Watch Mali, Easy Wanderlings, JBabe, STEVIE and More Perform Solo Sets for New Video Series ‘Centre Stage’
Chennai-based music community platform Circle of Love has put out six videos, with a second season in the works
DJ-producer Profanayty aka Nayanika Kapoor in a still from her Centre Stage performance
Though it’s flown under most radars this year, music platform Circle of Love’s Centre Stage video series is a new initiative featuring intimate 20-minute performances by new and established indie talent.
Launched in October with a performance featuring alternative act Easy Wanderlings’ Pratika Gopinath and Sharad Rao, the first season of the series has so far included singer-songwriter Mali, alt-pop artist JBabe, R&B/pop artist STEVIE, a slicky produced set for DJ-producer Profanayty aka Nayanika Kapoor and indie band The F16s’ synth artist/producer Harshan Radhakrishnan performing under the moniker Henny.
Circle of Love’s founder Sameer Sethi (who has spent about two decades working in events and with top artists such as A.R. Rahman) says the series combines “our love of music with a clean visual sensibility.” Minus any audiences, crowded infographics or hosts, Centre Stage simply delivers the music with simple embellishments. Sethi says it took weeks of planning to shoot the performances, as well as partner with Chennai spaces which would ensure safety protocols in the midst of the pandemic.
Aired for free via YouTube and Facebook, Sethi says of their financial model, “We offset the costs of not only putting together the series but also keeping it on a free viewing model through Circle of Love’s on-ground events and record label releases which are scheduled for 2021.” Circle of Love currently functions as a music production facilitator, YouTube channel and merchandizing company, amongst other things. “We are also working towards being a music foundation so that we can extend support to all,” Sethi adds.
Additionally, the second season of Centre Stage is also in the works, with Sethi hinting at artists from the North-East, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and more for a more multicultural showcase. He adds about the curation aspect, “Gender equality and inclusivity are of paramount importance to us as a community and we balance that in our series the best we can.”
Watch Season 1 of Centre Stage below. Follow the page here.
