August 10, 2020March 22, 2021 7min readBy Queenie Shaikh
[Photo Credit: Screenshot / Netflix]
When “Sima Taparia from Mumbai” met Vyasar Ganesan, one of the singles featured on Netflix’s much discussed “Indian Matchmaking” docu-series, she was as smitten by his effortless charm as the rest of us. The 30-year-old college counselor from Austin, Texas, quickly became a fan and Twitter favourite, wooing singles across the globe with his welcoming personality and infectious smile.
And when Vyasar and a potential match broke up on the grounds of his earning potential, Sima wasn’t the only one visibly upset. The Twitterverse was just as disappointed, clearly at a loss for what went wrong.
Even though Indian Matchmaking has received its fair share of criticism for glorifying South Asia’s problematic rishta culture, it has opened the door for discussion regarding desi obsession with choosing partners based on superficial attributes.
It was another baking summer day when I metaphorically ‘picked up the phone’ to Vyasar Ganesan – the events of 2020 have all prompted us to learn the rules of email, Skype and Zoom conversations, along with other pieces of computer software.
There’s the initial mutual nervousness of an interview conducted by distance, but it soon fades as I excitedly jotted down answers my questions. I had to know: why subject oneself to the downsides of Netflix fame when a quiet life calls?
“I was working, and a friend in LA sent me the casting call for the show. I looked at it, and thought “Nah.” An hour later, in the middle of a work meeting, I got six other messages from six other people, saying I had to apply, I have to be on the show. So, I said, sure, ok, if it’ll get you off my back! A few months and several interviews later, I get a phone call from a producer, saying, alright, we’ll see you in March. It was a wild ride.”
“Now that the show’s been out for a few weeks, life has changed in many, many ways. I’ve been recognized a few times in public (the mask and the pandemic, obviously, put a damper on the public appearances) and my Twitter has blown all the way up. I’m trying to keep my ego in check, reminding myself that whatever celebrity I’ve gained, it’s not a feature film or even a YouTube series. It’s a docu-series that I was a participant in. Essentially, cool, but, you know, keep it chill.”
Taparia was confident Vyasar would find somebody through the show given his friendly nature. When describing an ideal partner, he primarily lists values and not physical characteristics. Was reality TV, then, really the surefire way to seek a partner?
“I had no idea. I was open to the notion, and I went into the process feeling hopeful and honestly searching. But there’s no guarantees with anything, even with a matchmaker as talented as Sima. But as I’ve said, if I met the love of my life because of a reality TV show, it would not be the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me.”
Sima Mami’s rishta seeking skills have turned her into a global phenomenon, making her the one person at the center of “Indian Matchmaking.” But how much of her clients’ specified criteria does she actually take into consideration while playing cupid?
“Sima really does try to treat you like her own child. She brings a lot of energy and positivity to the process, or at least she did with me. I had a hard time coming up with criteria on the spot — when she asked me what I was looking for, I’m fairly sure my mind went blank and I just said, “What is anyone really looking for?” But when I finally was able to articulate what I was looking for, I think she saw what I was saying and what I had left unsaid, and did her best to match me based on that. I didn’t feel that anything was ignored in either of the women she set me up with.”
Throughout the arranged dating process, Vyasar appeared to be forthcoming, expressive and genuinely candid. He doesn’t have a five-year plan, but definitely sees himself as a stay-at-home dad. Keeping the positive qualities in mind, one does wonder how much an eligible bachelor differs from his on-camera persona.
“I was definitely anxious to get time off camera with both Manisha and Rashi. I tried my hardest to be real on camera, but obviously there’s a difference between trying to be real and being real. In our brief exchanges off camera, we were really able to open up and talk about our wishes for the future, our long-term goals, dreams, hopes, fears, etc. Still, it was encouraging to see that both women really presented themselves honestly on camera.”
Pictured: Vyasar Ganesan (L), Manisha Dass (R) [Photo Credit: Courtesy of Netflix]The show essentially divided viewers into two groups. One group cringed at the blatant display of colourism/racism, casteism or deeming female candidates as “too picky”. The other stuck with the show until the finish line because it hit a little too close to home. But regardless of your group preference, it’s clear there was an obvious disparity in the way men and women were treated on the show.
“I think it’s foolish to claim that gender makes no difference in the process. It’s obvious that Indian society places a higher value on the opinion of men that it does of women. Things are changing, slowly and painstakingly, and I think the show does serve, in various capacities, as a testament to that. We’re talking about these issues, and we’re conscious that we need to keep talking, not just among ourselves but amongst all people, across all generations. Still, I think the show works hard to celebrate the choices that all the participants made. It’s commonly seen that arranged marriages are made by hook or by crook, with an unfair degree of force and arm-twisting. I think “Indian Matchmaking” works hard to show that there’s room for celebrating the individual’s right to choose.”
In a fresh display of vulnerability, we also saw Vyasar being frank about his family’s history. His parents are divorced, and his father is serving a prison sentence on a murder conspiracy charge.
“To be honest, it wasn’t something I planned on doing. But the more I thought about it and talked about it during those interviews, wedged into that tiny little desk, I came to understand that it’s a part of my story. My father’s court case is a matter of public record – anyone can find it, and there have already been articles written about since the show came out. But I made the choice to stake my claim on that part of my story, rather than let someone else. It wasn’t easy, and the audience can tell how uncomfortable it was for me, with Sima and with my friends, certainly. But it was the right thing to do. People have been reaching out from across the world, expressing appreciation and gratitude that I was able to open up about my father and my history. Many have said it inspired them to just open up to one or two people about their own issues. And that’s powerful, to feel my story’s impact.”
Pictured: Vyasar Ganesan (L), Rashi Gupta (R) [Photo Credit: Courtesy of Netflix]“Indian Matchmaking” also introduces us to downright amazing and badass females. Vyasar was matched with two of them! If given the choice, who else would he like to date from the show?
“I’d love to go on a date with Nadia. I’m a big fan of Guyana, especially the food and the history. More than that, I think we have a lot in common and have a similar sense of humor. It would be a lot of fun, certainly. We both like a non-traditional date and plenty to eat.”
Things really did seem to work with Rashi until Vyasar picked up the phone to tell her about his father’s history. It really left us viewers on a cliffhanger!
“Rashi and I aren’t seeing each other anymore. Things didn’t work out, but not because of what I told her about my family history and my father. Rashi made it clear it didn’t bother her. It’s a funny thing, how hard dating is. Even when the big things are aligned, the little things can trip up a relationship, and just as often the opposite is true. There’s no predicting it. I still count her as a good friend, and I feel lucky that I got to spend the time I did with her.”
Surely with all the criticism that Indian Matchmaking has received – good and bad – it must be renewed for a second season to redeem itself? I asked Vyasar: was there any chance of Netflix bringing back its OGs?
“I hope so! I hope people keep watching it and keep talking about it. Netflix, take notes.”
With all the conversations, critiques, commentary and chatter taking place across the globe, there was bound to be a specific thing or two that’s got to really stuck.
“I’ve been amazed how quickly people seem to recognize this show is different. “Indian Matchmaking” has very, very little in common with other romance shows on Netflix, Hulu or really anywhere. It’s shot differently, edited differently, and has characters so wildly different than what anyone would expect to see. Part of the reason it’s done so well is because of that – no one expected to see or talk about the things that the show makes us talk about.”
“Indian Matchmaking” has slowly become a viral sensation thanks to fans who have made memes based on the docu-series. People took no time in flooding our feeds with relatable and hilarious moments extracted from the show!
“There are some really quality meme-makers out there. People playing around with concepts of height, face-reading, even my Goldilocks analogy has been fair game. I love a good meme, and being on this show has been a goldmine of memes, usable for a wide variety of circumstances. I love that my friends keep finding new ones and sending them to me, it’s great. Plus, it speaks to the enduring nature of the show – it can be a serious thing, matchmaking, but the comedy cannot, will not be denied.”
“Indian Matchmaking” (and the story of Vyasar Ganesan) is streaming on Netflix globally now. We cross our fingers the show is renewed for a second season and our favourite bachelor gets more screen time and more chances at love!
January 18, 2023January 18, 2023 9min readBy Arun S.
Aam
Neha Samdaria is the founder and CEO of Aam, a new type of fashion label. Aam’s mission is to change the way womxn with the hourglass and pear-shaped body types shop for clothing. The word Aam means ordinary in Hindi. The community consists predominantly of womxn of colour with naturally curvier hips. Aam has a low return rate of 3%. The team at Aam has built sizing charts and tested them over a 10-month period. The clothing was made with sustainable materials in ethical factories. If you are struggling to find clothes that fit appropriately check out Aam today. Continue reading to learn more about Neha Samadria’s company Aam!
What were your personal struggles with shopping for clothing that fit and how did these experiences inspire you to start a company?
I have what you would call a “pear shaped” body, meaning my hips and thighs are wider than my upper half. I’m 1-2 sizes bigger on the bottom than on the top and for years, I’ve struggled to find clothes – especially pants – that fit me correctly. Too tight on the hips? Size up. Too loose on the waist? Wear a belt. My entire life, I felt alone in my struggle. Eventually, the pant shopping experience became so unpleasant that I started avoiding them entirely – choosing to opt for dresses, skirts and stretchy leggings instead.
When I arrived at Stanford Business School in 2016, I learned that I was far from alone in my experience. 1 in 4 American women – predominantly women of color – shared my struggles. And when I dug deeper to understand why, I uncovered the bias-riddled foundation of size charts in the United States. When I learned that the fit issue was systemic and rooted in bad data, I felt inspired to do something.
You’ve had a range of experiences working in consulting, marketing, as well as completing an MBA program. How have these range of experiences helped you start a company?
On a practical level, acquiring a range of skills helps with the various hats you have to wear as a CEO. On a daily basis, I am a strategist, marketer, fulfiller, accountant and designer. But the biggest thing I feel I’ve gained is an approach to tackling new problems. One of the toughest things about being a solo Founder is that the buck stops with you. You have to have faith that even if a problem is brand new and well outside your area of expertise, you’ll be able to forge a path forward. My life before Aam gave me a lot of practice in that.
Have you faced adversity as a newcomer in this space?
The biggest adversity we’ve faced is in marketing and sales. As a bootstrapped e-commerce business with no outside investment, it’s been tough to compete with large retailers with big marketing budgets. How do you get noticed as a small brand? Through trial and error we’ve found success in niche influencers who are excited by the problem we’re solving and are keen to support, in-person markets and events, and organic, word of mouth referral. We’re also beginning to partner with marketplaces and small retailers, to expand our brand reach.
Who are some mentors and leaders you look up to and what characteristics do they possess that you sought to emulate while starting your own company?
My biggest mentors are bootstrapped entrepreneurs who built up their businesses brick by brick. My father is one such example, and I have a handful of folks in my circle who have done the same. I find their grit and scrappiness inspiring; most of them don’t have a professional degree and gained their business acumen on the field.
I also admire kind and supportive leaders; team culture is one of the most difficult things to nail, and you have to be intentional from the beginning. I had a wonderful boss at my first job out of college. He knew how to nurture the strengths of his direct reports and wasn’t afraid to task them with challenging, meaningful work. Crucially, he was always there as our safety net in case we had questions or needed help along the way. I’ve tried to build the same type of ethos within Aam.
Do you see Aam as a strong contender in the fashion industry helping a wide variety of individuals?
I do! We’re one of the only brands catering to pear and hourglass shapes, perhaps because the fit issue is so fundamental and expensive to fix (see Q7). But beyond this, we’re one of the only brands that focuses on fit – period. The entire industry – from runways to fast fashion brands – is focused largely on design, when poor fit is actually the #1 driver of returns. Aam’s return rate is just 3%, vs. an e-commerce industry standard of ~30%. We can make the industry more customer-centric and less wasteful by investing in the early steps of proper sizing and fit testing.
In terms of helping a “wide variety” of individuals, Aam is a niche brand that is committed to helping the 1 in 4 women with curvy hips and thighs. I don’t plan to expand to other shapes at this time because I believe that in order to add value, you can’t be all things to all people. Our community has been underserved for almost 100 years and we’re here for them.
What made you decide to name the company Aam?
“Aam” means “ordinary” in Hindi, my native tongue. The company’s approach to design – starting with the consumer, and designing entirely for her – runs counter to the industry. My goal with this business is to make this consumer-centric approach to design more “ordinary,” giving power back to the women who wear our clothes, and elevating their voices on a global stage.
What is the process of rethinking fit standards?
Modern size charts are based largely off of a 1939 study that surveyed 15,000 women across the U.S. This study was flawed for several reasons including: 1) it relied on bust measurements, assuming women are proportional throughout and 2) it excluded women who were not Caucasian from the final results, thereby underrepresenting body shapes that are more commonly found among women of color.
At Aam, we’ve rebuilt a fresh dataset of 314 women across the U.S. who have pear and hourglass shapes, and are using this dataset to inform all of our collections. By fixing bad data, we’re addressing the root cause of poor fit and rethinking fit standards.
Where do you feel the fashion industry can improve?
There are big opportunities for improvement in supply chain, fit and inclusion.
On the supply chain side, there’s still a long way to go when it comes to ethics and sustainability. There are great auditing standards out there (SEDEX, OEKO-TEX, GOTS, for example), but only a small percentage of factories are certified. In 2021, as I was building out my supply chain in India, I visited factories that spanned the full gamut, from regularly-audited, responsible manufacturers to those who enforced 14+ hour daily shifts and refused even chairs for their workers to sit on. Brands are engaging in conversations about diversity and inclusion but it’s often on the consumer side; few are willing to be as transparent when it comes to their supply chains, where women of color are disproportionately exploited. As consumers, one easy thing we can all do is check the Ethics & Sustainability page of the brands we love. Do they talk about certified factories, third party audits and following sustainability standards? If not, we have the power to ask – why?
I’ve shared a bit above about the issues surrounding fit – it is the single biggest driver of returns, an issue that has been plaguing retailers for decades. It’s costly, harms the environment and (in the long term) hurts your brand. I believe that investing in better upstream processes – improved size charts and more rigorous fit testing – will lead to huge improvements down the line.
And finally, inclusion. One of my pet peeves is seeing brands design styles that are clearly intended for straight shapes and small sizes and then scale them up to mid and plus sizes claiming that they now design “for all bodies.” Putting ill-fitted pieces on models of different shapes and sizes doesn’t mean you understand or care about that customer. We should be asking ourselves – what does this customer really want? How is this garment going to make her feel? How can we design FOR her, first and foremost? This is being inclusive in a real way.
As a CEO of a company what is your daily routine?
My day starts the night prior, when I write down my priorities for the upcoming day. I use this great planner by Kindred Braverly that helps break down my activities into bite size segments. I’m not a morning person and part of my team is based in India (with a flipped schedule), so I usually start my date late around 9am.
First, I workout, so I can feel like I’ve accomplished something early in the day. Then, I grab breakfast, coffee and start work around 10:30. I start with the highest priority items on my list, which can range anywhere from sales and marketing to strategic planning and design. I work in 1hr increments with 10-15 mins of break in between. During these breaks, I’ll step outside, hydrate or crank up some music and just free dance. I try to get away from a screen, so I can return to my work with fresh eyes.
I then have a hard stop from 7-9pm to spend time with my husband, and then I’ll usually squeeze in an additional hour or two of work with my India team, before heading to bed.
Early in my Founder journey, I started tracking productivity patterns during my week. For example, I’m usually less productive on Mondays than I am later in the week. So I try to schedule more interesting, strategic work early in the week in order to stay motivated. I also work a half day on Sundays, to take some of the pressure off of the following week.
As there are many companies interested in fast fashion, how does your company differ in terms of sustainable materials and ethical factories?
Responsible production is one of our brand pillars, so we think about it in each step of the process. All of our suppliers must be third-party certified for ethical working conditions from one of the leading, global certification programs (more info here).
Additionally, we use sustainable fabrics in all of our collections. For example, we work with organic cotton (vs. regular cotton), which saves water and is made without toxic pesticides. We work with new fabrics, like lyocell, that can emulate the handfeel and durability of less sustainable fibers without the environmental footprint. In our most recent collection, we introduced premium deadstock wool, which is fabric that was produced in excess by brands and would have otherwise gone to waste. We also ensure that all of our dyes are free of Azo compounds (several of which are carcinogenic) via rigorous testing.
On the production side, we rely on a combination of third-party audits as well as personal, first-party checks. I’ve spent days in each of our factories, observing the working conditions and interacting with the team.
On the packaging side, we spent a great deal of time thinking about how to recycle and reuse. Each Aam pant comes inside a reusable cotton cover, inspired by the beautiful saree covers you see in southern India. This cotton cover is placed inside a fully recyclable box, with a simple packing slip and card. There’s no excess paper, bubble wrap, or cardboard.
I’m proud of where we are in terms of ethics and sustainability – and I think we can still do better!
We would love to hear some testimonials from previous customers.
“I have paid hundreds of dollars for ‘custom fit pants’ from various brands, and none of them fit quite as well as this pant did straight out of the box.” – The Flex Waist Pant, Size S
“This pant is amazing!! It is so lightweight and breathable… the material is so soft and silky, it feels like you’re wearing PJs but they look like elegant chic work/business pants.” – The Wide Leg Pant, Size M
“Never have I ever been able to easily pull a pair of pants over my thighs. I have ALWAYS had to jump to pull my pants up comfortably. These pants are amazing.” – The Crop Pant, Size L
“I can tell these are Aam pants instantly from how they taper at the waist. No other pants do that.” – The Limited Edition Wool Wide Leg Pant, Size S
Where do you see the company expanding in terms of different types of clothing offered?
I see bottoms as the biggest area of need, so we’ll first expand to other types of bottoms or clothes with bottoms: skirts, dresses, jumpsuits, potentially underwear and swim. Then, we’ll start expanding into other categories.
What is the toughest part of running your own company?
Staying motivated and showing up every day – even the bad days. As a Founder, there’s no one to answer to, no fixed schedule, and progress can sometimes feel very slow. There are weeks where I feel frustrated because I keep missing targets. Other weeks, we get a string of wins. It’s important to detach myself from both types of outcomes (wins and losses) and take neither very personally. This helps me commit instead to the process and just focus on the next small step forward.
But, easier said than done!
Lastly, what do you hope individuals take away from this interview with Brown Girl Magazine?
I’ve read Brown Girl Magazine for years and am so honored to be featured. I hope folks reading this feel inspired to tackle whatever problem – small or large – that they understand innately. Personal experience is a powerful motivator and difficult for others to replicate.
January 25, 2023June 22, 2023 2min readBy BrownGirlMag
Indian-American commercial real estate and land consultant Anita Verma-Lallian launched Camelback Productions at an event held in Paradise Valley, Arizona, Jan. 7. Billed as the state’s first women-and South Asian-owned film production and entertainment company, it will focus on South Asian representation and storytelling, according to a press statement issued by Verma-Lallian. The announcement follows “Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s $125 million film tax credit for film and TV production that was introduced in July 2022, “ the statement added.
The Jan. 7 private launch party and meet and greet introduced investors and supporters to what’s ahead for Camelback Productions.
Noting the “major push to see minority groups represented in the media over the past few years,” Verma-Lallian said she wants to see more South Asians represented. “I want my children to see themselves when they watch TV. I want my daughter’s dream to become an actress to become a reality. Skin color shouldn’t be a barrier to that.”
The event opened with remarks from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who has served as the city’s 62nd mayor since 2019. She welcomes the company to “the greater Phoenix community.” She expressed confidence that “the team will attract some of the country’s top talent to the Valley.”
Guests at the event included actor and comedian Lilly Singh, actor Nik Dodani, Aparna of Netflix’s “Indian Matchmaking,” Bali Chainani and Anisha Ramakrishna of Bravo’s “Family Karma” fame, and Paramount+ executive P. Sean Gupta, to name a few.
The company is Verma-Lallian’s first venture into the film industry. She is known for providing full concierge services for land seekers and developers of all types of sites and assists investors in discovering viable properties in the Phoenix area through her company, Arizona Land Consulting, the statement added.
Named in honor of the iconic Camelback Mountain in the Valley, Verma-Lallian says she wants her production company to have the same indestructible foundation. Camelback Productions plans to begin its first project later this summer.
January 18, 2023January 18, 2023 5min readBy Arun S.
Karan Singh Sunburn
From receiving his MBA from Harvard business school to being the CEO of Asia’s largest music festival brand Sunburn, Karan Singh combined his interests to push his passion for music! Singh received his bachelor’s degree in management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He worked as an investment banker for three years at Ambit Corporate Finance before working at Sunburn which is a part of his family’s business. Sunburn started providing the music festival experience starting in the year 2007. The first festival was in Candolim, Goa. The music festival brand has put on over 5,000 events over the past 15 years. In 2022 The Sunburn Festival will be in it’s 16th year. Continue reading to learn more about Karan Singh’s journey with the Sunburn music festival!
What does the Sunburn brand offer and what made you have the festival in Goa as opposed to other parts of India?
We believe that Sunburn offers a really unique experience and is a melting pot of diverse people & cultures from not only across India but around the world. Goa is the ideal setting for this as there is something magical about Goa in the winter-time and truly enables us to tap into that global audience.
Safety at live events has always been a concern among concert goers. Considering recent, events more individuals have asked brands and artists to do more to ensure audience safety. What are you doing to ensure safety for live concerts?
Safety is a huge priority for us. We work with the best-in-class security agencies as well as closely with the police and requisite authorities. For anyone in the crowd a Sunburn safety officer will always be close by and easily visible. We also run an awareness drive on both social media and on ground.
What was the first Sunburn Festival like and what did you learn from this experience?
The first ever Sunburn Festival was in December 2007, and I had actually attended it as a fan, not part of the crew. However, it was absolutely eye-opening as the first proper music festival on Indian shores and opened up our minds to a world of possibilities.
As Sunburn houses so many electronic dance musicians who have been your favorites throughout the years?
It is difficult to pick from the list however the favorites for Sunburn, in no order and because of the amount of love they have shown Indian audiences, are Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell and Armin van Buuren.
Do you plan to expand the festival to add other genres into the mix as well as more activities?
We have already expanded into different formats like Arena, Campus, Club, Reload and things like merchandize & academy. In terms of genres, we have been dabbling with genres like rap, hip-hop and pop, however our focus remains on electronic dance music.
What can someone expect from the festival as first-time goers?
Apart from a state-of-the-art production & line-up, one can expect a special experience, meeting interesting people from all over the world, and embarking on a creative journey of the theme for the year.
How does the festival help local musicians from Goa as well as the surrounding areas in India?
This year we had set up for the first time a special stage and village in the festival only for Goa which gave a platform to local Goan artists. But beyond that a huge focus for us has always been to showcase domestic home-grown talent and indeed 60-70% of the line-up each year is locally sourced.
What was the experience like this year in 2022 and how is it different from previous years?
The biggest difference was that this was the first time the festival was back to its full scale since the pandemic hit after 3 long years. It was a fantastic release for everyone there. Our theme was “the future is now” and this was reflected across the festival experience and particularly in the main stage design – termed “Cyberpunk City” which received rave reviews from all.
What was it like having the legends Black Coffee and Afrojack this year as well as the DJ duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike?
Afrojack and DVLM are both Sunburn & India veterans, it was amazing having them back crushing the main stage after very long. Black Coffee for us was something very new and exciting, to have a special artist and a unique sound like that close the main stage on day 2. However it was very well-received and took our experience to the next level.
As you have had the artist Avicii back in December 2011 how do you feel he revolutionized Electronic Dance Music?
Avicii is one of my all-time favorite artists and his show in December 2011 was actually my first one working on Sunburn so will always be extra special. There is no doubt that he revolutionized EDM by taking massive risks and introducing an entirely new sound which a lot of others then followed, but no one as well as he did.
How does it feel to be in charge of one of Asia’s biggest Electronic Dance Music Festivals?
It feels great, we have a very young but ambitious and hard-working team and our primary focus is to continue delivering the best possible experiences for our fans, artists and partners. India is such a vibrant and exciting market that I cannot help but be pumped about what the future holds.
Do you feel Electronic Dance Music is a misunderstood genre?
More so in a country like India possibly yes, where people who are not exposed to these experiences sometimes have preconceived notions about EDM festivals and the like. Oftentimes those people are also in a decision-making capacity and can directly affect the industry. However, things are certainly improving as the industry overall gets bigger and gets more acceptance.
What does music mean to you, Karan Singh?
Music provides a sound-track to life, it is something which is always there!
How do you choose to react when you receive negative comments about the Sunburn Festival?
Well, you have to be able to differentiate between those which are just trolling and those which are constructive or fair criticism. The latter is very important as it helps us to look at ourselves and continually improve, we are still a long way from where we eventually want to be.
Lastly, what do you hope individuals take away from this interview with Brown Girl Magazine?
I hope it allows us at Sunburn to reach a wider audience of the desi community around the world and hopefully get some more people to fly down to Goa for Sunburn Festival 2023 which I can promise you all will be the best one yet!
Artist Testimonials:
Dimitri Vegas Like Mike
We have had a long connection with India. The first time we played here was more than a decade ago. Going from clubs to being a regular feature at one of Asia’s biggest electronic music festivals which is now an institution in itself. It’s been an exciting evolution to see how Sunburn has grown over the years. The fans at Sunburn are some of the most insane and every show is a special one. We’ve always had an incredible experience at Sunburn.
DJ Snake
Honestly, the energy I feel when I am in India is one of the most amazing things. I would say the culture and energy is what keeps me coming back! India is like a second home to me, just like Sunburn. I feel so comfortable and welcomed here. I’m always excited about coming to India and playing at Sunburn, experiencing new cities, meeting more of the people, hearing more of the music, and seeing more of the country that has influenced me so much.
Afrojack
Sunburn has helped dance music artists world over to tour India and connect with their Indian fans and I’m always excited about performing at the festival.
Hardwell
I’ve a long history with the Sunburn team. They are a great team to work with and they also give the fans amazing experiences. As an artist, I want to be a part of providing fans with lifelong memories and so we all share the same vision.
Alan Walker
Sunburn is one of the pioneers of the dance music festival scene in India and has been instrumental in creating a truly world class platform that supports the dance music industry and all of its stakeholders. I’m always excited about touring India with Sunburn.
