Come this weekend and it’s time to put on your party shoes and head to Koramangala to groove to one of Amsterdam’s headlining DJs – Paul Sparkes. With over 20 years of DJing and a dedication to quality house music, Sparkes brings some deep house sounds with a touch of futuristic-sounding ethereal music, fully laden with emotion while retaining energy for the dancefloor.
Thoroughly kicked about his debut show in Bengaluru, Sparkes says he’s travelled around the world quite intensively in the last couple of years but never India for some reason. “India with its rich music culture, which has spanned millennia, has been on my wish list for a long while. I’m very excited to be able to see what’s in store for me in this magnificent country.”
Pointing out that a DJ’s job is never just to select music, but also to convey the energy and passion for what he or she does, Sparkes says: “The audience can feel the performer’s vibe. In return, I receive energy back from my audience. I’m excited to witness the passion and enthusiasm that is now growing for electronic music in India – it is very inspiring times!”
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Commenting on India and its music culture, the artiste says: “Earlier, full moon parties in Goa catered to psy trance was seen as a hippie experience. Now, electronic music in India has been embraced by everyone. This, coupled with significant investment in the infrastructure with high-quality clubs, well-organised festivals and superb venues and sound systems now offers a professional clubbing experience that has become appealing to all. In terms of non-dance culture, I was told that in traditional Indian music, nine different forms of emotions are presented to the audience, including love, joy, sadness, anger, courage, fear, disgust, wonder and calmness, which is an astonishing range.”
The most exhilarating part of being a DJ, he says, is that the focus must remain on the music and on providing the best show possible. “Everything else is a sideshow. Travel, jetlag or sleep deprivation cannot be a distraction – you are booked to do 100 percent and give your best in every gig. When the music flows and the audience are with you emotionally, there’s nothing more exhilarating than that.”
Sparkes goes on to say that at the heart of his music is “Soul. Music made on a computer can be digital and cold – I search for tracks which have soul, feeling and emotion. I play music which oscillates between warm and cold, light and dark, tension and release. Most of my music is in minor keys and I use my musical background to get the right key changes from track to track.”
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So he hopes his listeners are moved emotionally. “Clubbing is music therapy – time to forget problems or worries. I’m fascinated by how music has the power to make you feel like you’ve travelled without physically moving.”
Looking ahead, Sparkes says he’s got gigs in Amsterdam “With a vocalist, sax player and cellist! Then it’s off to Slovenia and UK to finish this year and back to the US in early 2018. But first Bengaluru this weekend at the amazing Indigo XP and I hope to be back in India in 2018!”
Catch DJ Paul Sparkes at Indigo XP, Koramangala, on December 2 and 3 from 8 pm onwards. Call 25535330.