Nikhil Chinapa and electronic dance music in India go hand in hand. So, when Sunburn decided to do away with Nikhil, EDM enthusiasts were stunned. Nikhil has decided to stand his ground and have a new EDM festival (still untitled and line-up to be announced in a couple of weeks) between December 26 and 30 at Candolim Beach, Goa. He tells t2 about his new festival.

The obvious question: Has the thought of not remaining engaged with Sunburn sunk in and is it a way to move on? Or are you angry?

I’m sad with the way things panned out, especially since I gave it everything I had for over six years. However, I’ve learnt to look towards the future and the new projects I’m working on. When Shailendra Singh (the “inceptor” of Sunburn) released a video interview where he told us that I was no longer a part of Sunburn, I was honestly a bit surprised as I thought we were trying to work through our differences. But I guess everything has an expiry date. I think it’s best to treat whatever has happened as past and look forward to the future and create history. It’s just time to move on to better pastures and give a more robust form to the dream my wife, Pearl, and I have always envisioned for the dance music community. I’m glad that the people who matter have supported us in our vision. After the word about the fallout between Sunburn and me spread, LIVE Viacom 18 approached me to join their festival venture.

How would you define your new EDM festival?

It’s the kind of place that you can’t wait to come back to. The music, the people, the sand under your toes. The target audience of the new festival will be defined by serious music enthusiasts who want to relive an experience and can take home a story to tell. I’d love to create a platform to showcase what dance music really is in its purest form. I’ve always wanted the festival experience to unfold like the pages of a comic book. I like fantasy elements and I would really like it to look that way and tell a great story. The only hindrance I see with this now is the timeline. We’re already in October, and I don’t want to additionally pressure the production team with the ideas in my head. We’re going to start soon and build from there. The festival will draw a balance between underground and mainstream music.

Your new festival will obviously be compared with Sunburn, which you had conceptualised. How different will it be?

I’m not making comparisons with any festival, local or global. And “different” is a word that’s overrated. “Amazing”, however, is a verb that I’d aspire to. The idea is to connect people with a unifying thought. The best festivals I’ve been to are the ones where I feel a sense of belonging, like the dance floor is my home. That’s what I’m going for with this festival. My vision over the next 10 years is to grow the festival to 17 stages and diversify into a multi-genre festival. I also hope to introduce camping in year three, if all goes well. It’s important to note that I have partnered with Live Viacom 18 in my individual capacity. Submerge (Nikhil’s brand which organises EDM events) is not involved with this event.

What would be the deciding factor when it comes to the line-up for the December festival?

Good DJs and a balance of sound, style and genres. The keyword is balance.

Meanwhile, you are also working on Group Therapy India, slated for November-end…

Group Therapy is a weekly radio show by Above & Beyond that is broadcast to millions of listeners via their website. Above & Beyond will be touring across four cities –– Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Bangalore –– as part of their Group Therapy India Tour. Incidentally, last year’s was very special to us as Above & Beyond chose India to host their very first Group Therapy episode, live from Bangalore. As soppy as it might sound, Group Therapy isn’t just a concept; it is a powerful emotion that translates into a beautiful experience.

In what ways does Pearl help you with the creative aspect of the festival?

This festival is in many ways an extension of the dream Pearl and I had in Ibiza, when we wanted to share the music we heard there with our friends back home. That was in the year 2000. And 13 years later, it’s amazing to see that we’ve contributed to making dance music a part of our social fabric and life in India. Pearl helps me find that word I keep talking about –– balance.

Speaking of Pearl, what is a day like in the life of Pearl and Nikhil when they are not busy with music?

Friends, family, movies and pancakes!