Ashveta Budhrani was 19 when she first went on a date with her then-boyfriend to a music concert. She recalls, “I quickly realised we weren’t compatible because I couldn’t “geek out” about the music with him, which was a ‘beige’ flag for me. Music is something I’m deeply passionate about, so I can’t be with someone I can’t talk music with. Soon after, we broke up for other reasons, but since then, I’ve mostly dated people I connected with over music, and it’s become my litmus test.” 

Budhrani is one of many Indians in the dating pool who are exploring music concerts as the ideal spot for first dates to test the waters or should we say decibel levels of the vibe between two individuals? A change that reflects so much. She further explains, “First dates have shifted from formal dinner settings to experience- or activity-based outings. I think that’s a positive change; even if your date is boring, at least you’re having fun in the moment or bonding over a shared experience. It’s a win-win. I’m all about connection over attachment, so if we connect through a meaningful experience, it’s easier to build a relationship on that foundation.”

Every year, World Music Day is observed on June 21 around the world to celebrate the beautiful experience of enjoying music. While there are many different ways to do that today online and offline, India is experience a surge in the music festivals over the last few years with not only local artists but also international artists making their way to the country. The last one year itself has seen the likes of Dua Lipa and Bryan Adams but it completely blew up with Coldplay in January, followed by Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5 and most recently Guns N’ Roses across different locations that are no more for small crowds but thousands like MMRDA Grounds, Mahalaxmi Racecourse and DY Patil Stadium among others.  

Being at the forefront of this booming concert culture, India’s Gen-Z and Millennials are not only going with their family and friends but also using them as an opportunity to go on first dates just like Budhrani, who started it quite some time ago, but you can attribute that to her ultimate love for music.  In another city at the time, the city-based artist says met a stranger on a dating app and it took off from there. She explains, “We started by sharing our music playlists to see if he’d pass the litmus test. As a former music concert photographer who’s toured with bands across India, music is my love language. If we can’t talk about music, I’m not sure where we’d go from there. We bonded over our mutual love for music, so it felt like a natural next step. Being new in the city, what better way to explore and connect than through a shared love for music?” 

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