Inspired by the Sanskrit concept of ‘dhāraṇā’ or sustained concentration, Sonic Perception’s second compilation brings together 17 artists from India’s underground electronic music scene. Spanning ambient, techno, IDM, and experimental sound, the release reflects a growing culture of deep listening, sonic exploration, and collaborative world-building.
‘Dhāraṇā’, Mumbai-based electronic music label Sonic Perception’s latest compilation, gets its name from the Sanskrit root ‘dhr’ — meaning to hold, bear, or maintain. In Sanskrit, ‘dharana’ refers to the discipline of fixing one’s attention on a single object, internal point, or idea without straying. Drawing from this ancient concept, the release invites listeners to explore a slower, more deliberate, and more mindful relationship with sound, built on patience, presence, and deep listening.
Featuring seventeen artists from across India’s underground electronic music ecosystem, ‘Dhāraṇā’ eschews stylistic coherence for a shared sensibility. The collection traverses hypnotic techno, ambient explorations, broken rhythms, organic textures, and experimental electronic forms to present a study of attention — interrogating how sound echoes over time, how tension accumulates and dissipates, and how listening is ultimately an act of contemplation.
For much of the last decade, conversations about India’s electronic music scene have centred on raves, festivals, and nightlife economies, buoyed by the growing visibility of Indian and South Asian artists on international stages. While these developments have expanded opportunities for artists, they have also reinforced unrealistic expectations around productivity, branding, and output. ‘Dhāraṇā’ is a counterpoint to this narrative. The collection’s focus remains squarely on sonic immersion.
From Zokhuma, whose musical journey spans heavy metal, EDM, breakbeat, and contemporary dance music, and Goa-based SHFT’s meticulous, hypnotic production, to Hiranya’s ambient and experimental sonic explorations, the artists assembled in ‘Dhāraṇā’ represent different generations and approaches within the underground electronic music scene defined by porous boundaries.
What binds these varied voices together is a shared interest in electronic music as a tool for world-building. This is evident in the practice of artists such as I7HVN, whose work draws from fantasy literature and narrative-driven composition to construct immersive sonic environments. Across the compilation, tracks feel less like isolated dancefloor tools and more like fragments of larger imagined worlds.
‘Dhāraṇā’ is compelling in its refusal to conform to the pressures of contemporary cultural production. It succeeds because it trusts both its artists and its listeners — it does not demand immediate gratification or reduce the featured artists’ differences into a singular, coherent sonic identity. It shows no attempt to chase trends, optimise for virality, or to impose a singular identity on its contributors. Instead, the compilation creates room for their divergent practices to coexist, placing process over product and the act of exploration over certainty. It captures something essential about India’s underground electronic music community: its ability to build meaningful forms of connection, care, and collective imagination through sound.
Listen to ‘Dhāraṇā’ here.
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