India

The very first thing you experience when you land in India is its smell. The smell is hard to describe or explain, because it is mixed with so many different things; spice, incense, curry, diesel fumes, etc. This is actually my 3rd time to visit India, but the smell has been the same as usual, welcoming all the people equally and fairly.

When I was in Mumbai last year, I didn’t stay here long enough to experience nightlife, because I knew it was expensive to go out in this city (even though it is in India, Mumbai is a different world in terms of money). But this time, I have to do my job. So I went out to this live music café called “Blue Frog”. and what surprised me at most was the technology used to establish this atmosphere. It was such a shame that I never expected something like this from India before. But the price was as high as I expected and it got me so down. On the way back to the hotel, I was in the cab. The landscape that I saw from the window of the cab was completely opposite from the atmosphere that I was in at the club. I think nightlife is a symbol of your wealth and power in this city.
What I look forward from India is spiritualism that comes from its deep history and culture.

Carneval - Salvador

What I felt on the last day of the carnaval was sadness. On the first day, I was kind of worried about the fact that it is a week long festival. But in fact, I never missed a day! A week went like a super sonic second! And today, it is the last day and I am very emotional. I don’t want to leave from this atmosphere where all the people are so passionate about having fun. I don’t wanna say goodbye to all those friendly people and all the axe music that I can’t get out of my head now.

There was a special guest on the last day. I can’t forget what Steph told me when we are watching the singer playing at the parade. “Imagine if you were him”. Yes, I was happy to see him at the carnaval, but he looked the happiest. Playing in front of 15,000 Brazilians party people must be something that you will always remember.

This one week of my life was something I will never forget. Everything looked shining and satisfying. It was simply priceless. All I can say now is ‘Obrigado Brasil!!!’ I wil be back!

Shanghai

It was a freezing day with fluffy snows. We had our second global Smirnoff Experience event here in Shanghai. The venue was called “Shanghai Sculpture Space”. This place is usually used for exhibition of art in Shanghai, but tonight it had changed its appearance for a huge party space waiting for Shanghai’s nightlife crowd patiently and quietly.

Once I got inside, there was an invitation to try one of 1320 different kinds of original cocktails made with Smirnoff vodka and areas with cutting edge technology and installation arts. Even though it was freezing inside the venue, it started to get hotter with the heat of the crowds.

The main hitter of the event was a band called HARD-FI from UK. They just got 1st place in the UK chart for their latest album “Once Upon a Time In the West”. So they are hot! At the press conference, I had a chance to do an interview with them. They told me that they were really excited to collaborate with the Chinese Shanxi drummers. Their concept of the live was “East meets West” as they said. Once they showed up on the stage, they harmonized well with the Chinese band. Not only their music was good, but also their skill to entertain the crowd was so nice. It was very satisfying live.

And of course the final act, DJ Sasha killed it! His melodious and beautiful sound made all the Chinese crowd dance and jump. He made me sure that the power of trance music is big anywhere in the world.

When I look back the event as a whole, I have to say that the Moscow event was different as it was a bit bigger. However, this is Shanghai. Their club scene has only just begun. Little by little, their art, music and the city are getting together. I felt the silent power packed in this city on this night.