MUMBAI: Genre-bending DJs Hunee and Antal, techno producer Palms Trax, Brainfeeder selector Kutmah, new Indian act Perfect Timing and analogue hardware fanatic Aqua Dominatrix added to the Red Bull Music Academy North Stage; other line-up additions include Malaysian electronica acts Bass Sekolah and Detour Asia Dub Station while Bangalore-based trip hop act Sulk Station return for an encore
October 2015 – Brooklyn-based duo Evan Mast and Mike Stroud, better known to the world as Ratatat, will headline Magnetic Fields, a music and arts festival to be held at 17th century palace-turned-hotel Alsisar Mahal from December 18-20.

Known for introducing the freshest sounds from India and around the world, the second line-up announcement includes names curated from all over the globe and across varied soundscapes.

Line-up for #MagFields2015

Having recently released their fifth album Magnifique over the summer, Ratatat, who are known for making electronic instrumental music structured with melodic precision and flecked with agile and abrasive interplay of guitar, have performed at some of the biggest and most well-known music festivals this year – both the weekends at Coachella in Indio (CA), Primavera Sound in Barcelona and The Governor’s Ball in New York. Magnetic Fields will be their first-ever festival appearance in India.

The Red Bull Music Academy North Stage – the first-ever collaboration between the global music institution and an Indian festival – will see the addition of exemplary crate diggers Hunee & Rush Hour Records Boss, Antal from The Netherlands, new house/techno whizkid Palms Trax, selector par excellence and member of the Los Angeles-based Brainfeeder crew - Kutmah, the new Sandunes and Jiver collaboration Perfect Timing and synthpop producer Aqua Dominatrix. Techno producers DJ Koze and Objekt, grime innovator Mumdance and Indian producer The Sine Painter had been previously announced.

Joining Pakistani beatmaker Rudoh at the first-ever combined showcase of Indian and Pakistani electronic music producers, featuring Forever South and Consolidate – will be Islamabad-based experimental electronica producer Asfandyar Khan aka TMPST. This showcase is being organised with support from Goethe Institut Karachi and Border Movement. Rahul Giri, representing Consolidate as _RHL, will also be bringing down his other well-known act Sulk Station, with wife and co-creator Tanvi Rao. Last year, Sulk Station received a standing ovation at the festival, and had to extend their set due to popular demand.

Delhi-based rock band Superfuzz make their Magnetic Fields debut this year, alongside Berklee-returned singer-songwriter Alisha Batth, Mumbai-based DJ and producer Kumail and Delhi-based DJ and producer Jitter, who will be playing a special disco set. Bass Sekolah, comprised of producer CEE and multi-instrumentalist/crooner Darren Ashley, are known for making soulful and sultry electronic music and will also be making their first appearance at Alsisar Mahal. One of the weekend’s highlights will be a special showcase – with specially-curated visuals – by India’s top audio-visual act BLOT. One of India’s most alluring live acts, Nicholson returns to Magnetic Fields with a special set and accompanying him will be Mumbai-based musician, Fuzzy Logic.

The Desert Disco Oasis has been rechristened the Heineken Desert Disco and will present a curated selection of music styles ranging from reggae to disco to dub. The Dubai-based 264 Cru will kick off the proceedings with an all-vinyl Afrobeat, jazz, funk, and hip-hop infused showcase on Friday. Disco will be the flavour on Saturday as Bhavishyavani Future Soundz honcho and French producer M. Mat alongside a very special guest assume console duties on Saturday afternoon, followed by Malaysian outfit Detour Asia Dub Station and Delhi-based BASSFoundation Roots on Sunday.
Already announced as part of the line-up are folk-cabaret band Peter Cat Recording Co, live electronica outfit Donn Bhat + Passenger Revelator, Chennai-based electro-rock band F16’s, multi-instrumentalist Sid Vashi, two-piece live electronica outfit SnowShoe, American experimental beatking Shigeto, who will be performing a live set at the festival, Austrian duo HVOB – who have been voted as the second best live act in the world and UK dancehall producer Palmistry.

Extended sets at #MagFields2015

Taking the lead from other international music festivals, Magnetic Fields wants to offer guests the opportunity to experience their favourite selectors within an extended set format, typically adopted by European festivals. Not only is this format preferred by most DJs but it also turns the dancefloor into a shared and communal experience.

Call For Applications: Creative contributions to Magnetic Fields for free passes

Magnetic Fields is as much about music as it is about design and self-expression. A limited number of free tickets and tent pitches are available for people who can come up with innovative and creative ideas to engage with the festival and fellow attendees. All one has to do is design either a spectacular costume – think headgear, wigs, masks, accessories – or come up with a concept that is in line with the theme of the festival – as the Bedouins traverse through the five elements . Applications close on Friday November 13th and to enter, submit your entry with visual references and details to info@magneticfields.in:

Name / Address / Contact Number
Details of your performance / event / happening / installation / idea / costume
How will you engage with your fellow Magnetic Fielders?
How many performers/facilitators and roles within crew?

Magnetic Fields 2015: what to expect

The festival, like last year, will be limited capacity, and promises to be an immersive, curated experience. In what will be a first, the dungeons of the 17th century palace will be the site of one of the popular secret parties, and has the makings of a fantastic new experience for a festival goer. The treasure hunt – in collaboration with leather design brand Nappa Dori – will return grander and bigger. The Delhi-based brand will also be designing exciting, new festival merchandise.

Tickets and accommodation packages for the December 18-20 festival are on sale on their website.