He was performing in Guwahati for the first time but Ash Roy of Jalebee Cartel fame was all revved up. Originally from Calcutta but now based in Delhi, Ash was impressed with the city. “I have been here before but the city’s really grown now,” he told **t2**.

Back from Europe where he recently played at two festivals, Fusion and Freqs of Nature, both in Germany, Ash lets us in on his trip, taking the Indian electronic sound abroad. “We are doing a lot of good stuff here but not enough people abroad have heard our sound,” he says.

A tabla player-turned-DJ, his mix comprises infusing Indian rhythms, *bols* and *layas* with the electronic hand drum which he plays.

He did spin his sound in Guwahati, taking the crowd through an intimate trip of tech-house. “I am a club-friendly guy and my music is, too,” he adds.

The crowd boogied well, too, from 10 at night to well past midnight.

One of the live electronic acts from New Delhi, Jalebee Cartel, is often credited for single-handedly putting India on the international EDM (electronic dance music) map.

Apart from Ash who does the vocals and percussion, it comprises Arjun Vagale (groove and mixing), Ashvin Mani Sharma (synths and FX) and G-force Arjun (bass guitar).

Jalebee Cartel happened in 2004 after a tie-up with Arjun (whom Ash met at a Deejay competition in 1999) and Ashvin.

From individual DJ sets to live gigs, producing to composing, the multi-talented group does it all. Ash also plans to release a single through his SoupHerb Records label.

**Pallavi Majumder**