The Sound Of: Qilla Records

Created in 2011 to platform left-field and interesting electronic sounds that emerge from India, Qilla Records is now setting a global example for what a label can achieve. With a catalogue that spans singles, albums, and compilations from a broad spectrum of experimental electronic and dance music producers across India and the subcontinent, the New Delhi-based label showcases a consistently innovative, distinctive, and unified identity in its releases. 

“We always want to release music that is for both the mind and body,” explains founder Madhav Shorey, aka Kohra. “We want music that is innovative. We always ask, how can things be more interesting, more engaging, in this context of electronic music? Our goal is to always find producers who want to take risks and aren’t necessarily cookie-cutter.” 

The label wants to build worlds with its releases, making each project co- exist collectively, but shine individually, and give listeners a coherent and full understanding of Qilla’s sound and identity. Some producers they have platformed include Monophonik, Vishal Unni, jay pei, SHFT, Audio Units and Innerworld. While each of these musicians has a different style, ranging from rowdy synth work to spaced-out techno, their edge and flair unite them and make them the type of artists that Qilla want to platform. “Artists from this part of the world can be overlooked, but there’s so much unique and creative talent here if you look in the right places,” Madhav explains. “In India, we don’t have the same infrastructure as some other countries, which makes it harder to be in the music business here.”

Qilla was first conceptualised by Madhav when he was studying in Australia, a country he decided to move to because of its inspiring music scene. “I looked up to a lot of the labels there,” he explains. “I was studying graphic design, so I’m naturally drawn to new ideas and creating concepts; I started to think about what my own hypothetical label would look like.”