Those Who Know They Know returned to Mumbai’s NSCI Dome on Saturday, June 28, bringing the type of power that didn’t want a lot posturing. For all its ‘secret-party’ and line-up-under-wraps mystique, the lighting lacked theatre, the visuals felt recycled from final 12 months, and the tables got here aggressively monetized—however for these of us who got here to close up and dance, none of that actually mattered previous 10 PM.
This was my first correct occasion on the Dome, and I’ll admit—after years of dragging myself out of gigs with random bruises, claustrophobia, and a persistent cough—it was refreshing to be inside a large-scale Mumbai venue that really revered viewers consolation. Entry was clean, bar and washroom queues had been manageable, and there was sufficient elbow room for full-body motion even on the entrance rows (a rarity on this metropolis). Whereas it didn’t have the tight-knit intimacy of a warehouse rave, there was a wholesome mixture of attendees—school children sporting flash tats, company escapees in black techwear, and unbothered 40-somethings who clearly hadn’t missed Sunburn season since 2008. As for our crew of three, we flitted between teams and located our rhythm simply because the venue hit its 10:30 PM peak.
The evening’s breakout set was undeniably Virtually Human—a Sunburn India common who, for all of the occasion’s hype, delivered probably the most constant power and crowd management. St. Petersburg duo Goom Gum could have been the marquee act, however outdoors of the preliminary roar when their set was introduced, it didn’t land as a defining second, at the very least for me. The transition between units was seamless all through, however there was no actual build-up or narrative arc—only a regular climb and plateau of 120 BPM+ power.
The place the evening stumbled was in its much-touted visible expertise. The 3D HOLO projections felt extra like a slideshow spotlight reel than something actually interactive or music-synced; one thing made worse by the dearth of a visual DJ to observe together with. On additional inspection, the day after, some graphics had been redos from TWKTK’s 2024 version, which wasn’t misplaced on the repeat crowd. A quartet of background dancers briefly flickered into view with LED-strip matches, but it surely felt extra like filler than a characteristic.
For a property that claims to mix music, artwork, and innovation, this version leaned closely on the “music” a part of that equation—and that, too, provided that you had been standing shut sufficient to care. As a result of the lineup was stored completely below wraps till the acts hit the stage, it turned oddly tough for teams to plan their evening. With no clear anchor level, most individuals simply confirmed up “at any time when,” which, in apply, meant a mass arrival round 9:30 PM—lengthy after the present had technically kicked off. A black-red visible motif from the advertising bled into the stage design, however there wasn’t a lot past that to counsel a cohesive aesthetic. Tarot readings and a Bombay Shaving Firm sales space close to the VIP entrance added a little bit of fever-dream surrealism each time you stepped out for a drink, however in any other case, it was an easy dance celebration with a sprinkle of sponsorship. Basic Admission felt like an afterthought subsequent to the VIP part’s elevated view and smoother entry—one thing value remembering for subsequent 12 months’s version, already introduced for Might 30, 2026.
So what did TWKTK 2025 inform us about India’s digital music scene? Not a lot, besides that demand remains to be excessive, expectations nonetheless versatile, and an honest sound system plus (the promise of) a headliner or two is sufficient to pack the home. The evening delivered what it promised on the floor, even when it didn’t scratch any deeper itches for immersion or innovation. Would I am going once more? Possibly. The music’s nearly definitely worth the value of entry, but when the visuals don’t catch up, I’ll be retaining my hand fan and my ankles at house.