‘Resonate: The EDM Challenge’, a marquee competition under the ‘Create in India’ Challenge in run up to the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, brought together global talent in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) to celebrate innovation, creativity, and collaboration in music production and live performance.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) in collaboration with the Indian Music Industry (IMI) announced the names of the top 10 shortlisted participants for ‘Resonate: The EDM Challenge’ on 12th April 2025.
22-year-old Mark Ryan Syiemlieh from Lummawbah, Upper Shillong, Meghalaya secured a spot in the Top 10 of ‘Resonate: The EDM Challenge’. The top 10 finalists, including Syiemlieh, will now gear up to showcase their sound on the WAVES global stage in Mumbai from May 1–4, 2025.
Syiemlieh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong and is currently based in Mumbai. His journey into music began early, fuelled by a deep passion for DJing and Music Production, with sounds blending beats of techno and uplifting vibes of trance and house.
Sharing his excitement for the upcoming WAVE Summit, he shared, “I wanted to say thank you to the organisers of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, for selecting me as one of the top 10 finalists for the Resonate EDM challenge. Being among the top 10 finalists is truly an honour. It is a moment of pride and a reflection of the effort I’ve dedicated to my journey as an artist. This opportunity and recognition mean a great deal to me as it reinforces my belief in the music I’m creating and encourages me to keep evolving creatively”.
He further added, “WAVES has been an outstanding platform. It’s rare to find competitions that genuinely support and uplift emerging talent, and I’m grateful for the exposure and experience it has offered. I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity and look forward to what’s ahead”.
After a rigorous selection process and hundreds of impressive entries, the following ten artists have been shortlisted to perform live at the grand finale on the global stage of WAVES that will be held in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025:
- Srikanth Vemula, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Mayank Harish Vidhani, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Kshitij Nagesh Khodwe, Pune, Maharashtra
- Aaditya Dilbaghi, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Aditya Upadhyaya, Kumarikata, Assam.
- Devansh Rastogi, New Delhi
- Sumit Biltu Chakraborty, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Mark Ryan Syiemlieh, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Dibyajit Ray, Bongaigaon, Assam.
- Nobajyoty Boruah, Mumbai, Maharashtra
These top 10 artists represent a vibrant cross-section of India’s electronic music community, with unique sounds ranging from ambient to high-energy dance music. The challenge aimed to unearth and elevate Indian as well as global emerging talent in electronic music production and DJing. The success of this Challenge also strengthens India’s positions as a global centre for music fusion, electronic music, and DJing artistry. These shortlisted finalists are now going to prepare for their grand finale performance, where they will present their talent on the WAVES global stage.
Jury Panel for Preliminary Round:
The preliminary round was adjudicated by music professionals from knowledge partner Lost Stories Academy, India’s premier music production and DJ training institute. The jury included Amey Jichkar and Anshuman Prajapati. Amey has over a decade of experience in recording and mixing and is a seasoned audio engineer and music producer. He has worked extensively in Bollywood, advertising jingles, and major brand campaigns. His notable projects include Veere Di Wedding, Laila Majnu, October, and commercial work for CRED, Flipkart, and Upstox. Anshuman has over 10 years of experience in beatboxing and has spent the last three years as a music producer. Anshuman specialises in Lofi and Hip-Hop music and is known for his experimental sounds and self-proclaimed A&R instincts.
The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.
Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.
WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR). [PIB-S]