In conversation with Martin Garix

Cosmo India catches up with Dutch DJ Martin Garrix post his India tour last month. Know more about his connection to India, how he overcomes his creative block, and the one artist whose work encourages the Animals artist till date. 

Cosmo: You performed in India after four years... 

Martin Garrix: “I was so excited to visit the country after a hiatus. India has always been important to me, and to be able to feel the infectious energy of the crowd while performing means so much! During my previous stay, I visited exquisite spots like the Taj Mahal... I do hope to visit the country again, soon, and make time to explore the rich culture.”

C: How do you think electronic music has evolved in India? Are any of your tracks inspired by the country?

MG: “It’s great to see emerging local talent who are supporting this genre—which is now evolving. I haven’t created a track inspired by India yet, but I am open to the idea of it because I enjoy experimenting sonically... I’d love to create something that captures the energy of the country.”

C: Are there any artists whose music has inspired you?

MG: “There are so many artists who I am friends with and they continue to inspire me! For example, Tiësto’s work encouraged me to begin experimenting with electronic music in the first place, and he will always be important to me.”

C: What are some of your current favourite tracks?

MG: “There’s a lot of good music out there. I really like Skrillex and Fred Again’s new song called Rumble. In fact, the compositions released by Stmpd Rcrds [a Dutch music label] are stunning. They include artists such as Vluarr, Andruss, and Matisse & Sadko.”

C: What was Martin like as a young boy?

MG: “I started producing music at a really young age. I believe I was eight-years old, and you know, I was just a happy child... I never expected music to take me this far.”

C: Tell us about how you overcome any creative blocks.

MG: “Creativity is definitely not something that you can ever force. So, on days when I am not able to produce music, I just let myself be. I take a break and focus on something else.”

C: What are your hopes for the coming year?

MG: “I intend to meet new people, experience new things, and perform in a lot of shows. But, most importantly, I want to have fun while being able to do all of this.”

C: And what’s coming up next?

MG: “I have a lot of exciting projects coming up that I can’t wait to share!”