+91 Calling also includes diaspora Indian artists like Renao, Manara from the U.K. and the Australian collective Chor Bazaar performing on Oct. 20
(From left to right) Mali, KR$NA, Kavya Trehan and Yung Raja are enlisted for the +91 Calling India showcase at SXSW Sydney 2024. Photos: Aarish Bhathena (Mali), Bruno Ueda (KR$NA), Courtesy of the artist (Kavya), Courtesy of Echoes of Earth (Yung Raja)
It’s a desi takeover at South By Southwest (SXSW) Sydney this October, with an Indian showcase gig titled +91 Calling bringing together rapper KR$NA, singer-songwriters Mali, Kavya Trehan, Singaporean hip-hop artist Yung Raja, DJ-producers Renao and Manara, plus the Australian artist collective Chor Bazaar.
The artists will perform from 1 pm to 7 pm on Oct. 20, 2024 at the Tumbalong Park mainstage at SXSW Sydney.
A description for the showcase event reads, “+91 Calling, a single-day showcase festival of Indian creative culture will bring the energy to the Tumbalong Park Main Stage on Sunday 20 October, featuring six acts from India and the Indian diaspora—one of the most exciting entertainment influences of the moment—with genres spanning hip-hop, pop, R&B, club and neo-classical.”
+91 Calling is supported by the Centre for Australia-India Relations and co-curated by South Asian-focused Australian entertainment company BeatSpace and Indian culture platform Homegrown.
The showcase comes on the back of Mali aka Maalavika Manoj previously confirming a performance at SXSW Sydney, which is in its second edition after launching in 2023 and runs from Oct. 14 to 20 this year. Goa-based electronic artist Dualist Inquiry aka Sahej Bakshi had also previously confirmed performances which take place outside of the +91 Calling showcase, with three sets slated to be announced.
Other big draws at the music, film, tech and games festival include R&B star Jorja Smith, Indonesian rock band Voice of Baceprot, Australian artists Sahxl, Mannequin Death Squad (who made their India debut at last year’s Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Pradesh) and more.
For the likes of Kr$na, his international performance comes on the back of releasing his EP For The Day One$ earlier this year. Mali previously dropped her single “Semi Automatic Butane” in 2023.
She told Rolling Stone India, “For the longest time I have known that my music has a significant market outside the country simply because all of it is in English […] Australia is home to some of my favorite bands and is a huge English music market. Also, I’ve never been there and this would be a great chance for me to travel the country and experience it through the lens of music.”
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