MUMBAI: The wait is officially over! Slip on your best dancing shoes, fill up your glass and get ready to party as the much anticipated music festival, Vh1 Supersonic, is all set to give dance music lovers an enthralling experience this year end. The four day event will see a star-studded line up of the most entrancing artists from across the globe. From the legends of house, to masters of techno, to the lords of psychedelic trance, 'Vh1 Supersonic2014' looks forward to push dance music fans into a dance frenzy on the shores of the beautiful Candolim beach from today till 30th December. 

Taking off on last year’s mesmerizing vibes that put Vh1 Supersonic on India’s list of must experience festivals, this year’s event will see world renowned artists like Paul Van Dyk, Dash Berlin, Above & Beyond, Infected Mushrooms, Roger Sanchez, Carl Craig, Stanton Warriors, Dillon Francis, BL3ND, FUNKAGENGA, HOOK N SLING, MARK KNIGHT, MAT ZO and many more turning up the level of excitement and energy.

Expressing his delight over the commencement of the festival, Jaideep Singh, Senior Vice President and Business Head - Integrated Network Solutions, said, “The concept of live concerts is gaining pace in India and events like Vh1 Supersonic give an opportunity to the Indian audience to experience world-class artists in one place at one time. This year, we are looking forward to present magical days filled with unique experiences and feel fortunate to associate with partners and sponsors who make our journey even more exciting and hassle-free. There is a lot of innovation that the team has put in this which includes among others, creative setups for the fest to make it memorable for the party-goers. Keeping with the technological advancement, we are looking at various new-age expertise with regards to the lighting, setup, stage, DJ consoles and sound equipment.”

Sharing his excitement, Nikhil Chinapa, Festival Director of Vh1 Supersonic said, “I am quite thrilled for today and am looking forward to be a part of non-stop dance music extravaganza and also be a witness to passionate fans enjoy every bit of it. This is the utmost joy of being a DJ; of seeing so many dance fans letting their hair down and dancing away without a care at a festival. Vh1 Supersonic 2014 will be one of the most celebrated gigs Goa has ever seen as we have an exciting line up of artists from across the globe. From Above & Beyond to Alvarao and Paul Van Dyk, we have managed to get some top ranking DJs to Goa this year end. In addition to global DJs, home-grown DJs will also be displaying their talents in mixing music. The highlight of the show will be the stage as it is based on a steampunk theme and a stage which has an iron heart and many interesting elements that people can relate to and explore during this music carnival.”  

Conceptualized by Nikhil Chinapa and Live Viacom 18, Vh1 Supersonic 2013 witnessed a crowd of approximately 50,000 people and the figures are expected to grow massively this year. Vh1 Supersonic 2014 not only promises the audience a never tiring and ever exciting musical ride, but also other mind-blowing facilities including selfie centers and mist towers, thus, making the gig unforgettable for the party-goers. Keeping in mind the safety and ease of women, the organizers have ensured that the security are at par with the global standards. There will be drones set up for aerial pictures of the gig to keep a constant vigil. Exclusive female bars will be set up to make sure that women are comfortable while enjoying their favorite drinks. Portable air-conditioned restrooms will be set-up to ensure people have a pleasant experience.  

Vh1 Supersonic recently launched an app on the Android and iOS platforms to help the fans with the latest updates about the festivals happening in the area. Other details such as the tickets, venue and other exciting info can be sourced from the same.  

Masters of dishing out cutting-edge music, the makers of VH1 Supersonic Goa-India this year, will also pay a tribute to a grimy, but revolutionary, bygone era which could well be described as the bedrock of the ‘mechanically majestic’ modern era we live in. VH1 Supersonic Goa-India this year, will celebrate the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s, by dedicating its one-of-a-kind stage to the epoch-making period in England, which changed the way the world lived and moved from then on.

According to festival director Nikhil Chinapa the ‘Iron Heart Stage Design’ has embedded elements which will remind the audiences of the significance of the Industrial Revolution, even as they revel in the music belted out on the stage by some of the world’s top performers. “While most people at festivals get caught up in the lineup of artists, they tend to ignore how important the visual aspect of a festival is, in creating a holistic experience,” explains Chinapa. The overall stage theme is ‘Steam Punk’, which over the years, has been widely used in various films, artworks and sets. The Steam Punk theme, according to the organisers is like a complete culture. It is driven by the thought, that had it not been for the Industrial Revolution, petrol engines would not have been invented and hence everything would be driven by the power of Steam.

Hence, the two other USPs of the stage is a mechanical snail with fire-throwers fitted on its head and smoke billowing mechanism on its shell. Smoke billowing from chimneys and fires fuelling giant furnaces are near-perfect visual metaphors which capture the very essence of the Industrial Revolution.

At the heart of the state, right above the DJ is a mechanical heart, with movable parts and a metal grunge finish. “It is the essential focus of the entire stage which is why the stage will be called the Iron Heart,” the organisers say.

A gramophone, furnace, steam vents, lab canisters, metal-piping all work towards making the stage a visual tribute to the Industrial Revolution. VJ KayCee from Pixado, who has conceived and designed the stage, has worked on stage visuals and designs with Chinappa since 2007.

“Over the years I've also worked on concept designs for several brands, movies and music events. Working on Vh1 Supersonic however is a labour of love. It holds a special place in my heart as it’s on the beach in Goa,” he says.

Chinapa himself is proud and pleased about the level of detail which has been incorporated in the making of the stage. “I’m really proud of the work we've accomplished with our stage designs this year and especially pleased with the level of detailing of our Mainstage, the Iron Heart,” he says.

VH1 Supersonic, the four day musical extravaganza will take off on December 27 at Candolim beach and will feature top artistes like Carl Craig, Dillon Francis, Funkagenda, Goldie, Magda, Gareth Emery, Mark Knight, Maya Jane Coles, Paul Van Dyk, Stanton Warriors, Above & Beyond, Calyx & Teebee, Guy J, Jeremy Olander, Mat Zo, Roger Sanchez, Aly & Fila, Dash Berlin, Delta Heavy, Infected Mushroom among others.