The pioneering DJ and producer spoke to us about his affinity with bass music, Neckwreck’s foundations, and his relationship with the clothing brand, Westside, which led to the ‘Wreckfest.’
A lot of bass music DJs who tour India often speak about how they get the loudest reactions to their sets in the country. This electrifying response stems from a deeply rooted and tightly knit community that passionately supports the underground with unmatched passion. A significant contributor to nurturing this vibrant culture is Mumbai-based artist and producer Karan Kanchan. Through his groundbreaking Neckwreck initiative, which is the brainchild of the team lead by Quadscore, Karan has not only championed the underground movement but also created a platform for artists and fans to connect, collaborate, and grow together.
While building with the community is Neckwreck’s biggest strength, another incredibly important arm of their undertakings is scouting. Since its inception in 2018, Karan Kanchan has meticulously sought out emerging talent within the bass music scene, identifying promising artists who align with his vision for the genre. By providing these artists with opportunities to showcase their skills on a platform as dynamic and dedicated as Neckwreck, he has helped shape their careers and introduce them to wider audiences.
These efforts have culminated in sold-out shows that are not only unparalleled in their energy but also serve as a testament to the power of fostering raw talent. Karan’s unwavering commitment to elevating these artists underscores Neckwreck’s pivotal role in transforming India’s underground bass music scene into a thriving and inclusive movement.
Over the years, Neckwreck has evolved from being a local favorite, consistently packing clubs to capacity, to becoming a dominant force in the live music scene. They’ve gone from curating exceptional line-ups featuring top-tier artists to taking their success to new heights with the launch of ‘Wreckfest’ this September—an event that drew an impressive crowd of over 3,000 attendees featuring a heavyweight line-up that included Ritviz and Chaar Diwaari. In partnership with the renowned clothing and lifestyle brand, Westside, Neckwreck transformed the festival into a groundbreaking celebration of music, culture, and community, solidifying their position as trailblazers in the scene.
Building on the festival’s success, we were curious to explore Karan Kanchan’s beginnings, the growth of Neckwreck, and his collaboration with Westside. Here’s what he had to say.
What was Karan Kanchan’s gateway moment into bass music?
Karan Kanchan: The first time I listened to Skrillex was when I discovered bass music, and that marked the beginning of my journey into this world. Neckwreck came to life because we felt there was a gap—something like this didn’t exist in our surroundings. It started with like-minded people coming together. I met Gokul in 2017, and we immediately connected over our shared love and passion for bass music. That connection, along with Gokul and Pratik’s vision, laid the foundation for what eventually became Neckwreck.
With its significant size, reach, and influence, Neckwreck is considered one of the leading platforms for bass music in the country. How has your journey with Neckwreck unfolded over the years and of course the culmination of Wreckfest with Westside, where you made bass music history by hosting an event of such scale?
Karan Kanchan: For the past five years, we’ve been hosting sold-out shows at clubs across India, featuring local lineups. But for our 6th anniversary, we wanted to take things to the next level and scale up our vision. That’s when the idea of hosting our own festival came into play. It was a risky and daunting move, stepping into the unknown, but we knew that with the support of the community and the incredible artists on our lineup, it was possible. A huge part of making it happen was the support of Westside, who shared our vision and understood the power of community, helping us bring this idea to life.
Our main focus was delivering an unforgettable experience for the audience. Bass music is all about the live experience—the energy, the visuals, the atmosphere. We wanted to ensure that the audience had the best possible experience, so we invested in state-of-the-art production, with cutting-edge lights, visuals, and lasers. It was a level of production that had never been seen at a first edition music festival in India, especially for bass music.
How did Neckwreck collaborate with Westside to merge their progressive vision with your passion for the bass-heavy community and create such an unforgettable experience?
Karan Kanchan: At Neckwreck, we’ve always thrived on bringing energy and creativity to the forefront, so when we approached Westside, we knew this was the perfect opportunity to merge their progressive vision with our passion for the bass-heavy, headbanging community. With Westside’s dynamic brand ethos and our focus on the high-energy crowd, we devised ways to seamlessly integrate the two worlds. We pulled out all the stops, delivering the biggest bass experience driven by independent homegrown talent, backed by a production level you’d expect at global festivals like Lollapalooza. From lasers to jaw-dropping stage setups, we gave the audience an unforgettable experience.
On top of that, we brought in international drum and bass heavyweights Mountain from Japan and Calculon from the US for the DnB Draft tour in October. We also collaborated on the “What’s in My Bag” series and launched an open-ended challenge inviting the bass community to flip a Westside Sound, which drew over 50 entries in just five days. From engaging with college campuses to creating fun behind-the-scenes content with Karan Kanchan, and even curating festival-worthy outfits on Westside’s website for Wreckfest, we built a campaign that truly captured the spirit of both brands.
What are Karan Kanchan’s plans and Westside’s plans for supporting the underground going forward?
Karan Kanchan: I’ve always been committed to community-level initiatives, whether it’s creating royalty-free sample banks by producers, for producers, providing debut artists with opportunities to perform on Neckwreck lineups, or organizing producer meetups across India. Supporting the community and underground scene has always been a priority, and with Westside’s backing, we’re set to further amplify this mission, empowering even more emerging producers and artists in the space.
For more updates on Neckwreck and Karan Kanchan’s pioneering initiatives, follow: Karan Kanchan | Neckwreck | Westside Stores
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