mandala

Few collaborations in psychedelic music carry the kind of organic chemistry that Hypnocoustics and DJ Mandala share. What began as a chance meeting in a beach café in Kerala more than two decades ago has grown into a creative partnership rooted in friendship, shared experiences, and a deep connection to the spirit of Goa.

Their latest collaboration, “Anjuna Touchdown,” captures a feeling familiar to many travellers and dancefloor wanderers – the moment of arrival, when the sun melts into the Arabian Sea and the music begins to shape a new chapter of life.

In this interview, Joe and Angus reflect on the serendipity that brought them together, their meticulous studio process, the ever-evolving magic of Goa, and the beautifully chaotic lessons learned along the roads of India.

As is clearly evident from the collaboration tracks you’ve written together, there’s a deep connection between you both. Can you take us back to the very first time you met and how that initial spark evolved into the creative partnership we hear today?

Joe & Angus: We met 20 years ago in Kerala in a beach café, both on our own journeys. Angus was bound for Goa to start an eco-resort which would later become The Mandala, while Joe was a fresh-faced early-20s aspiring psytrance producer travelling India for the first time.

It was a chance meeting, but we immediately connected. We ended up putting on a small party, hanging out for a week, exchanging music and creative ambitions before going our separate ways.

Ten years later we had another serendipitous meeting on a Goan beach, which eventually led to our first studio sessions together in 2016.

That original meeting, and the spark of connection and friendship at formative moments in both of our lives, sits behind our creative partnership. It allows us to tap into a part of our younger, idealistic selves and the sense of possibility we both felt at the time.

You’ve crafted several powerful collaborations over the years. How do you feel your shared creative process has evolved?

Joe & Angus: As our solo projects have refined and technology has advanced, the process has evolved to an extent, but our attitude towards writing music hasn’t changed.

We always work face-to-face, never remotely. We switch off from the outside world, discuss the vision of the track carefully, and dig deep into unusual sound sources that inspire us.

We also never rush for the sake of a deadline. For us, only time, reflection, revision and the ability to self-critique lead to the level of sophistication and detail necessary for a track to have real longevity.

Your latest collaboration release, “Anjuna Touchdown,” carries a very special energy. What does this track represent to you?

Angus: I’m a self-confessed sunset addict. Wherever I am in the world, that time of day means a lot to me, it represents a chance for self-reflection and marvelling at the wonders of nature.

Out of everywhere I’ve watched the sunset, some of my greatest memories are in Goa.

When I first came to Goa in the early 90s, I remember watching an epic touchdown sunset from the Shore Bar on South Anjuna beach, listening to what was then a completely new kind of music. Little did I know that sound would go on to define the course of my life.

As the orange ball melted into the sea, so did my mind. The rest is history. Anjuna Touchdown is really about that feeling of arrival.

You’ve both spent significant time in Goa. From your perspective, how have things transformed over the years, and what magical elements have remained untouched since your first adventure there?

Joe & Angus: Although Goa goes through many mutations, the land itself will always be the magical part, the energy of it is undeniable.

People come and go, but there’s always a core group who remain loyal. There’s still a special connection with the Goan people, and a steady flow of new visitors falling in love with the atmosphere and lifestyle for the first time.

As much as we might dream of crystallising a perfect moment in time, nothing stays the same. Today’s generation experiences the magic of Goa in ways that are just as meaningful and authentic as before.

India is well known for its gracefully organised chaos on the roads. Can you shed some light on the legendary “Horns OK Please” stickers seen on the back of most vehicles?

Angus: It roughly means: beep if you have to, then please feel free to overtake.

But like everything in India, there’s also an element of mystery to it.

I’ve always been fascinated by the beautiful chaos that seems to exist only in India. The question I often asked myself was, is this human chaos somehow cosmically organised?

At the time I was travelling around India on my Enfield motorbike. One day in Delhi, on a busy traveller street called Paharganj, I decided to run an experiment.

I started my bike at one end of the street and rode the hundred metres in first gear, moving at roughly the pace of a heartbeat. I promised myself I wouldn’t hesitate or use the horn at all.

The idea was that if I reached the other end of the street unscathed, without actively avoiding chickens, cows, rickshaws and the madness of Delhi traffic, then maybe chaos really does work.

I’m happy to report it was a successful experiment.

Somewhere in between all the apparent madness, there’s a nano-path of sense, the flow. It just requires trust to navigate. That idea has become a metaphor that has shaped me more than almost anything else.

For future psychedelic adventurers travelling to Goa, or India in general, what wisdom would you share?

Joe & Angus: Forget everything you think you know, because it’s probably irrelevant.

Be open-minded, respectful, appreciate the hospitality that so many Indians instinctively afford to their guests, and be willing to go with the flow at all times.

India is so much more than only the vortex of Goa in peak party season. It’s hard to describe without falling into cliche, but we see it as life unfiltered and a full spectrum reality that delights, enlightens and challenges in equal measure. 

So be sure to explore deeper and step outside your comfort zone, and your intrepidness will be rewarded.