Behind The Label: Qilla Records
From underground beginnings to global recognition, India’s Qilla Records has built a fortress of sound – deep, hypnotic, and driven by pure intent.
Cameron Holbrook
Since 2011, Qilla Records has stood as a fortress for India’s underground – a label built on feeling, intention, and community over hype. Founded by Madhav Shorey, aka Kohra, Qilla was born from a simple idea: to build an ecosystem around the music and artists he truly believed in.
What started as a small, independent imprint has grown into one of the most respected forces in India’s electronic scene. Qilla’s sound sits somewhere between hypnotic techno, ambient experiments, and psychedelic textures – deep, heady, and full of emotion. Over the years, they’ve championed homegrown artists like SHFT, Midnight Traffic, Monophonik, and ARTIFVCT, while their tracks have echoed across festivals like Dekmantel, Boom, and MONUMENT.
Each release feels like a new chamber inside Qilla’s ever-evolving fortress – from the first EP Theoree to the 100th release in 2024, Chakravyuh, their first vinyl drop and biggest project to date. Beyond records, Qilla brings its community together through events like Alchemy Festival and Sacred Alchemy, creating spaces that feel raw, intentional, and alive.
We go behind the label to take a closer look at its evolution and explore what lies ahead for this pioneering imprint.
Listen to Kohra's 'Behind The Label' chart below or check it out on Beatport.
