By Spandan Fulkar
21st Jan 2024
By Spandan Fulkar
21st Jan 2024
You probably must’ve stumbled upon the internet sensation Kratex and his banging Marathi House (M-House) music that just makes you want to get up and nod your head like there's no tomorrow. Let's not beat around the bush and get into how Kratex has straight-up revolutionized the Marathi music scene. We all know that Marathi music wasn’t exactly hitting the club scene in Maharashtra for the longest time. Marathi music finding itself on the outskirts of cool, labelled as 'ghati' wasn't just a musical preference, it had somewhere turned into a cultural and political battleground, a clash of perceptions. But then entered Kratex, armed with his beats that were not just notes but a magic spell and this swift and metamorphosis orchestrated is nothing short of extraordinary.
Krunal Ghorpade, whom you better know as 'Kratex’ didn't really start off as your typical musician. Born and bred in Virar, Krunal initially navigated the world of technology, donning the hat of a developer and Ux designer for a commendable six years before getting into music as a full-time thing. In a candid conversation with 'The Outsiders,' Krunal shared insights into his unconventional musical journey and how he hails from a family where any ties to music are non-existent. What makes his story even more remarkable is that he never underwent any formal training in the field of music.
As Krunal recounts, his tryst with the music was sparked by the influence of his father, a fervent music enthusiast with an extensive collection spanning genres from Western to Indian, and even delving into folk and Middle Eastern tunes. The turning point occurred during his college years when he acquired his first phone, setting the stage for a newfound appreciation for Western pop, which swiftly became his musical obsession.
“I used to save offline videos on my phone of music making tutorials of ableton on my way to the office. It took me 2 hours to reach from Virar to my Malad, so I watched these saved videos on the train, rickshaw and bus. I made notes on my phone and when I was back home I revised them on my computer and tried making music. It took me 3-4 years to make decent tracks and then more 3-4 years to make what I make today.”
You probably must’ve stumbled upon the internet sensation Kratex and his banging Marathi House (M-House) music that just makes you want to get up and nod your head like there's no tomorrow. Let's not beat around the bush and get into how Kratex has straight-up revolutionized the Marathi music scene. We all know that Marathi music wasn’t exactly hitting the club scene in Maharashtra for the longest time. Marathi music finding itself on the outskirts of cool, labelled as 'ghati' wasn't just a musical preference, it had somewhere turned into a cultural and political battleground, a clash of perceptions. But then entered Kratex, armed with his beats that were not just notes but a magic spell and this swift and metamorphosis orchestrated is nothing short of extraordinary.
Krunal Ghorpade, whom you better know as 'Kratex’ didn't really start off as your typical musician. Born and bred in Virar, Krunal initially navigated the world of technology, donning the hat of a developer and Ux designer for a commendable six years before getting into music as a full-time thing. In a candid conversation with 'The Outsiders,' Krunal shared insights into his unconventional musical journey and how he hails from a family where any ties to music are non-existent. What makes his story even more remarkable is that he never underwent any formal training in the field of music.
As Krunal recounts, his tryst with the music was sparked by the influence of his father, a fervent music enthusiast with an extensive collection spanning genres from Western to Indian, and even delving into folk and Middle Eastern tunes. The turning point occurred during his college years when he acquired his first phone, setting the stage for a newfound appreciation for Western pop, which swiftly became his musical obsession.
“I used to save offline videos on my phone of music making tutorials of ableton on my way to the office. It took me 2 hours to reach from Virar to my Malad, so I watched these saved videos on the train, rickshaw and bus. I made notes on my phone and when I was back home I revised them on my computer and tried making music. It took me 3-4 years to make decent tracks and then more 3-4 years to make what I make today.”
A star is born
Delving into the origin of his stage name, Krunal Ghorpade, the man behind the musical magic of 'Kratex,' unravels a tale marked by simplicity and a spontaneous stroke of inspiration. With candor, he reveals that the meaning of 'Kratex' wasn't steeped in profound meanings but emerged on a regular day while casually listening to ‘Skrillex’. Taking the initial letters 'KR' from his real name he thought that names ending with 'x' sound pretty cool and that’s how ‘Kratex’ was born.
Behind the console
Kratex's journey into the world of DJing traces back to his college days. Introduced by a friend, he first dipped his toes into the art through a software called Virtual DJ, allowing for digital mixing and blending right on a computer—an intriguing prospect that immediately caught young Krunal's attention. While the virtual setup offered a glimpse, Krunal harboured a deeper fascination for the hands-on experience of working with a DJ console. His longing for the real deal found its fulfilment during his engineering days at a college festival, a seemingly ordinary party intended solely for the enjoyment of the students. However, this ordinary event became a watershed moment for Krunal. It was here that he found himself behind a DJ console for the first and from this precise moment, people began to identify him not as Krunal but as 'Kratex,' and rest is history
Pure Electronic
In the early days of his musical journey, Kratex found himself navigating a path less travelled, marked by a commitment to his artistic vision. Firmly standing against the tide of commercial and Bollywood sets, he, instead, championed the cause of pure electronic music. Kratex recalls a time when he was tirelessly reaching out to every promoter in the city, eager to secure opportunities to showcase his craft. Yet, the journey was far from smooth. Only a mere 1% of promoters extended a helping hand, while others seemed preoccupied with measuring his worth by the size of the crowds he could draw. Undeterred by such judgments, Kratex remained resolute in his pursuit of delivering authentic electronic music experiences. During this period, his determination led him to explore unconventional avenues. Leveraging his graphic designing skills, he found himself in a unique barter, designing festival banners in exchange for an early slot at the festival. These early performances often took place before the equipment and production setup crew, as they diligently worked on installing lights and preparing the stage.
Music Makin Lab
While delving us into the evolution of his music-making process, Kratex reflects on the transformative journey that has unfolded over the years. Today, when he immerses himself in the creation of a track, he ensures a setting devoid of distractions, providing a canvas for artistic focus. The composition commences after Kratex designs the foundation of his music, beginning with the kick and bass as these elements are like mitochondria and form the essence of house music. Each layer is artfully woven, with drums adding rhythmic complexity. The true litmus test for Kratex's creations is a personal one. If the track doesn't get Kratex off his chair, making him bust a move, it's a straight-up project scrap, No compromises!
A star is born
Delving into the origin of his stage name, Krunal Ghorpade, the man behind the musical magic of 'Kratex,' unravels a tale marked by simplicity and a spontaneous stroke of inspiration. With candor, he reveals that the meaning of 'Kratex' wasn't steeped in profound meanings but emerged on a regular day while casually listening to ‘Skrillex’. Taking the initial letters 'KR' from his real name he thought that names ending with 'x' sound pretty cool and that’s how ‘Kratex’ was born.
Behind the console
Kratex's journey into the world of DJing traces back to his college days. Introduced by a friend, he first dipped his toes into the art through a software called Virtual DJ, allowing for digital mixing and blending right on a computer—an intriguing prospect that immediately caught young Krunal's attention. While the virtual setup offered a glimpse, Krunal harboured a deeper fascination for the hands-on experience of working with a DJ console. His longing for the real deal found its fulfilment during his engineering days at a college festival, a seemingly ordinary party intended solely for the enjoyment of the students. However, this ordinary event became a watershed moment for Krunal. It was here that he found himself behind a DJ console for the first and from this precise moment, people began to identify him not as Krunal but as 'Kratex,' and rest is history
Pure Electronic
In the early days of his musical journey, Kratex found himself navigating a path less travelled, marked by a commitment to his artistic vision. Firmly standing against the tide of commercial and Bollywood sets, he, instead, championed the cause of pure electronic music. Kratex recalls a time when he was tirelessly reaching out to every promoter in the city, eager to secure opportunities to showcase his craft. Yet, the journey was far from smooth. Only a mere 1% of promoters extended a helping hand, while others seemed preoccupied with measuring his worth by the size of the crowds he could draw. Undeterred by such judgments, Kratex remained resolute in his pursuit of delivering authentic electronic music experiences. During this period, his determination led him to explore unconventional avenues. Leveraging his graphic designing skills, he found himself in a unique barter, designing festival banners in exchange for an early slot at the festival. These early performances often took place before the equipment and production setup crew, as they diligently worked on installing lights and preparing the stage.
Music Makin Lab
While delving us into the evolution of his music-making process, Kratex reflects on the transformative journey that has unfolded over the years. Today, when he immerses himself in the creation of a track, he ensures a setting devoid of distractions, providing a canvas for artistic focus. The composition commences after Kratex designs the foundation of his music, beginning with the kick and bass as these elements are like mitochondria and form the essence of house music. Each layer is artfully woven, with drums adding rhythmic complexity. The true litmus test for Kratex's creations is a personal one. If the track doesn't get Kratex off his chair, making him bust a move, it's a straight-up project scrap, No compromises!
Birth of M-House
Venturing into the fusion of tradition and modernity, Kratex seamlessly involves Marathi folk instruments into his drum arrangements, giving birth to what he affectionately terms "M-house." This infusion of cultural elements lends a unique flavour to his compositions, bridging the gap between heritage and contemporary soundscapes. Breaking free from the conventional constraints of a studio setup, Kratex embraces a remote approach. Whether on a train, waiting at an airport, or lounging on a bed, his creativity knows no bounds.
Breaking Barriers
Kratex's journey into the world of M-house took a pivotal turn when his friend Kacchi (now his manager) secured him his first M-house show in Pune. The experience was nothing short of surreal as the crowd, a mix of social media followers, close friends, and even non-Maharashtrians, embraced the M-house beats with infectious enthusiasm. “I would never forget every second of that show because this is what I only dreamt of and in that moment, it felt unreal, almost like a dream. Even the next day I thought I would wake up and realise all this was just a dream but fortunately it was reality.” shared Kratex. Following his initial M-house shows, Kratex recognized the barriers Marathi music faced in clubs. Venue owners were hesitant to include Marathi Music in their sets, limiting its reach. Initially, he toyed with the idea of blending Marathi remixes with his house music sets. However later he took a bold leap, producing 14 M-house tracks in just seven days, determined to establish himself as a dedicated Marathi house music DJ. This gamble paid off and the rest is history.
As M-house gained traction on social media, Kratex observed a significant shift. Clubs, once resistant to Marathi tunes, began accepting song requests from the genre. The ripple effect was evident in the younger audience, who now viewed Marathi music as "cool".
“They just dance as if there’s no tomorrow and that’s how dance music should be no bullshit pure enjoyment and hence I call my parties “nusta vibes” which means just vibes.
Musical Vision
Kratex, giving us a glimpse into his dreams and aspirations, reveals the influential figures who have shaped his musical journey. From the very beginning, international DJs like David Guetta, Chris Lake, Afrojack, Avicii, and Hardwell have been significant inspirations for him. However, Kratex doesn't shy away from acknowledging the profound impact of legendary Ajay Atul, especially in creating Marathi music. Nucleya holds a special place in Kratex's musical pantheon, serving as a source of inspiration and, in his view, a trailblazer who paved the way for the electronic music scene in India. While he admires these artists, Kratex emphasizes that he doesn't look up to any one person in particular. For him, the art itself holds greater significance than the artist. He believes that art is immortal, transcending the limitations of individual creators, making a lasting impact that extends beyond the artists themselves.
“My goal is to become world’s number one Dj and play Marathi house music on global stages and I won’t settle for less. I know this is very ambitious and unrealistic for some people but I think if i work hard enough i will achieve that”
A new wave of Marathi music is visible from 2022 and it’s expanding in no time like a growing forest fire. Kratex has huge share in his wave but at the same time he acknowledged others who are major part of this “I think Marathi music is growing exponentially since 2022, Marathi hip-hop plays a huge role in this because rappers like sambata, rocksun, shambhoo are growing exponentially with their Marathi rap in their native marathi slang.”told Krunal. There are amazing new talents coming up, some of them he has worked with like Shreyas and Vedang - a rapper and producer duo, A-JIT, Rasal - amazing Marathi rap beat producer, Darpan, MC Versatile and many more. Marathi Pop music is rising by artists like Bandre, Druvan Moorty, Sanju Rathod etc. “And also, I am welcome to collaborate with artists from different languages to merge with Marathi music because why not. We could build a ‘Marathi-Punjabi’ rap crossover ‘M-house’ track or a ‘Marathi-Malyali’ garage house track or literally anything fused with Marathi music.”
Birth of M-House
Venturing into the fusion of tradition and modernity, Kratex seamlessly involves Marathi folk instruments into his drum arrangements, giving birth to what he affectionately terms "M-house." This infusion of cultural elements lends a unique flavour to his compositions, bridging the gap between heritage and contemporary soundscapes. Breaking free from the conventional constraints of a studio setup, Kratex embraces a remote approach. Whether on a train, waiting at an airport, or lounging on a bed, his creativity knows no bounds.
Breaking Barriers
Kratex's journey into the world of M-house took a pivotal turn when his friend Kacchi (now his manager) secured him his first M-house show in Pune. The experience was nothing short of surreal as the crowd, a mix of social media followers, close friends, and even non-Maharashtrians, embraced the M-house beats with infectious enthusiasm. “I would never forget every second of that show because this is what I only dreamt of and in that moment, it felt unreal, almost like a dream. Even the next day I thought I would wake up and realise all this was just a dream but fortunately it was reality.” shared Kratex. Following his initial M-house shows, Kratex recognized the barriers Marathi music faced in clubs. Venue owners were hesitant to include Marathi Music in their sets, limiting its reach. Initially, he toyed with the idea of blending Marathi remixes with his house music sets. However later he took a bold leap, producing 14 M-house tracks in just seven days, determined to establish himself as a dedicated Marathi house music DJ. This gamble paid off and the rest is history.
As M-house gained traction on social media, Kratex observed a significant shift. Clubs, once resistant to Marathi tunes, began accepting song requests from the genre. The ripple effect was evident in the younger audience, who now viewed Marathi music as "cool".
“They just dance as if there’s no tomorrow and that’s how dance music should be no bullshit pure enjoyment and hence I call my parties “nusta vibes” which means just vibes.
Musical Vision
Kratex, giving us a glimpse into his dreams and aspirations, reveals the influential figures who have shaped his musical journey. From the very beginning, international DJs like David Guetta, Chris Lake, Afrojack, Avicii, and Hardwell have been significant inspirations for him. However, Kratex doesn't shy away from acknowledging the profound impact of legendary Ajay Atul, especially in creating Marathi music. Nucleya holds a special place in Kratex's musical pantheon, serving as a source of inspiration and, in his view, a trailblazer who paved the way for the electronic music scene in India. While he admires these artists, Kratex emphasizes that he doesn't look up to any one person in particular. For him, the art itself holds greater significance than the artist. He believes that art is immortal, transcending the limitations of individual creators, making a lasting impact that extends beyond the artists themselves.
“My goal is to become world’s number one Dj and play Marathi house music on global stages and I won’t settle for less. I know this is very ambitious and unrealistic for some people but I think if i work hard enough i will achieve that”
A new wave of Marathi music is visible from 2022 and it’s expanding in no time like a growing forest fire. Kratex has huge share in his wave but at the same time he acknowledged others who are major part of this “I think Marathi music is growing exponentially since 2022, Marathi hip-hop plays a huge role in this because rappers like sambata, rocksun, shambhoo are growing exponentially with their Marathi rap in their native marathi slang.”told Krunal. There are amazing new talents coming up, some of them he has worked with like Shreyas and Vedang - a rapper and producer duo, A-JIT, Rasal - amazing Marathi rap beat producer, Darpan, MC Versatile and many more. Marathi Pop music is rising by artists like Bandre, Druvan Moorty, Sanju Rathod etc. “And also, I am welcome to collaborate with artists from different languages to merge with Marathi music because why not. We could build a ‘Marathi-Punjabi’ rap crossover ‘M-house’ track or a ‘Marathi-Malyali’ garage house track or literally anything fused with Marathi music.”
Birth of M-House
Venturing into the fusion of tradition and modernity, Kratex seamlessly involves Marathi folk instruments into his drum arrangements, giving birth to what he affectionately terms "M-house." This infusion of cultural elements lends a unique flavour to his compositions, bridging the gap between heritage and contemporary soundscapes. Breaking free from the conventional constraints of a studio setup, Kratex embraces a remote approach. Whether on a train, waiting at an airport, or lounging on a bed, his creativity knows no bounds.
Breaking Barriers
Kratex's journey into the world of M-house took a pivotal turn when his friend Kacchi (now his manager) secured him his first M-house show in Pune. The experience was nothing short of surreal as the crowd, a mix of social media followers, close friends, and even non-Maharashtrians, embraced the M-house beats with infectious enthusiasm. “I would never forget every second of that show because this is what I only dreamt of and in that moment, it felt unreal, almost like a dream. Even the next day I thought I would wake up and realise all this was just a dream but fortunately it was reality.” shared Kratex. Following his initial M-house shows, Kratex recognized the barriers Marathi music faced in clubs. Venue owners were hesitant to include Marathi Music in their sets, limiting its reach. Initially, he toyed with the idea of blending Marathi remixes with his house music sets. However later he took a bold leap, producing 14 M-house tracks in just seven days, determined to establish himself as a dedicated Marathi house music DJ. This gamble paid off and the rest is history.
As M-house gained traction on social media, Kratex observed a significant shift. Clubs, once resistant to Marathi tunes, began accepting song requests from the genre. The ripple effect was evident in the younger audience, who now viewed Marathi music as "cool".
“They just dance as if there’s no tomorrow and that’s how dance music should be no bullshit pure enjoyment and hence I call my parties “nusta vibes” which means just vibes.
Musical Vision
Kratex, giving us a glimpse into his dreams and aspirations, reveals the influential figures who have shaped his musical journey. From the very beginning, international DJs like David Guetta, Chris Lake, Afrojack, Avicii, and Hardwell have been significant inspirations for him. However, Kratex doesn't shy away from acknowledging the profound impact of legendary Ajay Atul, especially in creating Marathi music. Nucleya holds a special place in Kratex's musical pantheon, serving as a source of inspiration and, in his view, a trailblazer who paved the way for the electronic music scene in India. While he admires these artists, Kratex emphasizes that he doesn't look up to any one person in particular. For him, the art itself holds greater significance than the artist. He believes that art is immortal, transcending the limitations of individual creators, making a lasting impact that extends beyond the artists themselves.
“My goal is to become world’s number one Dj and play Marathi house music on global stages and I won’t settle for less. I know this is very ambitious and unrealistic for some people but I think if i work hard enough i will achieve that”
A new wave of Marathi music is visible from 2022 and it’s expanding in no time like a growing forest fire. Kratex has huge share in his wave but at the same time he acknowledged others who are major part of this “I think Marathi music is growing exponentially since 2022, Marathi hip-hop plays a huge role in this because rappers like sambata, rocksun, shambhoo are growing exponentially with their Marathi rap in their native marathi slang.”told Krunal. There are amazing new talents coming up, some of them he has worked with like Shreyas and Vedang - a rapper and producer duo, A-JIT, Rasal - amazing Marathi rap beat producer, Darpan, MC Versatile and many more. Marathi Pop music is rising by artists like Bandre, Druvan Moorty, Sanju Rathod etc. “And also, I am welcome to collaborate with artists from different languages to merge with Marathi music because why not. We could build a ‘Marathi-Punjabi’ rap crossover ‘M-house’ track or a ‘Marathi-Malyali’ garage house track or literally anything fused with Marathi music.”
