Tara Kumar on playing the Smirnoff Stage at Electric Picnic 2024: "At a festival, I tend to go bigger than I would for one of my usual shows"

She has played at massive festivals and exclusive private parties around the world – but the lush fields of Stradbally Hall remain the backdrop to some of Tara Kumar’s fondest memories.

“What I relish about EP is that you get to see all these people you love that you might not get to see all the time, whether that be musicians or friends,” she says. “One of my favourite moments was seeing Björk in 2013 – I remember going, ‘Oh, my God, this is crazy’. She had a special, purpose-built instrument on the stage, which was used on the album she was touring. It was outrageous, over the top, and everything that is amazing about Björk.

“I’ve played a couple of times myself. The crowd at Electric Picnic is always full of good vibes, good energy. Everyone is there to have a good time and enjoy this shared experience.”

That’ll be even more keenly felt in the up-close-and-personal setting of the Smirnoff Stage.

“At a festival, I tend to go bigger than I would for one of my usual shows,” she says. “You have to read the crowd a little bit more because there’s so many distractions! It means a lot for someone to choose to listen to you, and spend that time with you, when they could be at another gig or watching someone else. That’s why it’s really important to give your all and bring people into your world.”

Credit: Danika Magdelena

Of Irish-Indian-Malaysian descent, and currently based in London, Tara was raised in Australia. She categorically embodies Smirnoff’s emphasis on platforming a diverse crop of performers. Musically, she has been inspired by a broad range of sounds since she was a child.

“It’s a bit of a blessing and a curse,” she laughs. “Growing up in Australia listening to Triple J radio was a really big part of falling in love with music. At the same time, I grew up in a pub surrounded by live trad. I started playing the flute when I was nine years old, so I’ve got that classical element too. I’ve also worked in a CD shop and an instrument shop. It can be hard to distil all those influences in my DJ sets.”

From Kumar’s perspective, increasing access for musicians and DJs is vital, enabling artists to broaden their sonic horizons. It’s a feature that makes the Smirnoff Stage ultra appealing.

“You always want to have an open door,” she says. “I think you should continuously grow your network and friend circle, because getting inspiration from different people is really important. It’s crucial to cross-pollinate. The music scene, like anything, can be very cliquey and it can be intimidating to rock up to a gig or event on your own. I really value when people are kind to me, so I try to pass that on.

“Better inclusivity and diversity is slowly and surely growing in Ireland as well. We’re seeing a lot more people from different types of backgrounds coming through. But it’s a big project. The work never stops.”

Stay tuned to Hot Press for more information about Smirnoff at Electric Picnic...

The Smirnoff Stage will feature at Electric Picnic 2024, which takes place at Stradbally Hall in Co. Laois from August 16–18.