EDM Star Martin Garrix Talks About His Biggest India Tour Kicking Off This Week

At 26 years old, Martijn Garritsen aka Martin Garrix is still the rosy-cheeked, fresh face of electronic music as he was starting out about a decade ago. Supported by the stalwarts of EDM – DJ Tiesto, Hardwell and more – Garrix was propelled into not just dancefloors and mainstay music festivals like Ultra Music Festival in Miami, but also mainstream music culture.

By the age of 19, he was also seeing the other side of the music industry, fighting to own the rights to his millions-streamed catalogue with his former label Spinnin’ Records and his manager. Garrix matured incredibly well, launching his own label Stmpd Records and continued to churning out chart-topper hits, working with artists like Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, U2 and JVKE.

Along the way, India has been a fixture in Garrix’s touring schedule since 2013, when he’d launched his breakout song “Animals.” There were shows in the country for four consecutive years after that and a few other festivals as well. This time around, Garrix is heading to India for his biggest country-spanning tour yet, performing nine shows in eight cities.

Kicking off today in Bengaluru (and a second show on March 3rd), Garrix’s Sunburn Arena tour also takes him to Hyderabad (March 4th), Chennai (March 5th), Pune (March 7th), Mumbai (March 8th), Kolkata (March 10th), Delhi NCR (March 11th) and Ahmedabad (March 12th). Ahead of the tour, Garrix spoke with Rolling Stone India about coming back to the country, the time he flew an F-16 jet and what’s coming up next. Excerpts:

This is the biggest India tour you’re about to undertake in March. How long was it in the works and why did you want to make it this extensive?

Because it’s been so long ago since I visited India last for shows. I’ve done some of my biggest and most amazing shows here, so obviously now after Covid we wanted to make up for the long wait of the fans.

I think you were among the few DJs who made India shows happen right from the early part of your career, would you agree? Do you think that sort of thing goes a long way when you want to keep coming back and have a huge fanbase waiting now in India?

I don’t know if that’s the exact reason, but I do have a big part of my most loyal fanbase in India. A lot of big fan accounts are based here as well.

You’re playing a few cities for the first time. What are you looking forward to outside of the shows, if you’re going to be in so many different parts of India?

The travel for the tour will be quite hectic, but I’m trying to see as much of the country as possible. I would love to visit some iconic landmarks again.

Was there something you’ve missed about India that you’re looking forward to immerse yourself in during this tour?

It’s just the overall atmosphere for me. It’s such a special and unique country, every time I am here, I get inspired by the culture and people.

We saw the whole vlog on flying the F-16 jet. It seems like bucket list stuff, right?

That was definitely a tick on my bucket list and one of the craziest things I’ve ever done. It was amazing to also be able to see all the technical work that goes into getting these jets in the air. It’s an insane team operation.

What kind of setlist do you have in mind for these India shows? Considering it’s a lengthier tour, how much is it going to change from city to city?

We’re working on the show production to create the best shows possible. As far as the music, I will have an outline of songs I definitely will be playing, but will let the energy of the different crowds lead the rest of the show.

What else is coming up through 2023 on the release and festival shows front?

We will be doing a lot of amazing shows. Next to that, I have been working on the music for a new series which I’m super excited about, and of course a lot of new Garrix music is in the pipeline.

Get tickets for Sunburn Arena tour ft Martin Garrix here.