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Mangoes and Music with Jack Johnson | Priyanka's Moodle

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— by Priyanka Gogoi| Mumbai
Doodle by Priyanka Gogoi
Music + Doodle = Moodle |Today’s Moodle - Better Together by Jack Johnson.
Sometimes you just want to listen to simple songs with uncomplicated lyrics, nice tunes with uplifting beats. I always rely on Jack Johnson’s songs to calm my mind when it gets too buzzing. It’s soothing and easy on the ears.

Today, I feel particularly happy. So, I decided to make a doodle on “Better Together” from Jonhson’s album “In Between Dreams”. A simple song of love and of togetherness. To compliment the song, I made a doodle of a couple enjoying their time together. J

By and by, just a little trivia: Do you know this album was recorded in Johnson’s studio which was named “Mango Tree”? The cover art of the album “In Between Dreams” also depicts a Mango Tree. What's more, in one line of the song “Better Together”, we hear the words “Not so many things we got to do, or places we got to be, we’ll sit beneath the Mango Tree now”. With all the mango references, Mango seems to be Johnson’s favorite fruit!!

Hope you like the moodle!

ABOUT AUTHOR

Priyanka Gogoi is an artist from Mumbai, Maharashtra, and co-owner at Kohua. She studied at Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies after graduating from Cotton College, Guwahati. She married her 'love for art' and 'passion for music' and gave birth to Moodle. Moodle... get it? Music+Doodle. Oh hey! Priyanka also regularly shares about events, festivals and travelogues on her blogs www.tintedthoughts.me and www.skimble-scamble.blogspot.in.

Music Malt Online Fest-2014 submissions

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Music Malt Online Fest-2014
A total of 257 music videos were submitted for Music Malt Online Fest-2014. The submission started on August 15, 2014 and continued till October 15, 2014. More than 29 countries participated in the festival. Below are the details.
MMOF-2014 CategoriesEntries
Creative Genius (Music Video)114
Song of Substance (Music Video)74
The Dream Weaver (Music Video)69
CountrySubmissions
United States53
United Kingdom15
Canada10
India8
France8
Norway7
Portugal6
Spain6
Italy5
Iran, Islamic Republic of5
Argentina5
Australia5
Slovakia4
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of4
Not Specified4
CountrySubmissions
Germany3
Russian Federation3
Israel3
New Zealand2
Brazil2
Poland1
China1
Finland1
Colombia1
Japan1
Serbia1
Slovenia1
Iceland1
Taiwan1
Mexico1

Music Malt Online Fest-2014 winning music videos

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Music Malt Online Fest-2014 winners!

Festival date - October 18, 2014.

First of all, thank you all for the overwhelming response to MMOF 2014. In its very first edition, MMOF was introduced to a plethora of talent from across the globe. No matter how clichéd it sounds, do believe us when we say that we had a tough time deciding on the winners. Our judges went through hundreds of videos, debated and nearly fought over the long list, short list, and finally the winners. There were many amazing videos we could not accept as all the criteria were not met. Among the ones accepted, in some instances the videos were amazing but the music didn’t make the cut, and in other instances vice versa. Remember, we were looking for an original song that creates the perfect alchemy between music and visuals.

And after much thought and deliberation, we have our final three.

Song of Substance

Beautiful
Music by Nez Erok
Directed by Paul Komadina (Australia)

Song of Substance (a video that sends a strong social message):
Beautiful

Children at an impressionable age are often scarred for life on being subject or witness to domestic violence and abuse. Beautiful touches upon this grave issue in a subtle manner and sends out a very strong message.

Congratulations to Nez Erok and Paul Komadina from Australia.

The Dream Weaver

Heads or Tails
Music by Alexis Harte
Directed by Kate Isenberg (United States)

The Dream Weaver (the most funky, wacko video, mostly animated stuff):
Heads or Tails

Sweet and romantic, Heads or Tails touched us with its tale of enduring love. The animation, catchy tune and lyrics effectively weaved a beautiful narrative which had us asking for more.

Congratulations to Alexis Harte and Kate Isenberg from the United States of America.

Creative Genius

Hang Me On The Line
Music by Jon Kenzie
Directed by Lu Pulici (Italy)

Creative Genius (as the name suggests, get creative):
Hang Me on the Line

You don’t need to be equipped with big budgets, glitz, and glamor if you have creativity on your side. This quirky, funny video blew us away with its minimalistic music and pure genius in which simple resources were used.

Congratulations Jon Kenzie and Lu Pulici from Italy.

Special Mention

There were quite a few videos which made it to our shortlist when we set out to decide on the final three. We’d like to congratulate the individuals and teams behind these videos for their commendable efforts. You guys are great. Keep it coming! And please remember that we have many more music fests in the pipeline.


Keep The Cards
Music by Mark Tronson | Directed by Dimi Nakov (New Zealand)

Uncomfortable
Music by Sigrid Zeiner | Directed by Stein-Ivar Mollestad (Norway)

Start a Revolution
Music by Devilskin | Directed by Dimi Nakov (New Zealand)

Call Me
Music by Pixel | Directed by Ola Martin Fjeld (Norway)

Mulligan's Island
Music by We Govern We | Directed by JB Palmer (United States)

White Page
Music by Kids Fly | Directed by Noam Gelbart and Amnon Ron (Israel)

Birthmarks
Music by Benny Crespo's Gang | Directed by Ásþór Aron Þorgrímsson (Iceland)

Arc de Triomphe
Music by Adrienne Pierce | Directed by Allison Beda (Canada)

Ardoyne
Music by Daniel Buhr | Directed by Philip Clayton-Thompson (United States)

A Lifestory
Music by Abelardo Fernández Bagues | Directed by Nacho Rodriguez (Spain)



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Lennon's secret 'Chord' behind Hey Jude | Priyanka's Moodle

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— by Priyanka Gogoi| Mumbai
Doodle by Priyanka Gogoi
Music + Doodle = Moodle |Today’s Moodle - Hey Jude by The Beatles.
This is the song I would absent-mindedly sing… anytime, anywhere. Isn’t this the perfect sing-a-long song?!

This song by The Beatles was written by McCartney with Lennon sharing credits. There are so many theories chronicling the lyrics. But the most common theory is that McCartney wrote this to comfort Lennon’s son, Julian (so, Julian is the “Jude” Dude), during Lennon’s divorce.

It was released as a single in 1968 and was Beatles’ longest single running 7:11.

Listen to it carefully and around 2:55, you will hear Lennon saying “…chord!” while Paul’s singing. Lennon was actually saying “Got the wrong chord!” but the word CHORD is the most audible, and after 2-3 counts, you hear McCartney say “F***ing hell” !!

The doodle is just a fun, 'situational' doodle showing a girl letting her hair down and singing along while listening to the song on the car radio and meeting a person named “Jude” that same day. I don’t know any Judes in real life… or else, I would have always greeted them in the Beatles’ tune; that would have been fun!

Hope you like this. Until next time!

ABOUT AUTHOR

Priyanka Gogoi is an artist from Mumbai, Maharashtra, and co-owner at Kohua. She studied at Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies after graduating from Cotton College, Guwahati. She married her 'love for art' and 'passion for music' and gave birth to Moodle. Moodle... get it? Music+Doodle. Oh hey! Priyanka also regularly shares about events, festivals and travelogues on her blogs www.tintedthoughts.me and www.skimble-scamble.blogspot.in.

When life gives you lemons, sing Lemon Tree | Priyanka's Moodle

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— by Priyanka Gogoi| Mumbai
Doodle by Priyanka Gogoi
Music + Doodle = Moodle |Today’s Moodle - “Lemon Tree” by Fool’s Garden.
This song has been a constant in every karaoke event I’ve ever attended!

It’s the song that you sing when you have no other songs coming to you. The lyrics being easy and repetitive, it doesn’t require much thought to sing it.

“Lemon Tree” is definitely the most popular song by Fool’s Garden. It’s from their album “Dish of the Day” and was released in 1995. The song reached number one in several music charts and has been translated into more than FORTY languages!

A lot have been discussed on the meaning of the lyrics; why the singer keeps seeing the Lemon Tree? (“And all that I can see is just the Yellow, Lemon Tree”); are there hidden connotation behind the use of “Lemon” tree?

The discussions are many; but I still don’t know why they wrote what they wrote. To me, it’s a straight-forward song. It’s just a really happy, upbeat tune disguising the melancholy nature of the lyrics.

Peter Freudenthaler of the band mentioned, ““The song came to me as I waited for my girlfriend and I immediately realized that the song is something special. One day of production – the rest is history that continues until today.” Source: http://wp.foolsgarden.de/en/band-2/

That’s the best piece of information I could gather on the song. Maybe, it really is a simple, straight-forward song with no hidden intention. But it’s definitely a song that is already a classic.

Best time to sing it? Anytime, but always sounds better on a “rainy, Sunday afternoon”. ;)

Much love!

ABOUT AUTHOR

Priyanka Gogoi is an artist from Mumbai, Maharashtra, and co-owner at Kohua. She studied at Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies after graduating from Cotton College, Guwahati. She married her 'love for art' and 'passion for music' and gave birth to Moodle. Moodle... get it? Music+Doodle. Oh hey! Priyanka also regularly shares about events, festivals and travelogues on her blogs www.tintedthoughts.me and www.skimble-scamble.blogspot.in.

North East Festival 2014 - connecting people, celebrating life

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 North East Festival 2014 | November 7-10, 2014

Event - North East Festival 2014 

WHEN
November 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th, 2014
WHERE
IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi, India
Entry
Free
CONTACT
Phone: +91 (011) 23388155
Email: directoradmn.ignca@gmail.com
MORE INFO AT
www.northeastfestival.com
INFORMATION
Guru Rewben Mashangva at North East Fest
(photo - northeastfestival.com)
To reduce the regional gaps and to celebrate the essence of North East India, NORTH EAST FESTIVAL will be organized from 7th to 10th November, 2014 at IGNCA Ground, Janpath, New Delhi. Considered as the biggest ever festival on North East Region in the National capital, The event is aimed to highlight the positive aspects of the region which is so full of talents, resources and success stories.

The “North East Festival” has become a brand which is synonymous with the unification of the various stakeholders of North East under one dynamic platform. The importance of North East Festival has gone manifold after the recent racial disturbances especially in Delhi. This time the theme of North East Festival is “Insurgence to Resurgence”. Boxer from Manipur MC Mary Kom and Assamese singer Zubeen Garg are the Brand Ambassadors of North East Festival.

For more information visit www.northeastfestival.com or follow North East Festival on Facebook.
HIGHLIGHTS

Dark Light live at Phoenix MarketCity, Bangalore | photo showcase

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— by Music Malt | Bangalore
Dark Light, a five-piece psychedelic and progressive rock band from Bangalore, performed live at Phoenix Marketcity in Bangalore on November 15, 2014. The band started out in 2013 and their music is a mix of progressive elements and ambient psychedelic soundscapes. The band is primarily influenced by music giants like Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, U2, Opeth, Guns N Roses, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin. Here are few moments of the concert.


All images © 2014 Jim Ankan Deka | All rights reserved

Bengaluru International Film Festival 2014 - celebrating cinema of the world

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 Bengaluru International Film Festival 2014 | December 4-11, 2014

Event - Bengaluru International Film Festival 2014 

WHEN
December 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th, 2014
WHERE
Badami House, N R Square, Bengaluru 560 002
Entry
Delegate Pass Rs 600 | For registration Click Here
CONTACT
Phone: +91 080 2222 2355 | +91 80 2213 3410 | +91 80 2213 3441
Email: contact@biffes.in
MORE INFO AT
www.biffes.in
INFORMATION
The 7th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) to be held during December 4-11, 2014. The festival is being organized by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy for Government of Karnataka supported by Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce.

Apart from screening films from around the world, the festival will also host various forums for academic interactions like seminars, Workshops, master classes etc., for the benefit of film professionals, discerning audiences and students on different aspects of cinema.

For more information visit www.biffes.in or follow Bengaluru International Film Festival on Facebook.
HIGHLIGHTS
Indian cinema to be screened at BIFFES
Kranthidhara by Himansu Sekhar Khatua (Odia)
Yellow by Mahesh Limaye (Marathi)
Ek Phaali Rodh by Atanu Ghosh (Bengali)
Adomya by Bobby Sarma Baruah (Assamese)
Pannaiyarum Padminiyum by S U Arun Kumar (Tamil)
Kuttram Kadithal by Bramma G (Tamil)
Alif by NK Muhammed Koya (Malayalam)
Njan by Ranjith (Malayalam)
Unto the Dusk by Sajin Babu (Malayalam)
Agasi Parlour (Salon by the fort entrance) by Mahantesh Ramdurg (Kannada)
Munnariyippu by Venu (Malayalam)

For the complete movie list Click Here


Vieux Farka Toure to perform at Blackberrys Sharp Nights – Masters Of World Music

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 Vieux Farka Toure - Blackberrys Sharp Nights 2014 | December 6, 2014

Event - Vieux Farka Toure - Blackberrys Sharp Nights 2014 

WHEN
Saturday, December 6th, 2014
WHERE
HIGH ULTRA LOUNGE, 26/1, Rooftop, World Trade Center, Bangalore Brigade Gateway Campus, Dr. Rajkumar Road, Malleswaram, Bangalore – 560055
Entry
By Invitation Only | For registration Click Here
CONTACT
Phone: 080 4567 4567 | 072 5995 1076
Email: highultralounge@gmail.com
MORE INFO AT
www.blackberrys.com
INFORMATION
Vieux Farka Toure
Upscale menswear and accessories brand, Blackberrys, is bringing music lovers in India an unprecedented opportunity. This year its annual flagship event Sharp Nights is organizing a five-city World Music tour. The Bangalore edition of Masters Of World Music will feature celebrated Malian folk Fusion and Blues guitarist and singer Vieux Farka Toure, at High Ultra Lounge in Bengaluru on December 6th, 2014. With this first-of-its-kind world music tour, Blackberrys is also providing an opportunity to home grown talents. In Bengaluru, Shoonya will perform on the very same stage.

Aptly titled ‘Blackberrys Sharp Nights – Masters Of World Music’, the India tour will showcase two of the world's leading world music performers, promote local musical talent and institute a scholarship fund to help conserve traditional Indian music.

Commenting on this unique amalgamation of fashion and music and its efforts to accustom the Indian audiences with the genre of world music, Mr. Nikhil Mohan, Managing Director, Blackberrys said, “Sharp Nights has always been a much awaited event. This year we are delighted to introduce world music under the Masters of World Music series. Much like how fashion is intertwined with world cultures, world music too emanates from the remarkable diversity prevalent in the universe. It is here that audiences appreciate how music participates and connects to the world in ways unfamiliar to us.”

Furthermore the concert will begin with a fashion auction which will showcase the Blackberrys AW '14 look – the proceeds of which will be used to nurture Indian traditional music schools, by providing scholarships for deserving students and funds for material support.
ABOUT Vieux Farka Toure
Vieux Farka Toure, often referred to as ‘The Hendrix of the Sahara’, is a Malian singer and guitarist and the son of the legendary Ali FarkaTouré, whose music was described by Peter Gabriel as ‘the DNA of the Blues’. Vieux was invited to perform at the opening celebration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup along with other performers including Shakira & Alicia Keys. Vieux is known for his virtuosity with the guitar - his Blues riffs reminiscent of the genius of his father, and redolent with the culture of Mali.
HIGHLIGHTS
Vieux Farka Toure | Shoonya | Blackberrys AW '14

For more information visit www.blackberrys.com or follow Blackberrys on Facebook.

Blackberrys Sharp Nights - Making Music a Style Statement

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— by Vinod M Singh| Bangalore
Vieux Farka Toure at High Ultra Lounge, Bangalore

My musical preference is like an ‘all you can eat buffet’ – there’s room for everything. Therefore I eagerly agreed to cover Vieux Farka Toure’s live gig at High Ultra Lounge, while having absolutely no clue what I was in for. My editor in chief told me that it’s some sort of a music meets fashion event, produced by Blackberrys.

Blackberrys as most of you know is a menswear and accessories brand. This year its annual flagship event ‘Sharp Nights’ organized a five-city World Music tour, aptly named ‘Blackberrys Sharp Nights – Masters of World Music’. The Bangalore chapter of the tour featured Malian folk Fusion and Blues guitarist and singer Vieux Farka Toure.

Vieux Farka Toure at Blackberrys Sharp Nights, Bangalore
Often touted as The Hendrix of the Sahara, Toure’s bragging rights include being invited to perform at the opening celebration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup along with other performers including Shakira & Alicia Keys. His West African folk fusion combined with flamboyant costumes underscored how music and style have always been interlinked. The compositions surprisingly have a mild semblance to central Indian tunes (the kind you get to hear in Ram Leela, or Indian street theaters). Fuse that with bluesy strings and African percussion – that’s Vieux Farka Toure for you! A fine blend of world music that compels even the most uptight person to groove.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the opening act “Shoonya”, a Bangalore based World Music band, which I hadn't heard of, until yesterday. And just so you know, this is one band you must follow. They have plenty of videos on YouTube, which you MUST watch! (Here’s one)

Vieux Farka Toure at Blackberrys Sharp Nights, Bangalore
Halfway through the event, Nikhil Mohan, Managing Director, Blackberrys enlightened us on the objective of the ‘Masters of World Music’. This fashion and music tour aims at promoting local musical talent and institute a scholarship fund to help conserve traditional Indian music. Audiences were encouraged to donate for this cause and also participate in a fashion auction showcasing the Blackberrys AW '14 look, the proceeds of which will be used to nurture Indian traditional music schools, by providing scholarships for deserving students and funds for material support. To be honest the Blackberrys AW '14 collection is a great looking line of clothing, and people would have purchased them anyway, but it adds to the joy knowing that the money they've spent is also helping a noble cause.

The merger of fashion and music is nothing unique, especially for a city like Bangalore where music and style walk hand in hand; but what makes ‘Blackberrys Sharp Nights – Masters of World Music’ stand out is the mind blowing performance by Vieux Farka Toure.


Edited by Parmita Borah. Photos and videos by Vinod M Singh
All images © 2014 Music Malt | All rights reserved

IGNITE! Festival of Contemporary Dance 2015

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 IGNITE! Festival of Contemporary Dance 2015 | Jan 11-18, 2014

Event - IGNITE! Festival of Contemporary Dance 2015 

WHEN
January 11-18, 2015
WHERE
New Delhi | For more info Click Here
Entry
Full Festival Pass - Rs 2500 | For more info Click Here
CONTACT
Phone: +91 9582732689 | 9990256669
Email: info@khublei.in
MORE INFO AT
www.ignitedancefestival.com
INFORMATION
Dancers at Gati Dance
IGNITE! Festival of Contemporary Dance was started in 2010 and is now on its 3rd Edition. Organised by the GATI Dance Forum, the festival aims to ignite a conversation about contemporary dance practice in India and galvanize public opinion on policy through intensive seminars and network meetings.

Based in New Delhi, Gati Dance Forum is a pioneering arts initiative that works in the field of contemporary dance. Founded in 2007, in response to the glaring absence of opportunities and infrastructure for independent dance in India, Gati has consistently searched for avenues to create a sustainable environment for the development of contemporary dance practice in the country. Both conceived of and run by dance professionals, Gati Dance Forum is a model path-breaking community initiative.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dance Performances | Conference | Masterclass and Workshops | Film Screenings | IGNITE! Festival Hub @ Max Mueller Bhavan

For more information visit www.ignitedancefestival.com or follow Gati Dance on Facebook.

Steller line-up of world renowned musicians at ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival 2015

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Music at Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2015

Jaipur is once again set to dance to the beat of world class musicians as the annual ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival brings together an eclectic line up of artists playing morning and night. The music performances will take place at two locations, the Font Lawns at Diggi Palace in the morning and the Music Stage at Hotel Clarks Amer in the evening as part of the world's largest free literary festival this month, January 21-25, 2015. The Festival is grateful for the support of all its partners including the Aga Khan Music Initiative, the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop and the Royal Norwegian Embassy who help bring world-class musicians to Jaipur.

FRONT LAWNS at DIGGI PALACE, 09:30 – 10:00, 21-25 January 2015 (Free with Registration)

Opening the Festival will be local Rajasthani musicians Nathoo Solanki, Chugge Khan and the Jaisalmer Boys who will mark the start of five days of festivities at Diggi Palace. They will be joined on stage by local dancers and performers as well as Sonam Kaira & The Sufi Gospel Project.

Opening the second morning of the Festival will be Vocal Raasta, a cappella group of 15 young singers from Delhi whose music is based on the theme of Freedom of Expression.

Classically trained in the Patiala Gayaka, Indira Naik's music is a tribute to age old traditions set against the backdrop of modern times. She will perform music from her new spiritual album Ekoham on the morning of January 23 at Diggi Palace.

Folk fans will be able to enjoy Malini Awasthi as she eases Festival goers into the weekend with her mellifluous renditions of Dradra, Kajri, Jhoola, Holi and Chaiti, Sohar music along with many other musical styles on the morning of Saturday 24.

Following her on Sunday morning, the last day of the Festival will be Rashmi Agarwal who has carved out a niche for herself as an accomplished Sufi and Ghazal singer.​

MUSIC STAGE at HOTEL CLARKS AMER, 19:00 – 22:00, 21-24 January 2014 (Tickets Rs.400/- per day OR Rs.1400 for all 4 days - available from KyaZoonga)

Kick-starting the evening music programme will be The Unorthodox, Unprecedented Preacher who take to the stage with sitar virtuoso, Sheema Mukherjee, to tell transglobalised versions of stunning, 2,000 year old tales. Fresh from opening the Festival in the morning, local Rajasthani musicians Nathoo Solanki, Chugge Khan and the Jaisalmer Boys will open the Music Stage at Hotel Clarks Amer. Joined by local dancers and musicians, including the show-stopping whirling Queen of the desert of India Queen Harish, they promise to have the crowd dancing long into the night. Also appearing on the opening night will be the Alim Qasimov Ensemble, presented in association with Aga Khan Music Initiative who will bring the spiritual sounds of Azerbaijan to Clarks. Qasimov was awarded the prestigious IMC–UNESCO International Music Prize for Performers – the same award received in previous years by Ravi Shankar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Yehudi Menuhin, and Benny Goodman.

The second evening of the Festival will see BBC World Music Award winners Transglobal Underground take the stage. The London-based music collective specialize in a fusion of western, oriental and African music styles. They will be joined at Clarks by Festival-favourites Jaipur's Bharat Brass Band and Fanfara Tirana which consists of members of the military band of the Albanian armed forces, who mix Albanian traditional music, Balkan beats, dub reggae and jazz together for a unique blend of Balkan funk. Also playing on January 22 will be author Jeet Thayil's ongoing music project Still Dirty featuring Tanuja Desai Hidier & Gaurav Vaz, which originated in Berlin. This New Delhi edition will take shape with the inclusion of Anup Kutty (Menwhopause), Tony Guinard (Ska Vengers), Shiv Ahuja (Five8), Shardul Mehta (Joint Family) and various musicians from the city's independent music scene.

As night falls on Friday evening Dub Colossus will keep the crowd warm, dancing along to their mix of jazz, funky grooves and a little bit of Afrobeat thrown in for good measure. The five-piece collective will play hits from their highly acclaimed fourth album Addis to Omega. Also playing at Clarks in the evening of January 23 will be internationally celebrated Pakistani folk singer Sain Zahoor, supported by the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop. Recognised for his mastery of the Iktara, a traditional single stringed instrument, he will be the second BBC World Music Award winner to play the Festival in 2015.

Closing the Clarks Amer music venue on Saturday evening, and providing a rouse finale will be Rizwan Muazzan Qawals, supported by The Royal Norwegian Embassy. Favourites of the UK's WOMAD Festival, the band was formed by brothers Rizwan and Muazzam, and today they perform traditional music sung in Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Punjabi. Also joining the closing night line-up will be Midival Punditz, the most influential and in-demand electronica outfit in India today, whose producing credits include tracks featured on some of the Bollywood soundtracks such as Don, Chak De and Karthik Calling Karthik.

In addition to the morning and evening musical performances, several music writers and musicians will discuss their craft and careers in daytime sessions during the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival.

ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival Music Programme Day-by-Day

Wednesday 21 January, 2015
09: 30 – 10:00 – Front Lawns, Diggi Palace
Nathoo Solanki, Chugge Khan, the Jaisalmer Boys and Sonam Kaira & The Sufi Gospel Project (FREE with Festival Registration)

19:00 – 22:00 – Hotel Clarks Amer
The Unorthodox, Unprecedented Preacher, Alim Qasimov Ensemble, Nathoo Solanki, Chugge Khan, the Jaisalmer Boys and Queen Harish (Ticketed Rs. 400)

Thursday 22 January, 2015
09:30 – 10:00 – Front Lawns, Diggi Palace
Vocal Raasta (FREE with Festival Registration)

19:00 – 22:00 – Hotel Clarks Amer
Transglobal Underground, Fanfara Tirana & Jaipur's Bharat Brass Band, Still Dirty featuring Tanuja Desai Hidier & Gaurav Vaz (Ticketed Rs. 400)

Friday 23 January, 2015
09:30 – 10:00 – Front Lawns, Diggi Palace
Indira Naik (FREE with Festival Registration)

19:00 – 22:00 – Hotel Clarks Amer
Dub Colossus and Sain Zahoor (Ticketed Rs. 400)

Saturday 24 January, 2015
09:30 – 10:00 – Front Lawns, Diggi Palace
Malini Awasthi (FREE with Festival Registration)

19:00 – 22:00 – Hotel Clarks Amer
Rizwan Muazzam Qawals and Midival Punditz (Ticketed Rs. 400)

Sunday 25 January, 2015
09:30 – 10:00 – Front Lawns, Diggi Palace
Rashmi Agarwal (FREE with Festival Registration)

Tickets for the evening music sessions at Hotel Clarks Amer are available from KyaZoonga, as are registrations to attend the morning music session at Diggi Palace as part of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival.

For more info Click Here

All that Glitters - Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2015

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— by Parmita Borah| Jaipur
Zee Jaipur Literature Fest 2015 (photo: Jim Ankan Deka)

My joy knew no bounds when I received a participant registration message from the organizers of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival. “An opportunity to see the who’s who of the literary world, in person”, I told myself. And therefore I reached the enthralling historical city of Jaipur on 21st of January; despite being jet lagged after a delayed Air Asia flight that couldn't land on time either, I made it to Diggi Palace Hotel (Jaipur Literature Festival’s hospitality partner since its inception) and just an hour before Day 1 was about to end.

This may make me sound a tad snobbish, but I wasn't very impressed on seeing the venue. Jaipur Literature Festival, I was told, is the largest literary festival in Asia-Pacific. But what do I see? The fabric of the pandal – ragged and torn. “Not so grand eh! Doesn't look anything like the images on the internet”, I nearly blurted out. “But lit fests are not about the show, it’s about richness in content, multitude of views and opinions”, I reminded myself. I collected my entry badge from some flustered KyaZoonga volunteers, and got in after the customary security check.

Shabana Azmi, Salima Hashmi and Ali Husain Mir (photo: Jim Ankan Deka)
I was right on time for the session “Faiz and Kaifi - A Poetic Legacy”: Salima Hashmi and Shabana Azmi in conversation. Naturally, I rushed to it with a lot of gusto, only to be apprehended by some more flustered faces at the entrance.

“Are you a delegate?” a young woman asked me.

“A participant, actually.”

“Sorry. Delegates only.” She smiled.

A friend of mine, displayed his press pass and asked if he’d be allowed inside, but he too was asked to head in the opposite direction, politely ofcourse. One doesn’t always get to see Shabana Azmi in person. Therefore, forsaking all sorts of shame, I found a way to peep through the hall window to catch a glimpse of her. What I saw inside, blew my mind, and not in a good way – there were hardly fifty people inside the hall that could easily accommodate over 200! But ofcourse, poetry is only for those who paid INR 3000 per day per person or those who registered for all 5 days and availed a special rate of INR 12000! (#sarcasm) So much for the largest FREE literary festival on earth! The evening got darker and colder and with a heavy heart I retreated to the warmth of my hotel room.

Shashi Tharoor, Amrita Tripathi and Mihir Sharma (photo: Jim Ankan Deka)
On 23rd February, i.e., Day 3, I decided to make another trip to Diggi palace. The itinerary kind of drew me in, and I must admit, the day did have its moments. Amish Tripathi and Bibek Debroy talked about Dharma conflict in Mahabharata extracting interesting questions from audience as young as fifteen years old. Shashi Tharoor and Mihir Sharma discussed passages from Tharoor’s book India Shastra; while Salima Hashmi, Kamila Shamsie and Alka Pande brewed interesting conversations about contemporary Pakistani art. My favorite session however remains “Wanderlust and the Art of Travel Writing” with some hilarious anecdotes by author and journalist Brigid Keenan. Regrettably I missed the sessions by former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Nobel Laureate V. S. Naipul the next day due to a time constricting travel plan.

The evenings were adorned with musical performances by international artists which could be enjoyed at the payment of four hundred rupees. Fashion quotient was top notch with lovely ladies walking around in fashionable jackets, knee length boots and colored hair. The vast expanse of the Diggi Palace hotel offered numerous food and beverage stalls, and around three stalls to purchase books from. However, what I felt lacked in the ambience, the Jaipur Literature Festival did make up for with a myriad of amazing discussions, and the effervescing energy of literature enthusiasts who swarmed the venue.

By virtue of my netizen nature I clicked a selfie with the Jaipur Literature Festival logo at the background and posted it on Facebook, and here’s the first comment I received “Is Rajnigandha the main sponsor of the event?”

I did not know how to respond to that.

Call for entries | Music Malt Online Fest - 2015

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MMOF-2015
Music Malt Online Fest - 2015 (MMOF) - Nov 25, 2014 to October 18, 2015
Music Malt Awards
We are looking forward to go on a sonic trip and feast our eyes at the same time!

If you have a music video published on an internet portal, send it to Music Malt Online Fest. The best of the lot will receive a trophy, a certificate, and an attractive gift hamper. We will also share the winning videos on our website with a profile on the band/artist.
Music Malt Trophy
There are three major prizes to be won -
❶ Song of Substance (a video that sends a strong social message)
❷ Creative Genius (as the name suggests, get creative)
 The Dream Weaver (the most funky wacko video, mostly animated stuff)

Video submissions for Music Malt Online Fest starts on November 25, 2014 and ends on October 10, 2015. The results will be declared on October 18, 2015. Judges will take the final call.

Powered by Eastern Fare, MMOF is an online music festival which will give a platform to the upcoming indie as well as established musicians to showcase their music videos to a broader audience. Video submission will start from August 15, 2014 and will end on October 10, 2014. The results will be declared on October 18, 2014. The fest is looking for already published Youtube, Vimeo or Dailymotion music videos. Music videos completed and published after January 1, 2012 are eligible for the music fest. For more info check this page later or write to musicmalt@easternfare.com.



ChaiTunes to release the first music video - a tribute to Assamese writer duo

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Xaare Aasu - Jim Ankan Deka ft Queen Hazarika

Composed by Bangalore based Assamese musician Jim Ankan Deka, 'Xaare Aasu' is an Assamese song based on poems by late Bhabananda Deka and late Nalini Prava Deka. The love themed song will be sung by renowned singer from Assam, Queen Hazarika. The music video is directed by Parmita Borah, a Bangalore based flash fiction writer.

The song will be released as a tribute to the Assamese couple Bhabananda Deka and Nalini Prava Deka. The lyrics of Xaare Aasu is taken from two separate poems written by the couple and edited by Jim.

Queen Hazarika, known for her timeless earthy voice, had worked with Jim previously on a song - Aawaz - based on the infamous 'Delhi gang rape' incident. The song created quite a buzz and was able to pick multiple national and international awards at different music and film festivals. Singing for more than three decades, Queen's soulful and beautiful voice has been adored by many.

This will be Jim's third Assamese song and music video. His previously released Assamese songs are Xobdor Porisoy and Nixobdo Nilim. This collaborative music video will be released in May, 2015.

The song is produced by Bangalore based production house Eastern Fare and powered by Music Malt.

Litmus Festival - literature, music, theatre, inspiration

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 Litmus Festival 2015 | April 18-19, 2015

Event - Litmus Festival 2015 

WHEN
April 18-19, 2015
WHERE
Bangalore
The Humming Tree, Indira Nagar | Bricklane Grill, Indira Nagar | Kitschdii, Indira Nagar | For more info Click Here
Entry
Free (Limited seats)
CONTACT
Phone: (+91) 022 2648 3164 | 022 2648 3165
Email: litmus15@foryoungindia.com
MORE INFO AT
www.litmusfestival.com
INFORMATION
Akash Anand and his literature artwork (Litmus 2014)
Organized by FYI (For Young India), Litmus presents a combination of panel discussions, performances and workshops for its audience. The overarching aim of this lit-fest is to celebrate the ‘Word’ in all its forms, with sessions on varied topics, such as graphic storytelling, censorship, feminist literature, new-age authors, etc.
HIGHLIGHTS
Bombay Jazz - a semi–autobiographical musical play at The Humming Tree on 18th April, 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm.
Lavs - a dance performance at The Humming Tree on 19th April, 6:10 pm to 6:20 pm.
Still Dirty - performance by Jeet Thayil's Music Project at The Humming Tree on 19th April, 9:45 pm onwards.
FREE THE WORD - discussion on current Indian Literature scene featuring Anand Patwardhan, Manu Joseph, Naresh Fernandes & Wendy Doniger at The Humming Tree on 19th April at 10:00am.
Sense And Censorship - by Devdutt Pattanaik at The Humming Tree on 19th April, 11:05 am.
Graphic Novel Workshop - By Sarnath Banerjee at Bricklane Grill on 19th April, 10:30 am.
Gulabi Gang - film screening at Humming Tree (4th Floor) on 19th April, 2:00 pm.
Paper Quilling Workshop - at Kitschdii on 19th April, 10:30 am and 3:30 pm.

More about the Litmus Festival schedule here - www.litmusfestival.com/schedule.

For more information visit www.litmusfestival.com or follow Litmus Festival on Facebook.

16 Rock Bands from North-East India you don't want to miss

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North-East India is very rich in music, dance, tradition and culture. All the eight states of North-East India have something to offer for rock music lovers. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is also known as 'Rock Capital of India'. Some of the festivals promoting rock music of the region like Hornbill Festival of Nagaland and Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Pradesh are quite famous among music lovers. The region gave birth to many well known and respected Rock bands since the 60's. We have compiled a list of 16 (sixteen) comparatively new bands we love listening to all the time. Of course, there are various other bands apart from these sixteen bands who have made their mark on the Rock music scenario of India. We will post about those bands in our next segment.

The Vinyl Records(Arunachal Pradesh) - Formed in February 2010, The Vinyl Records is an All-girl Rock band. They have performed in well known festivals and events like the Ziro Festival of Music, Puma Loves Vinyl, The LOUDEST Gig in Delhi, etc.

Lucid Recess (Assam) - Formed in 2004 by brothers Siddharth and Amitabh Barooa, the band is considered as one of the best Indian metal bands. They won the Toto Award for Music in 2011.

Voodoo Child(Assam) - Brainchild of vocalist and songwriter Rittique Phukan from Guwahati, the band has played all over India and famous for their Rock N' Roll covers. The band is also well known for its celebrated line-up which includes Ambar Das, Amborish Saikia (KK, Euphoria), Jim Ankan Deka and Tanmay Ray Choudhury (Papon and the East India Company).

Cleave(Manipur) - A Progressive Rock band from Imphal, the band won many prestigious awards since its inception. The band was featured on NDTV and The Telegraph.

Aberrant(Meghalaya) - Based out of Shillong, Aberrant is a groove metal/experimental band and active since October 2011. The band was crowned ‘Meghalaya Icon III’ in 2012.

Afflatus(Meghalaya) - Formed way back in 2004, they are one of the 'all female' rock bands from Shillong. The band is influenced by The Beatles, RHCP, Flux Pavillion and Bruno Mars among others.

Soulmate(Meghalaya) - The band created history by being the first and only blues band ever to represent India in the world music scenario. Formed by lead guitarist and songwriter Rudy Wallang and vocalist Tipriti Kharbangar, the band is considered the most successful blues band in India.

Boomarang(Mizoram) - Formed in 2005, Boomarang is a five piece rock band from Aizawl. Their song 'War' was featured on the Stupid Ditties 3, ennui.BOMB’s annual compilation of Indian indie music.

Magdalene(Mizoram) - A Christian Rock band from Aizawl, the band was formed in 2005 and their name ‘Magdalene’ was inspired from the Bible. More than 30000 copies of their albums are sold till date.

The Scavenger Project(Mizoram) - An Alternative Rock band from Aizawl and formed in 2008, the band/project is the brainchild of Victor - the music composer and arranger of the band and also the guitarist of Magdalene.

Abiogenesis(Nagaland) - A Folk-Fusion band from Dimapur, the band has been performing since 2005. They describe their sound as a form of world music called ‘Howey music’.

Alobo Naga & The Band (ANB) (Nagaland) - Winner of "Best Indian Act" MTV Europe Music Awards 2012, ANB is an Indian rock outfit from Dimapur, Nagaland, formed in 2010 by singer, songwriter Alobo Naga.

Girish and The Chronicles(Sikkim) - Founded by vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Girish Pradhan on the 18 October, 2009, this Gangtok based band is a quite well known and has a huge fan following. The band is heavily influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin, ACDC, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden and Guns and Roses. They are now based in Bangalore.

Still Waters(Sikkim) - The rock band from Gangtok was formed in 2001 and got famous after performing at one of the country’s biggest rock music festival - The Great Indian Rock. They have performed at different music festivals all over the India.

Horjwlai(Tripura) - A Metal band from Agartala formed in 2007, their music incorporates the heavy sounds of metal and their own tribal tunes and melodies.

Twijlang(Tripura) - A Christian Metal band from Agartala, Twijlang was the brainchild of Barkish Debbarma & his younger brother Koushik Debbarma. They are presently known as Eliz's Apprentice and follow the Pop/Punk Rock genre.

Groove and sweat it out at Emerge Music Festival

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Alt-J

Alternate rock sensation, Alt- J took the music enthusiasts by storm on their first visit to India in February 2015. Fans have been spell bound by the charm and beats of Alt- J ever since. Their live- set performance at Emerge Music Festival in Bangalore got sold out within minutes of the tickets going on air with more than xxx music lovers attending the event. On popular demand, Viacom 18 is delighted to announce a welcome return of Alt- J to India this summer as part of the Emerge festival.

Viacom 18 has always gone that extra mile to introduce and connect music enthusiasts and art lovers with their interests by providing the right platform. They are committed to provide an experience that is memorable as well as entertaining. Viacom 18 values and understands the fans that missed out on ALT-J in Gurgaon last month due to the rains. Thus, ensuring that they get another chance to experience the alt rock sensation, Viacom 18 brings Alt – J to Gurgaon on 21st of May 2015 and to Mumbai on the 22nd of May 2015 on popular demand.

EMERGE Music Festival

VENUE: Indira Gandhi Stadium

DATE: 21st May 2015

TIME: 7pm onwards

TICKET PRICE: General- Rs 1800
                    VIP- Rs 3000

For tickets log on to:http://www.meraevents.com/
EMERGE Music Festival

VENUE: Richardson and Cruddas, Byculla

DATE: 22nd May 2015

TIME: 7pm onwards

TICKET PRICE: General- Rs 1800
                    VIP- Rs 3000

For tickets log on to:http://www.meraevents.com/












      


Emerge invites all the music enthusiast to groove and sweat it out this summer with Alt- J, rock sensation music on 21stand 22nd May at Gurgaon and Mumbai Respectively.

About Integrated Network Solutions

Integrated Network Solutions (INS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. The one-stop brand solution offers unique & impactful experiences through a revolutionary combination of multi-dimensional marketing & engagement platforms. Launched in 2013, INS provides exposure that is Insightful, Inspiring and Instant in connecting with audiences across age groups through its three multi-dimensional marketing platforms – LIVE Viacom18, BE Viacom18 and SPOTLIGHT.

LIVE Viacom18 engages with millions of consumers through impactful large format live properties such as Vh1 SUPERSONIC MTV VMAI, Nickelodeon KCA, Emerge, MTV Xtreme, and Comedy Central Chuckle Festival amongst others.

BE Viacom18 leverages the power of One Viacom18. It customizes in-programme and in-film opportunities for brands across Viacom18 channels and Motion Pictures.

SPOTLIGHT offers innovative avenues for brands to connect to audiences with the multi-faceted celebrities associated with Viacom18. It opens up enormous possibilities by creating customized content to tell a story that tugs at the heartstrings and engages every demographic.

Renault Free The Music Award - honoring the best in music industry

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Recently, Songdew in association with Renault presented the 'Free The Music Award 2015' to some of the bands and musicians from Karnataka in recognition of their outstanding contribution to indie music. The event was held at Hard Rock Cafe, Bangalore on April 23, 2015.

Bands and musicians which include Lagori, Solder, Aabha Hanjura-Sufistication, Aathma, Until We Last, Spaghettify, Space Behind The Yellow Room, Clown WiTh a Frown, Jim Ankan Deka, Brodha V, Gubbi, Agam, Onenightstand, Among The Signs, Thermal and a Quarter and Inner Sanctum, received the awards from renowned artist Baiju Dharmajan who was also the chief guest of the event. Prior to the award ceremony, performances by Big Deal, Soul Inclination, Mahesh Raghunandan and Baiju Dharmajan took the audience in Hard Rock Cafe by storm.

Here are few moments from the event. Courtesy - Songdew on Facebook.

Aabha Hanjura receiving the Free The Music Award
Space Behind The Yellow Room receiving the Free The Music Award
Until We Last receiving the Free The Music Award
Brodha V receiving the Free The Music Award
Gubbi receiving the Free The Music Award
Jim Ankan Deka receiving the Free The Music Award
Spaghettify receiving the Free The Music Award
Lagori receiving the Free The Music Award
Aathma receiving the Free The Music Award

Chai Tunes, Xaare Aasu and the backstory

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ChaiTunes presents Xaare Aasu
featuring Queen Hazarika & Jim Ankan Deka
Are you among those who are fascinated by the tea drinking culture in India? From the Masala Chai kettles of street vendors in Varanasi to sipping black tea in grandma's courtyards in Assam, from the aroma of Darjeeling’s orthodox tea to political debates and clay cups in Kolkata – the culture of drinking tea has an almost sacred status in India.

It is perhaps as deep rooted as the culture of music in our beautiful country. In the farthest corners of India, no occasion is complete without music; lullabies, weddings, festivals, simple merriment and even mourning – a few symphonic notes are bound to linger around.

With that in mind, we, the Music Malt team (a part of Eastern Fare Music Foundation by the way) wondered what if we could club the two cultures and create something amazing for the tea and music lovers. “It’s been done before”, we told each other. So what was it that we could bring to the table that left people with a fulfilling experience, as fulfilling as music or tea? We thought and thought and Bazinga! ChaiTunes emerged. It was almost like a bulb light on top of our heads (read: no fake humility, we felt like geniuses).

ChaiTunes, as it stands today, is a concept, where music is brewed and stories are told over cups of tea. It’s an experiment where musicians from different parts of the country come together to create a musical experience. There will be folk artists, bands, musicians, artists, actors and people from all over India coming together to be a part of this journey.

The first composition of Chaitunes series is Xaare Aasu. Among the tea drinkers of Assam, noted composer Jim Ankan Deka has composed the song, and noted contemporary singer Queen Hazarika has rendered the vocals. Among the tea lovers of Karnataka Shreyas Akarshan (of beat gurus) has played the drums, and Harish Mariappa has played the bass. Prateek Nalawade brings his a dash of Maharastrian flavor with the guitars. Playwright and theater actor Suhit Kumar and blogger Divya Nambiar have acted in the story that progresses along with the song. The lyrics of the song is based on poems by Assamese writer duo Prof. Bhabananda Deka and Nalini Prava Deka. Parmita Borah from Bangalore directed the video. Videography is done by Deepak Vijaykumar and his team.

The song is recorded, edited and mastered at Madcat Studios and Eastern Fare Studio, Bangalore by Anil CJ and Jim Ankan Deka.

Well there isn’t much to say. So sip on some ChaiTunes and refresh yourselves!

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