Listen to the first of many upcoming mixes coming up by way of the Orbs Cure Labs and Coven Code collaboration
There can be no Indian electronic underground if it limits itself to a singular social group, becoming the stomping grounds of straight males with at least a certain degree of affluence. It is crucial for it to incorporate alternate narratives and voices for well-rounded cultural evolution. The scene, quite clearly, is in dire need of ideas, communities, and spaces supportive of women and non-binary artists if it intends to act as catalyst for social or political change in any shape. It is therefore reassuring to see these blossoming pockets of inclusive and intersectional communities move forward by co-operating, and eschewing the invective that commonly plagues the scene.In this spirit, Pune-based gender-positive collective Orbs Cure Labs and Delhi's femme collective Coven Code have sought to throw in together to deliver exclusive mixtapes fortnightly through the OCL Mixcloud. Hot on the heels of this announcement comes the first mix in the series crafted with precision by Zequenx.
Zequenx, or Zainab Wani, has long since been part of the New Delhi party circuit, promoting and supporting it consistently. In 2018, however, she finally took an overdue leap into music production and DJing, pushing for languid IBM and minimal techno sounds, becoming a frequent feature in the local electronic music scene. With Bijlz Kitlz (a twist on 'bijli kitty', or electric kitty), her OCL x Coven Code mix, she manipulates rising bleeps and synth sweep with a lot of electro-end-of-minimal stuff, moving briefly into tech-house territory ten minutes in and diving onwards to crafty electro cuts. Here is what she had to say about the journey she hopes for the listeners to take:
I want the listeners to shake their booties while their mind floats from one acid line to the next, in absolute existential bliss. I hope they come out of this sonic journey feeling slightly less stressed about the fact that the world is burning and are reminded that we must find joy in the fleeting moments of revelry that music lends us.
Written by Uvika Wahi
