DJ Stalvart John discusses his passion for disco on his label`s 50th release

Walk into AntiSocial on a good day and chances are you’ll see everyone dancing to Stalvart John’s rhythm. Not too long ago, there were only a few takers for his music. The Kerala-born DJ and founder of the label Dynamite Disco Club (DDC), over his 15-year career, steadily brought house and disco, genres often sidelined in India, back to the dance floor. Today, as the label has unveiled its 50th release, John knows he has achieved what he had set out to do with DDC. “The intention was simple — to make people dance. The sound has shifted, the platform has grown, but the core has stayed the same,” he shares.

Though he began his music career in Kerala, he believes touring outside the state shaped his understanding of the dance floor. “Playing to diverse crowds pushed me to grow, not just as a DJ, but also as a listener,” he reflects. As a 23-year-old learning the ropes then, he felt an instant connection with house and disco, though they weren’t the dominant genres in most Indian clubs. “I started out playing trance. Then came club music, then a phase of experimentation. But when I found disco, it felt like coming home.”

In 2021, he released his maiden track on DDC, All We Need, featuring retro vocals by Elizabeth Ipe and funk-driven riffs. To him, that was the turning point. “At first, I pushed hard to get people to feel what I was feeling. But over time, I realised the goal isn’t to convince, it is to stay honest. If you create from a place of authenticity, the right people find you.”

Since then, John has played across India and South Asia. The Bengaluru-based DJ is a regular in Mumbai, hosting gigs at popular discos. His experience has helped him appreciate the diverse music scene of India. “In many countries, there are either hyper-commercial venues or pure underground ones. In India, we have the middle. Artistes at every level have room to grow.”