155959
Entry: Free
DJ Pramz Weekly resident at: Bonobo, Bandra and wink, Cuffe Parade Pramz's DJ files: Techno + Tech-house + Minimal
Pramz couldn't unleash his house favourites to the crowds at parties when he began DJing 13 years ago sans the Internet boom, when the clubbing scene in Mumbai was anything but evolved.
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Back then he spun mainstream music, like most DJs have to, but slowly moved into what he enjoys playing techno, tech-house and minimal.
He spikes up these sub-genres of house with unreleased promos sent to him by producers. At Bonobo, Pramz aka Pramod Sippy sticks to what he thinks the discerning house junkie deserves pure underground.
"I don't play Eurotrance or any kind of commercial house music. Nor do I entertain requests. Just as long as the music still manages to uplift the crowd," he says.
As he gears up to play for the first time at this new spot on the city's map, expect mayhem, we say hardcore frenzy and killer moves.u00a0
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Time: 10 pm onwards
At: Zenzi Mills, Room 2, Todi Mills Compound, opposite Kamala Mills, Lower Parel. Catch DJs Mikhail and Iron
Cutz in Room 1.
Call: 43455455
Entry: Free
