Monica Dogra: Alsisar’s music fest draws from Rajasthan’s regal energy

Monica Dogra has had a busy year, and is currently travelling all over the country for work.
Her next stop is Alsisar in Rajasthan, where she’s performing at the second edition of the Magnetic Fields music festival this weekend. “I cannot wait for the festival, it’s going to be amazing. Last year, it was like walking into a dream, so there’s definitely an expectation that it’s going to be just as magical this year, if not more,” says Monica, whose band Shaa’ir + Func performed at the festival last year.This year, she is a solo performer.
She says, “I am performing with an electric cellist called Jake Charkey and the drummer Linford D’Souza. If you check the lineup, there are no repeat performers this year, and I have been working on a solo album for a while now, so it’ll be interesting to play that music at Alsisar.”
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When asked what makes Rajasthan’s Magnetic Fields stand out among the music festivals that seem to be all the rage in the country these days, Monica explains, “Music festivals are really trendy these days, there is one for every kind of person. This festival stands out because it’s very carefully curated in every which way, it’s an all-round experience, and not just about being somewhere outdoors and listening to dance music. It’s about an immersive, completely artistic, enveloping experience.” The festival is held against the backdrop of a 17th century palace, Alsisar Mahal, in the heritage village of Alsisar, and Monica says that the setting is one of its biggest draws. She adds, “Rajasthan is so beautiful, so historic. There’s this feeling of regal energy here, and the festival obviously draws from it in terms of its curation and aesthetic. It all just goes hand in hand.”
The actress has also performed at the Jaipur Literature Festival twice in the past, but isn’t sure of her plans to come here in January. “I love Rajasthan, I love performing here, but at the moment I am so chock-a-block that I have no idea. It’s like I have 10 heads, all doing different things. I’m currently shooting for this film called Haaye Dil, and otherwise also I’m just working and travelling nonstop,” she says.
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