At Chinmaya mission centre, Mangere on 16th July around 6:30 pm onwards Sargam School of Indian Music and Creative communities NZ are bringing ‘An evening of World Music’ for all the music enthusiasts in Aotearoa.

The idea of ‘World Music’ is to bring together the people, communities, and musicians from different cultures together on the same platform. It is to bring togetherness. The fact that when people from different communities perform together, they establish immense respect for each other, thrive and connect through music. Basant says he has closely noticed that when they collaborate with other musicians, they then get to know the Indian artists, musicians in a better way. This happens through interactions and music practices. And he believes that there is no better tool than music in present times to get people together.

In New Zealand when people hear the traditional and classic music, they connect easily with the performances and artists exclaims Basant, even if we don’t know them, but it seems like we gain value

in their eyes or the person who performs becomes special to them.

He quotes musicians like Pandit Ravi Shakar, Zakir Hussain and many more have earned respect worldwide, in the same way when we collaborate with western musicians, we come to know them very well. This was the whole idea behind this project and was presented to Creative communities NZ. It was not about just doing Indian music programme and attracted just a limited set of audience, but it was the whole idea to collaborate with other western genres to create magical music blend for the concert. This programme will witness people from different cultures come together not only to perform but to listen, have Kai ( food) together and mix and mingle with everyone.

Indo-western fusion, western and Indian classic fusion, jazz fusion these two will get the Kiwi and Indian musicians together. Other than that, to present other cultures, they have Sufi music, there is traditional Kathak dance of Indian present by Purnima Garg and her students. And another big highlight is the Folk Music. It

is the very first time, there will be Himachal folk song and dance will be presented.

Shades of Shakti, the Indo-western band, is something to look out for in this concert, it is one of the prime highlights. The three musicians are coming down from Wellington, they are the kind of performers who have performed in the biggest festivals of New Zealand, specifically in the arts and classic genres. With a collaboration with two other musicians its going to be a very big highlight for the evening.

Nigel Gavin, one of the finest guitar players who plays jazz music in New Zealand. He will collaborate with Akhil Madhur on the tabla and other musician who will play violin. Followed by the traditional Kathak dance. And then the Himachal traditional dancing and singing will be performed live by Western and Indian students at Sargam School.

Sufi music which will replicate some of the spiritual music in the concert. There will be numbers presented that were sung by ace musicians like Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his songs like Dumadum Mast Kalandar, Mere Rashke Qamar etc will be performed as a finale. This is a new experience; it will make you come out of your boxes and experience this musical journey that will be bringing so many musicians at one stage. Just like different communities stay in harmony in New Zealand we are trying to showcase the same through this concert. That is how it is called the ‘World Music’ and it is not just concert, its altogether a different experience that everyone will experience and remember for the rest of their lives.

“We need the support guys, so do come support us and enjoy the music of the world. You will see how Indian music will be in every collaboration and how it mixes with other music thereby beautifying it. In our Indian culture few things are very highly respected all over the world and music is one of them, just like Yoga, meditation, etc. You will experience the magic happening live right in front of your eyes.” concludes Basant Madhur. – Vritti Parasher