Dharam Saraviya aka Dreamstates has been playing cosmic dreamy house, breakbeat, and techno across the nation for eight years now. Deeply passionate about techno, the branding executive turned DJ is “constantly reading about and listening to it”.  During the initial days of the pandemic-induced lockdown, he performed this electronic music form over Zoom calls for 100 to 150 listeners. “A safe space was created where fans could enjoy the music they love and break away from their monotonous routine. But the minute the dance floors opened again, online gigs became a thing of the past. They are just not as much fun.”

Indeed, dancing to techno is an immersive experience that reverberates through the body. When the pandemic halted in-person gigs, the experience was missed across the globe by fans and artists alike. While World Techno Day is observed every year on December 9, legions of followers worldwide will swear that no single day can do justice to their love for this style of music. Mid-Day.com spoke to artists, industry experts, and enthusiasts to delve into how the genre changed for fans and artists during the pandemic.