Indian Origin DJ Suchi Kicks Off Boxout.fm’s New Compilation Series

From intriguing ambient to lethal synth stabs, techno, high energy electronic and experimental excursions, New York-based Indian origin DJ-producer Suchi Ahuja (who goes by her first name as an artist) brings together a formidable timestamp of Indian electronic music for Suchi Selects. Released on December 16th, the nine-track compilation is the first from New Delhi-headquartered label Boxout.fm.

Suchi – who is a resident DJ on Boxout.fm and host of a “club-focused and leftfield electronic music” show called Through The Smog – is aware that the compilation comes at a time when there’s a flux of DJs and producers around the world. The pandemic had eased just a few months ago, allowing for the world to return to dancefloors, clubs and even music festivals. “I think this was a period of a lot of self-reflection. On one hand, it gave artists a chance to take it slow and find time to experiment with new ideas and sounds that weren’t necessarily catered to a club environment. On the other hand, a lot of artists lost all motivation to create or play because there simply was no crowd to make music for or perform for,” she says.  

Suchi Selects includes producers such as Monophonik aka Shatrunjai Dewan and Trafficc aka Nihal Kanwar’s warped and intimidating “Out of Mind,” Drum Attic aka Siddharth Mehra’s fluid, shimmering journey of a track “Centre of a Tension” and a soothing yet seemingly troubled track from Sijya Gupta called “Have to Make My Bed.” Suchi reached out to several Indian producers after making a long list, seeking any demos they had for consideration. Knowing her penchant for Nineties U.K. breaks, house, electro and techno, the compilation became a reflection of that sonic spectrum.

Seasoned techno artist Kohra’s “JŶ11Saṃkara” is a swiveling voyage unto itself in seven minutes, while Prismer aka Rohan Kale picks up the energy with “Babel” and FILM aka Sanil Sudan elevates the compilation to full-blown euphoria. Bengaluru-based Oceantied aka Ketan Bahirat adds shine with “Atreus,” as does Marbman aka Aalhad Joshi with “Unhindered Self.” Zequenx aka Zainab Wani closes out the compilation with “Grievances,” but Suchi does wish she could have put together an “equal gender split” for the album. She adds, “Sadly there aren’t as many female electronic dance music producers in India, and the few I knew of and reached out to sadly couldn’t be a part of the compilation for various personal reasons. So that was the hardest part to swallow for me. Being a female producer myself, I know how important it is to be a part of projects like these.”

She’s hopeful for a part two of the compilation, while Boxout.fm will likely be bringing in more of their radio show hosts and DJs for future editions. As for Suchi, she has new music and other projects, including gigs, to look forward to. 

She has toured India thrice and has also performed at the Magnetic Fields Festival in 2018. “I’m really just focusing on honing in on my craft as much as I can. I’ll also be playing a lot more shows, and there’s hopefully another India tour coming up too. It’s been a minute since I last played in the homeland, and I’m looking forward to reuniting with all these incredible artists featured on the compilation,” she adds.

Stream/buy ‘Suchi Selects’ here. Listen on Spotify and Apple Music.