City Beats: Bombay dubstep
In our City Beats series, we explore underground scenes in cities all around the world, and this week we’re spotlighting the dubstep scene in Bombay, India.
Bombay. There’s no place quite like it. It’s a melting pot of smells, people, sounds. Fruit sellers crowd the sidewalks, rickshaws fill the roads, the air is full of delectable spices. It’s chaos, but somehow it makes sense.
And bubbling under the surface of all this mayhem is a music genre that’s simultaneously stripped back yet full of life. Bombay is fast becoming one of the most forward-thinking hubs for dubstep in the world - and today we’re breaking down some of the best producers, labels and club nights in the city.
Low End Therapy (club night)
This club night, held in Anti-Social Club in Lower Parel, champions 140 and dubstep sounds. Fuelled by the crew behind Swadesi Movement, their aim is to make dubstep and grime more accessible to folk from lower-castes in India. People with low income often aren’t allowed into night clubs, so Swadesi launched Low End Therapy to rectify that. They match the price of tickets to the BPM, so people pay 140 Rupee for their dubstep night, creating an open and inclusive space for everybody in Bombay.
RaaKshaS Sound (producer)
A core member of Swadesi Movement and a prolific dubstep producer from Bombay, RaaKshaS Sound is spearheading the fresh, minimalist, dubstep sound unique to the city. He describes his music as a vibrant tapestry of dubstep, halftime, hip hop, and experimental bass, heavily influenced by the sights, sounds and scenes of his hometown. He once sampled a fight between two rickshaw drivers. RaaKshaS most recent EP Impulsive is a totally air-tight example of his style: fresh, forward-thinking, stripped back and heavy on the bass.
Kaali Duniya (producer)
The alias of rapper BamBoy, Kaali Duniya makes reggae and dubstep rooted in the energy and frequency of Bombay. Born and raised in Lower Parel, Kaali Duniya’s music is steeped in the culture of his youth: most notably roadshows – public street parties which are one of the few places people from lower castes can access culture. His recent self-released album BABYLONis 10 tracks of pure dubstep activism, and confronts the quiet power structures, subtle exclusions, and gatekeeping mechanisms that dictate who gets space in the music world. Kaali Duniya is one of India’s most liberated voices.
Skip-A-Beat (label and collective)
Skip-a-Beat Mumbai is an underground music and event collective known for curating experimental electronic nights that merge sound and visual art into a single immersive experience. Based in Mumbai, the platform sits at the intersection of club culture, digital art, and alternative nightlife, often hosting events that go beyond traditional DJ sets. Their nights regularly platform 140, bass and dubstep paired with live visual performances from VJs and multimedia artists.
Working across intimate venues and underground spaces, Skip-a-Beat is part of a growing creative scene that values experimentation and sensory storytelling over commercial clubbing.
KRUNK (collective)
KRUNK is a Mumbai-based electronic music collective and artist management company that’s played a key role in shaping India’s underground and alternative music scene. Founded in Mumbai, it operates across booking, curation, touring, and talent development, bringing global bass, techno, and club music acts to Indian audiences while supporting homegrown producers through events, showcases, and festivals.
Beyond live shows, it’s made its mark on India’s electronic ecosystem through label work, collaborations, and cultural programming that bridges underground club culture with larger festival circuits, often booking dubstep artists for their India debuts. KRUNK is responsible and or/heavily involved with Hot Box India, Bass Camp Festival, Krunk Kulture, Echoes of Earth Festival, Grasslands Festival and the weekly club night Dance OK Please.
NaaR (producer)
NaaR is India’s first grime producer, although you wouldn’t guess it from his setup. He produces on a laptop with two small speakers and a sub-woofer, and he doesn’t shout about his music online. Instead you’ll hear about NaaR through word of mouth and other people sharing his tracks. NaaR is a founding member of Swadesi Movement. “Before Swadesi, club culture was run by rich kids for rich kids,” NaaR says. “We broke through that and made clubs understand that’s not gonna work and we have something else to offer.”
He releases his music on YouTube, often with accompanying visuals. His latest, “Matrix Keymaker Ritual”, is a slow-moving dub track combining spoken-word with experimental bass. Check out his Bandcamp for all his latest tracks and EPs.
Still image from "Matrix Keymaker Ritual" – Nee Kalki Da | NaaR (Cyberpunk Spoken‑Word Music Video)
