David Britto
Aug 02, 2023
Chandigarh-bred psychedelic/techno artist Pranavi Walia aka Vasvi. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Recently, Chandigarh-bred psychedelic/techno artist Pranavi Walia aka Vasvi released her thumping two-track debut EP entitled Quantum Soup, out via Italian label Psy4Aliens. Vasvi caught up with us to talk about how she discovered music, what led to her performing live, the tracks on the EP, future plans and more. Read below.
How did your interest in music begin?
Being born and raised in Chandigarh, I was a pretty studious kid. Music always had an important place in my heart, even when I started with metal and rock in school. I shifted to Delhi for my Undergraduate in Clinical Psychology, which opened up a lot of new music to me. I spent my days studying and nights discovering new music at different hot spots in the city. I have a ton of people to thank for shaping my music taste and pushing me into playing professionally.
When did you being performing and writing your own music?
The music scene in New Delhi had opened me up to so many sub-genres of music that I spent three to four years discovering new music, new styles, and new artists. I knew I had an affinity for music since school, but this exposure helped me bring it to the forefront. My first show was in the mountains in 2020 as my first moniker – Tangled Psyche (psychedelic) and within a year I started with my techno project Vasvi. I started taking interest in production the same year and released my first track in 2021.
What can you tell me about your previous releases?
I met some really great artists that introduced me to a whole new world of electronic music in 2015. After five years of an incredible journey between both techno and psychedelic trance, I decided to finish my Masters and pursue music as more than just a hobby. I started making music three years ago, dipping my toes into psychedelic music. I’ve released two songs on different compilations with Knobs and Keys Label and Studio 51/Adapt Academy. After these, I expanded my arsenal and started making techno, with Quantum Soup (EP) being my first release.
What can you tell me about the EP?
It’s my desire to share my true self with my listeners. This EP is quite a turning point for me in my life. In this day and age, we’re quite lucky that we get to experiment with different music genres and make something that really resonates with ourselves. Quantum Soup blends both styles that are close to my heart, marking many more possibilities in techno and its mix with psychedelic elements, paving a common ground for both genres. The EP is based on pulsating bass, driving kicks, and defined low-end frequencies with a mix of some glitchy sounds and even sounds taken from the forest. The rolling style and groove is quite a nice form of active mediation, with music connecting people beyond the barriers of language and even genres.
How did you strike the deal with Psy4Aliens for this release?
I had been in talks with GianCarlo since April. I planned on sending him a single release, but we decided to turn it into an EP for me to really introduce my sound properly to my listeners. Psy4aliens has been one of my dream labels, with releases from prominent artists such as Rupt and David Phoenix. It is also one of the labels that is open to such experimental and futuristic sounds.
What else is coming up next for you?
There’s a new found burst of energy in me. I’m taking some downtime in Parvati to rejuvenate. I’m planning on releasing a few singles in techno that I’ve kept under wraps before I start work on my psychedelic project again. It’s a bit of a struggle balancing two different projects, but I feel like I’m on the right track. I’ll be releasing my second EP around September.
Stream ‘Quantum Soup’ on Spotify below:
