FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 16, 2003

Press Contact:
Natasha Alim
(310) 428-6414
press@artwallah.org



BEATS FUSE, CULTURES COALESCE
ArtWallah Brings Together South Asian and Middle Eastern Americans

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 16, 2003) – Local musicians and concert-goers gathered at the Indo-American Cultural Center in Venice on Mother’s Day to celebrate globally inspired music while raising funds for one of Los Angeles’ most highly anticipated festivals, ArtWallah. The sounds of East, West and in-between mingled in original compositions and impromptu jam sessions performed by the critically acclaimed bands, Arohi and Liän Ensemble. The benefit concert represented the symbolic joining of South Asian American and Middle Eastern American communities in light of the discrimination the respective communities continue to face post-9/11. The theme of the concert, “Feel the Unity,” was amplified by an audience whose diversity matched that of the music. Event proceeds benefit ArtWallah, fourth annual arts festival of the South Asian diaspora, scheduled June 26-29 at the LAGLC’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Hollywood.

Arohi and Liän Ensemble charmed the audience with unforgettable rhythms and hypnotic sounds with their first collaborative set, a mingling of Indian raga and Persian folk highlighted with Brazilian samba and harmonic jazz. Like streamlets converge into a river, each cultures’ musical tendencies seam effortlessly into one. Layer upon layer, the complexity and volume of instrumentation increased as each piece approached its climax. After reaching crescendo, the works fell towards resolution, each end greeted with fervent applause.

When asked why ArtWallah decided to host a performance of bands with differing roots and audience bases, Assistant Festival Coordinator, Lina Patel Michon explained, “The philosophy behind ArtWallah transcends beyond just South Asian themes, it is merely a point of departure to bring together underrepresented communities, who may share artistic and diasporic experiences.” She added that “it made sense to collaborate with like-minded musicians, passionate about pushing the cultural, political, and personal boundaries of their audiences through message-driven new world music.”

Paul Livingstone, lead musician of Arohi, reflected upon the diversity of the Los Angles area. “We were inspired by the vision of ArtWallah and the excitement and passion of the festival organizers. This benefit event and our music truly reflects the microcosm of the local community…one that has roots in various corners of the world, yet with homes nearby, and with shared interests and dreams. We are part of an important awakening. The more people understand about each other culturally, the clearer it becomes that we are not so different.”

Between sets, Sasha Reyes of the Blue Triangle Network, a group dedicated to increasing awareness of the repression immigrant communities face in this country, evoked a strong political message. With her recitation of a powerful poem, which addressed the repressive attacks against Muslim, Arab, and South Asians in the United States, she gripped everyone in the hall beckoning that they unite and speak out against oppression. The words “mysterious detentions, deportations, and disappearances that elude the media need to be stopped” resonated with the audience, who under her voice felt newly united.

The power of note and word carried into the intermission, as the venue was abuzz with strangers chatting and mixing comfortably. A bond had surely developed.

Audience member and aspiring musician, Dev Bansali, described the music of Arohi as “peaceful and eloquent with traditional North Indian roots and a fresh flair. Liän Ensemble captured my attention with the shifting pace and intensity of the santur, tar, and drums. And although the vocals were sung in a language I do not speak, I could feel the depth of their expressive emotions.”

A final set followed the break as well as a compassionate reading by Geeta Malik. The tribute, entitled “Mother’s Day Prayer” was highly appropriate, not only for the occasion, but also in relation to the state of the world today. In short, the acknowledgement touched upon the universal suffering from Iraq to Israel, from Pakistan to Africa – extending to all those that have been victim to political and religious strife, conflict, oppression and war… “may we remember the mothers.”

As the music of Arohi and Liän Ensemble touch upon nearly every musical tendency, the festival ArtWallah embraces nearly every genre of art. It blends the traditions of South Asia with the flavors and modernity of its shifting reach and boundaries. ArtWallah’s appeal has steadily grown with the diaspora’s recognition of itself as a unique entity; a growth evident in the festival’s record number of submissions from both established and emerging artists from across the nation and the globe. Prospects are high that South Asians and the public alike will “Feel the Unity” this June 26th with the festival’s opening.

About ArtWallah
ArtWallah is an annual non-profit festival showcasing artforms representing the South Asian diasporic experience, including dance, film, literature, music, theater, visual arts, and spoken word. The four-day festival is comprised of daytime programming, which spotlights artists and different genres, and of evening shows, which samples the festival as a whole in a 3-hour performance. ArtWallah is presented by the South Asian Artists’ Collective and the Indo-American Cultural Center. For event and ticket information, visit www.artwallah.org. For inquiries, email info@artwallah.org.

About Arohi and the Liän Ensemble
Arohi band members include Paul Livingstone on sitar and fretless guitar, Leonice Shinneman on Afro-Indian drums, Jonathan Diamond on bass and Eric Barber on saxophone. For additional information and upcoming concerts, visit www.tanpura.com. Members of the Liän Ensemble include Pirayeh Pourafar on tar, Mashid Mirzadeh on santur, Houman Pourmehdi on tonbak and daf (drums) and ney (flute) and Siamak Shadjarian, vocals. For additional information and upcoming concerts, visit www.lianrecords.com.

About the Blue Triangle Network
The Blue Triangle Network has produced a fact sheet documenting the repressive attacks against Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Immigrants in the United States. For more information, visit www.bluetriangle.org.