Today we’d like to introduce you to Harshal Ramteke.
Hi Harshal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey actually began back in the late 1990s in Nagpur, India, when I was first introduced to electronic music. At the time, I didn’t know where it would take me, but I started working as a music director for fashion shows in my native city. That era was pivotal because it gave me a deep, foundational understanding of live event production, crowd energy, and performance execution.Before I fully transitioned into techno, I spent over a decade touring across the U.S., DJing commercial Indian music and Top 40 curation at major clubs and private events. But by 2018, I decided to pivot entirely and focus on my first true love: underground electronic music. I completely immersed myself in the Southern California scene, producing original tracks under my own name, Harshal, and playing everywhere from warehouses and deserts to underground rave circuits. The momentum picked up quickly; I started releasing EPs on incredible labels like Unity Records, Dolma Records, and Mavic Music. It was surreal to see my music hit the top #50 charts and get played on massive festival stages like EDC.In early 2023, I wanted to push my artistic boundaries even further, which led to the birth of Alien9. With this project, I really wanted to go back to my roots. I took my years of experience behind the decks and combined it with my knowledge of traditional Indian folk instruments, layering those organic sounds over complex electronic synthesizers to create an aggressive, high-energy dancefloor experience.Things really hit a historic peak in 2025 when my Alien9 releases secured two separate #1 Beatport Chart victories in a single calendar year. First, the original Prasaar EP dropped as the landmark 300th release on Unity Records and went straight to #1 in Feb, and then the System97 remixes of the EP topped the charts again in July. Beyond the charts, the international press validation was mind-blowing. The Prasaar EP received amazing reviews across Europe—most notably getting a great review in Germany’s prestigious Faze Magazine (Issue 156), alongside an incredible feature in the tastemaking Italian electronic publication, Wicked Style. Seeing my signature sound recognized by top-tier global press was a major turning point. Today, while pushing the Alien9 moniker with releases on labels like Suara and Naked Lunch, my production style has earned heavy support from absolute titans of the industry, including Richie Hawtin, Chris Liebing, Deep Dish, Coyu, Paco Osuna, Danny Tenaglia, Ilario Alicante, Danny Sbert, Barbuto, Cristian Varela, Marco Faraone, Anthony Pappa, Celic, Tocadisco, D-Unity, Drunken Kong, Speaker Honey, and Uberkikz. Alongside the production side, I’m also heavily focused on building the community here at home. Based out of San Diego, my partners Eddie and Cathy Abarca and I run 1904 Kollektiv LLC. As promoters, we work tirelessly to bring premium underground experiences to the city, and I’ve had the honor of hosting and sharing the decks with world-class innovators like DJ Hyperactive, Truncate, Drumcell, Kyle Geiger, Dustin Zahn, Adam X, Maedon, Cleric, and Lindsey Herbert. Alien9 is all about shattering boundaries, and I’m just getting started
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When I first decided to pivot into techno, I started with very limited resources and absolutely zero connections in the Southern California electronic music scene. Being completely new to the underground community, it took a significant amount of time to build trust with local promoters and the audience.One of the biggest hurdles was overcoming preconceptions. Because I spent over a decade touring as a commercial Indian open-format and Top 40 DJ, there were initial doubts within the underground circuit about my technical craft, authenticity, and execution as a techno artist. I had to let the music speak for itself and prove my dedication to the underground culture track by track, show by show.But despite those early struggles, the journey has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve met some absolutely amazing, open-minded people along the way, both in the San Diego and Los Angeles underground scenes. I am profoundly thankful to everyone who guided me, believed in my vision, and trusted me enough to give me a platform. Those struggles only made building 1904 Kollektiv and achieving chart success with Alien9 feel that much more meaningful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At my core, I am a electronic music producer, live DJ, video director, and underground event curator. I specialize in designing high-energy music experiences, both through my studio productions and my live club performances. Within the industry, I am primarily known for my electronic music projects under my own name, Harshal, and my visionary moniker, Alien9. What sets me apart from others is my distinct sonic signature. To craft my specific flavor of techno, I go directly back to my roots. I take my extensive knowledge of traditional Indian folk instruments and seamlessly layer their rich, organic textures over complex, cutting-edge electronic synthesizers. It creates an aggressive, hypnotic fusion on the dancefloor that feels both deeply global and culturally rooted, offering the techno scene something completely fresh. Beyond the studio, my diverse background as a video director allows me to approach electronic music with a highly visual mindset, bridging sight and sound in everything I create.When I look at what I am most proud of, it operates on two levels: artistic milestones and community building. Commercially and critically, I am incredibly proud of hitting a historic peak in 2025, where my Alien9 releases secured two separate #1 Beatport Chart placement victories in a single calendar year—first with the original Prasaar EP hitting #1 as the monumental 300th release on Unity Records, and again in July with the System97 remixes.On a community level, I am immensely proud of the impact we are making right here at home in Southern California. Along with my friends/partners, Eddie and Cathy Abarca, I help manage 1904 Kollektiv LLC. Together, we have built a trusted platform dedicated to bringing premium, immersive underground music experiences to San Diego. Being able to host and share the decks with world-class techno innovators—while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of my own sound as Alien9—is exactly what drives me forward every single day.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t a static destination or just a number on a chart—it is defined by artistic authenticity, community impact, and continuous evolution.On an artistic level, success means having the creative freedom to stay true to my roots while pushing the boundaries of electronic music. Landing two separate #1 releases on the Beatport charts with the Prasaar project was an incredible milestone, but the true fulfillment came from knowing that a global audience connected with a sound uniquely my own—a fusion of my Indian heritage and cutting-edge techno synths. Hearing absolute icons of the industry support my music on the world’s biggest stages is a powerful validation of that creative risk.On a community level, success is about leaving the ladder down and building a sustainable culture. Through 1904 Kollektiv LLC, my partners and I measure success by the safe, premium, and immersive underground experiences we create for the San Diego scene. When we host a world-class artist, share the decks, and look out at a packed warehouse of people completely lost in the music, that collective energy is the ultimate reward.Ultimately, success is the alignment of passion and purpose. It is about waking up every day with the drive to evolve as a producer, a DJ, a video director, and a curator—consistently shattering my own boundaries while fostering a thriving community that lifts everyone up together
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alien9.us/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alien9._?stkn=Zm9jejN4dXd3N2Zk&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alien9us
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alien9labs
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/harshalmusik
