Harshal Ramteke’s journey into electronic music began in the late 1990s in Nagpur, India, where he first encountered the genre that would shape his future. Starting out as a music director for fashion shows, he quickly gained an understanding of event production, which laid the foundation for his transition into DJing and music production. After spending over a decade performing commercial Indian and Top 40 music across the U.S., Harshal shifted his focus to his true passion—techno. By 2018, he was fully immersed in Southern California’s underground scene, performing at raves, warehouses, and desert parties while producing original techno tracks under his own name. His releases soon gained traction, with EPs on major techno labels like Dolma Records, Unity Records, and Mavic Music, earning support from iconic artists such as Richie Hawtin and Paco Osuna, and playing on stages like EDC.

In 2023, Harshal launched his new project, Alien9, blending his DJ experience with a unique fusion of Indian folk instruments and electronic synths, bringing a fresh sound to the techno world. Now based in San Diego, Harshal is also a key player in the local underground scene through his promotion company, 1904 Kollektiv, hosting top-tier techno artists and continuing to grow Alien9’s influence in the U.S. techno landscape. With exciting upcoming releases and performances, Alien9 is already making waves, solidifying Harshal as a rising star in the global techno community. Today he sits down with 6AM to talk techno, the SD scene, and new music!

Hi Alien9! Thanks so much for talking to 6AM, how are you doing?

Hey 6AM team! I’m doing fantastic—thank you for having me. It’s always a pleasure to share my journey and music with a collective like yours.

 

For those that don’t know you started out DJing fashion shows in India, then spent over a decade spinning Top 40/commercial Indian music in clubs across the U.S. before fully diving into techno. That’s a crazy journey! What was the moment you knew techno was ‘it’ for you? Was there a specific track, event, or experience that made you say, “Alright, this is where I’m meant to be”?

It’s definitely been a wild journey! I’ve always felt that my musical background gave me a unique approach to techno. After years of touring and playing commercial Indian music, I realized I was drifting away from my first love: electronic music. After a show in Kansas City, I had this moment of clarity where I knew it was time to refocus. So, in 2018, I made the decision to step back from those gigs and fully dedicate myself to electronic music and the community around it. That was the turning point for me.

 

You launched your Alien9 project in 2023, bringing in Indian folk sounds and blending them into techno. What’s the core vibe of Alien9? How does it stand out from your earlier work as Harshal? And if someone’s never heard your music before, which one track should they start with?

Alien9 vibe is all about merging the past with the future. The electronic instruments represent the future, while Indian folk instruments bring in the history and culture. As Alien9, I experiment with unconventional Indian instruments like Bhapang, Morsing, Kanjira, and Ghatam, layering them with electronic synths.

My earlier work as Harshal did feature Indian instruments too, but Alien9 gives me more artistic freedom to fully explore these influences. It’s been an evolution, and you can hear that journey in my music.

If you’re new to my sound, I’d recommend starting with “Bramhanand” from my Antaral EP. That track captures the essence of what Alien9 is all about.

You're deep in the San Diego underground techno movement with 1904 Kollektiv. What’s San Diego’s scene like right now? What are you and your crew doing to push the sound forward down there?

The San Diego underground scene is definitely on the rise. Sure, the city has its challenges, like rising costs, but there are so many incredible crews out here bringing culture and something for everyone. The energy is infectious, and it really feels like we’re building toward something big.

At 1904 Kollektiv, we take a more boutique approach to our showcases. We don’t just book big names for the sake of it, we carefully hand-pick artists and pair them with production that we develop in-house. While a lot of promoters focus on bringing in popular techno acts, we like to highlight artists whose sound has real depth and weight, even if they’re not “trendy.” For us, it’s about creating something special and lasting.

We’ve also been working hard to build connections beyond San Diego—across SoCal, the Midwest, and even the East Coast. We want to be a resource for people traveling between these regions, offering authentic experiences and helping them tap into the scene without any of the cringe. It’s all about creating a hub where like-minded people can connect and share their passion for music.

From operations to production, we do everything we can to support local artists and help the scene grow. Big shoutout to Eddie and Cathy Abarca—they’ve been such an important part of this journey and we couldn’t do it without them!

 

Your new EP‘Prasaar’ is set to drop on Unity Records. The concept of the EP is to use techno to represent extraterrestrial broadcast, contact, and communication. What sparked this idea for you? Are you just into sci-fi and alien theories, or did something specific make you want to translate that into music?

I’ve always been fascinated by the vastness of the universe and the possibility that we’re not alone. The idea for Prasaar actually came from a publication by Lambros D. Callimahos, a cryptologist from the NSA, where he discussed how humans might communicate with extraterrestrial beings through signals.

Each track in the EP represents a step in this process:

• “Prasaar” means “Broadcast,” capturing the sound of signals sent into space in search of a response.

• “Sampark” means “Contact,” reflecting the emotions of joy, fear, and confusion when contact is finally made.

• “Sanchaar” means “Communicate,” symbolizing the start of two-way communication with another civilization.

These tracks are my sonic interpretation of what that experience could feel like.

You named the tracks in Marathi—your native language. That’s a unique touch, especially in the techno world where English and European languages dominate. What made you decide to root this project in your cultural background? Will this be a continuous theme for all your tracks as Alien9?

I wanted my music to reflect my roots and spark conversations. Naming the tracks in Marathi allows me to share my culture in a subtle but meaningful way. People often ask me about the names, and it’s a great way to connect.

This has been a theme in my music since my early days as Harshal, and it’s something I’ll definitely continue with Alien9. In the world of Alien9, Marathi is the native language.

 

Thanks so much for speaking to our audience. Is there anything else you would like to add before we sign off?

Thank you for these thoughtful questions, it’s been a pleasure to share my journey with you!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends, and everyone who’s supported me along the way. Prasaar EP is a special release for me, it’s Unity Records’ 300th release and my first with them as Alien9.

To celebrate, we’re releasing a limited-edition vinyl with Prasaar EP on Side A and bonus tracks from my previous releases on Side B. Huge thanks to Damian and the Unity Records team for believing in me and my music.

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