Whether you are a music lover or a great dancer, nothing can usher you to the dance floor faster than your favourite party numbers. However, not everyone is not fond of every song. Take, for instance, 18-year-old Sanjana Khurana, who prefers letting her hair down to Bollywood songs as they pep up her mood. Unlike her friends, who can dance to every song, Khurana loves only filmy beats and hates the Sufi songs played in today's films. “I hate it when the DJ plays slow songs,” she says.
Khurana's friend Anshika Singh dislikes loud music. She calls it noisy and unbearable. There are many clubbers like them w the same sentiment. Keeping this in mind, Indian clubs have evolved so as to offer the best experiences to the club goers. This has led to introduction to a new concept of clubbingsilent clubs.
Silent clubbing allows clubbers to enjoy music through headphones so that noise gets minimised and people can engage in deeper conversations, while the beats are played.
(Video credit: Sanjay Ahlawat)
Headphones, a club based in west Delhi's Punjabi Bagh, follows the same trend. “Silent clubbing allows people to enjoy their choices of songs. It's like going to a disco but with headphones,” says Ganesh Singh, restaurant owner, while explaining the concept.
“Though the club has an in-house disc jockey, his role is to just connect the playlist with the headphones using Bluetooth and let the magic happen,” he adds.
Silent clubs give people an opportunity to enjoy too many things at a time—listen, dance and talk. At the entry, a set of wireless headphones flashing red, blue or green lights is handed over to the clubber. Generally, they are kept at a prominent place at the entrance so that they are easy to spot.
Just like their colours, their genres are also distinct. Each headphone plays a list of unlimited songs. Blue headphone plays Sufi music, while red and green ones play electronic dance music (EDM) and Bollywood songs (that also includes Punjabi music), respectively.
The headphones also allow a user to flip through the channels and adjust the volume according to one's own need. On each side of the headphone lies a small button that allows users to change the tracks as well as variate the volume. This is perfect for all those music lovers who find making requests to the disc jockey to play their favourite songs a tasking job keeping the concerns of fellow clubbers in mind.
Though the concept is new in India, it is already getting thumbs up from the crowd. Kunal Singh, a resident of Rohtak, at his maiden visit, was impressed to learn about the concept. He not only found it amazing, but liked the idea of giving the power of changing the songs in his hands tempting. “Isn't it great to pick your songs, unlike other clubs where DJ decides what we should hear. This way music actually becomes a therapy. Since there are a wide range of songs to choose from, there's no way one can get bored,” he says.
Silent clubs is also great for those who like relaxing and planning their dance moves instantly. “There's no background noise when people listen through headphones. Music is broadcasted through Bluetooth to wireless headphones instead of a speaker system. However, we tend to put the speakers on when private parties take place as people enjoy loud music,” explains Ganesh.
