DGTL India 2024: Our Experience – Review

Building on its global success, DGTL made an exciting comeback to India, delivering two epic festival editions in Mumbai and Bengaluru (our experience in 2022). The Mumbai edition took place on November 8th and 9th, followed by the Bengaluru edition on November 9th and 10th. While there were mixed feelings about the line-up at first, its versatility and diversity ultimately won people over. Big names graced the event, from London’s DnB duo Chase & Status to German stars Stephan Bodzin and Parra for Cuva, Swedish DJ & Producer, SPFDJ and some extremely talented Indian artists like Parallel Voices, Heliosphere, Kollission, Bullzeye & many more.

This year, the festival featured three stages: Modular, Generator, and Gain. Right from the entrance, festival-goers were drawn to the Generator by Budweiser Stage, complete with a giant LED screen and lights flashing in every direction. The open-air layout provided ample room to breathe and dance to top acts.

The Gain stage, a smaller open-air space compared to the Generator stage, was adorned with LED poles, offering a more intimate setting where fans could enjoy close interactions with their favorite acts. With its massive warehouse feel, featuring lasers, flashing lights, and a large screen setup, the Modular stage was the festival’s largest and most popular, attracting crowds for the headlining acts.

DGTL DAY 1: Chase & Status, CRi, Ben Klock, SPFDJ & more

Trailblazing DnB legends Chase & Status had the crowd roaring with their smashing hits like “Disconnect“, “Backbone“, and of course the iconic, “Baddadan“. As a special treat for the audience, they dropped “Rumble” by Skrillex, Fred Again.. and Flowdan; the crowd went wild, all the gun fingers went up. Many fans were truly living their best moments during this high-energy set.

We couldn’t miss CRi, an artist known for his ever-evolving talent in crafting beautiful Deep House productions. On the Gain stage, he dropped “I Can Make It“, the song instantly set a beautiful mood, enchanting all the Anjunadeep fans in the crowd.

Two hours of Ben Klock’s pure, authentic techno was more than worth it. Beginning his set at sunset and finishing as darkness fell, a lovely transition. True to his style and far from the mainstream, the set was hypnotic and dark, with surprisingly fewer phones in the air.

With her distinctive energy, style, and attitude, she’s made a name for herself on the underground techno scenes of London and Berlin, yes we’re talking about SPFDJ! The track selection and smooth transitions were impressive, and in the second half, the set truly evolved into a monster. Her aura was elegant, radiating pure energy.

India’s talented DJ and producer, Parallel Voices, delivered a danceable and soothing set, creating a truly euphoric vibe. With releases on labels like Colorize, Immersed, and a recent EP on Anjunadeep, this artist is undoubtedly one to watch.

DGTL DAY 2: Stephan Bodzin, Jimi Jules, Parra For Cuva, Chippy Nonstop & more

After a heavy dose of DnB and Deep House, a new day had dawned, bringing with it the perfect moment to explore the Groovy, Melodic House and Techno side of DGTL.

Classically trained German producer Stephan Bodzin brought his live mastery to the Modular Stage, showcasing his custom setup of synthesizers, gear, and controllers. From dropping his latest collaboration ‘Healing‘ with Massano & Jem Cooke to playing some unreleased IDs, tweaked live, his set was nothing short of mind-blowing. The progressions, the risers, and the basslines— it was a pleasure to witness this live. Bodzin let the music speak volumes.

Having released the timeless track ‘Pushing On‘ with Oliver Dollar almost a decade ago, Jimi Jules was an artist we couldn’t afford to miss. His set was filled with groovy mixes of House, Tech House, and Disco, that had the crowd moving from start to finish. The energy was unmatched, and it was by far one of the freshest sets of the night. His new track ‘Human Rights“, which is part of his upcoming album, is out now. If you’re not onto him yet, go stream it ASAP!

Parra For Cuva is an artist known for creating tracks that offer the perfect balance of relaxation, peace, and danceable grooves. With past performances at Cercle in Mexico, Burning Man, and Anjunadeep, he showcased his talent with a live set that featured lush, evolving soundscapes created on the spot with pads. It was a truly blissful performance and we can’t wait to see him again soon.

Afro House has been taking the world by storm, and Masšh’s set was the perfect chance for us to experience it firsthand. Having recently collaborated with Adam Port from Keinemusik, his performance was an underrated gem. It was a set filled with uplifting energy and a warmth that enveloped the crowd. Without question, it was one of the standout performances of DGTL.

At the Modular stage, Olympe delivered a lovely Melodic House & Techno set, featuring gnarly synths and emotive vocals. With an Afterlife release under her belt and a recent performance at Tomorrowland, we’re excited to see what she has in store for the rest of the year.

After experiencing such a stellar lineup, we weren’t quite done yet. DGTL hosted official afterparties in both cities, featuring performances from some of the festival’s top acts and some local acts as well. In addition to hosting a major event, DGTL is committed to sustainability, working to minimize its carbon footprint at every location. By attending, you’re contributing to a more eco-friendly experience and helping reduce the impact on the planet. Until next time!

Wait! DGTL has just announced a one-day festival in Goa on December 27th at VAMOS! Pre-register now through Zomato.

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