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They say everybody wants to be a DJ and no one wants to dance. Techno seems to singlehandedly prove that wrong. The genre’s had a massive global resurgence in recent years, with India not far behind on the scene.
Surprisingly, it’s not the faux-techno (which, let’s face it, is really ambient house misclassified) that’s easing listeners into the scene. It’s hard techno that’s made a comeback! Think all black attires, brutalist buildings, and deafening high-octane 160 bpm beats. Maybe our love for the genre represents a deeper disillusionment with the state of the world. Either way, it’s given rise to some pioneers of new-gen hard techno, and French DJ Trym, aka Martin Drack, is one of them.
After bursting onto the scene with a breakthrough Boiler Room set in Paris in 2019, Trym has quickly launched himself on the international stage as one of the genre’s torchbearers. It’s no surprise, considering he grew up in Paris, at the heart of the underground techno scene, formally training at the DJ Network School.
The music producer has performed at crazy global stages like Tomorrowland, Ultra, and EDC Las Vegas, including a residency with Paris collective Possession, and has started his own label, COLOUR. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Sparkling Water Boy’ (due to the beverage being his only drug of choice to fuel him through his sets), Trym steers away from being stereotyped into a dystopian, nihilistic, overly-serious techno artist, and instead shines a different light on the genre. His new-wave techno style is often cinematic and genre-bending, sometimes pairing pastel visuals (no all-black attires here) and popular artists like the Arctic Monkeys with hard, industrial techno.
What’s more: he’s marking his India debut with a three-city tour in Delhi (May 22), Hyderabad (May 23) and Bangalore (May 24). Over an email interview, we asked him what drew him to India and his expectations for the tour, his process behind building a set and what he’s most looking forward to about visiting for the first time. Read the full interview below.
It’s your first time in India. What finally brought you here?
Trym: India’s always been one of those places that felt very special from afar. I’ve been seeing the energy from the crowd online for years, and every artist I know who played here told me the atmosphere is something unique, and so I really wanted to experience it for myself.
When you’re building a set for a new city, what do you start with: the crowd, the energy you want to create, or the story you want to tell?
T: Usually, it starts with energy. I always want the set to feel intense and emotional, not just hard for the sake of being hard. Then I adapt depending on the crowd and the moment. Every city has its own rhythm and personality, so I like reading the room and building something that feels unique for that night rather than repeating the exact same performance everywhere.
Beyond the club, what’s one thing you’re keen to explore in India – food, culture, or local music scenes?
T: Definitely the culture and the local music scene. I’m always interested in discovering sounds, instruments, rhythms or atmospheres that are different from Europe. I think travelling is one of the biggest sources of inspiration creatively.
As someone constantly on the global circuit, what’s your first impression of India’s electronic music scene, and what would you like to see more of here?
T: Even before arriving, I could already feel that the scene is growing very fast and that there’s a real passion from the audience. I’ve already received a lot of messages from people saying they’ve been looking for those shows. I’d love to see more spaces dedicated to underground electronic music because the potential here feels huge.
Food is such a big part of travelling in India. Are you the kind to dive into local dishes, or do you play it safe on tour?
T: As a Frenchman, I'm really picky food-wise, especially out of France. I always try to find the best food spots anywhere I travel, so I definitely want to try local dishes and experience the real culture while I’m here.
If you had an extra day here with no schedule, how would you ideally spend it?
T: We have some local fans who wanted to share all the best places to visit with me, so I’d probably take that time to explore them.