After a few weeks of recuperating from my month in London, I’m finally starting to feel like I’m in the groove again.  Been busy of course.  Couple of dance shows with Rangoli.  A weekend trip to Atlanta to visit the nephews.  And already getting ready to start the new album.  You can all thank Michael Duffy, my drummer, for that.  Why stop writing and producing albums - he casually reminds me.  I’ve barely recovered from financing this album, but with so much support and enthusiasm from Michael, I figure the logistics will sort itself out!  Will keep you posted on how the writing and production comes along.  We’re meeting for lunch on Monday…an informal production meeting of sorts!

On another note…my apologies.  I got lazy in London and barely blogged.  Actually, I was too busy skulking the depths of the Tube to meet up with my friends.  (Yes, folks…this is the escalator taking me down to the bottom of London.)  There’s no wireless down there.  Beware.

All in all, London was amazingly fun!  Filled with icons and performances.  Friends and loved ones.  A little pictorial essay for you…

 A London double-decker parked on a plaza in the middle of the night. 
Schehzad from Club Asia and I found her lonely near Brick Lane.

 Where I performed in Balham at the Bedford.  It’s as charming inside as out!

My friend, Jus1Jam, from the Sisterhood project. 
Poor thing took a 5 hour train ride from Bradford to come see me play…Now that is sisterhood!!!

 Harpal flew in that morning from LA.  He was dog-tired, but rallied for me.  Awwwww.
Then the next day, I took him to see Susheela Rahman and meet up with Ashanti and Pirashanna…tamils in full force!

Ashanti, Pirashanna, Me, Harpal - 3 Tamils and a Punjabi.
We made sure to have a lovely Keralite meal while at Inn at the Green.
I had a veg thaali and the rest dug into the non-veg one!
I know…I look like I’m high…don’t ask…and I wasn’t!

That Friday, we left for Birmingham for a family wedding. 
The bride’s uncle drove to the ceremony in a rickshaw.
Not sure if that is a Punjabi thing, but it was damn funny!!!

After, we met up with Swami and his wife at the famous Mailbox. 
Old post office distribution center they turned into a mall.
It appealed to Harpal’s real estate eye!

Speaking of the eye…check out the London Eye.
Harpal and I celebrated our one-year anniversary on July 28th.
The next day, we walked 15 miles through Central London
before heading to a play and Lebanese food at Noura.

We barely got sun that day…so sad for two Cali folks.

On my last day in London, it rained of course, but that did not stop me.
Neither did the nasty cold I had.
I met up with Helen at LSE and then…

Meet my new friends, sisters Reema and Diya.  Reema writes for Rolling Stones India and Diya is an avid music lover/party-girl beauty.  They are really too cute for words.
This was our self-portrait.

We drank blossoming tea.  The tea leaves turn into flowers in the hot water!!

So there you have it - in brief.  That night, I happily packed my suitcase and guitar.  I missed LA and Harpal and was thrilled to be going home the next day.  My flight left London at 11am on Wednesday.  Harpal picked me up that night from LAX and we went straight to Wahoos for nachos.  Is there a better way to get back to being a Los Angelino?

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This past weekend in London has been filled with long chats with two musicians I deeply admire.  DJ Swami and Nitin Sawhney. 

Swami and I go back a few years and he melted my heart yesterday when said, “consider me and my family your family here in London.”   I spent Sunday afternoon with his wife and two children at Hampstead Heath, a sprawling Victorian park in inner London.  Four years ago, I met Swami and after taking a listen to Rock Candy, he told me that next time I should just do the album by myself.  As we sipped tea like proper British people, he asked me if I really self-produced REVOLUTION.  My response:  “You told me to!“ 

He stared back and said, “You really listen to us when we tell you something.”  I trust Swami and his musical ear/advice.  If he says something, I’ll listen.  His wife backed me up.  “I definitely remember you telling her to do the next album by herself.”  He was a bit in shock and also happy in a way a big brother can be.  I listened and I think he was proud that I as an Indian woman tackled the hairy world of production.  Not too many of us floating around.  Still, the constructive feedback followed.  Again, I listened.  I hope to make him proud again on the next album.

The day before, I spent the afternoon with Nitin Sawhney in his studio.  We listened to tracks from his upcoming album.  I shared songs from my album.  His positive and constructive feedback followed.  I am humbled that these guys care enough to spend the time to offer me advice.

After music talk, Nitin and I grabbed a drink at a local pub and talked politics.  I love it when musicians get together and talk about the world.  There is no shortage of rebellion and skeptism charging through the air.  Noam Chomsky and “common sense” are often used in a sentence together. 

The weekend was sweet and enlightening, but most of all, inspiring.  Travel has a way of refueling the soul.  Songs are emerging from within.  I can feel it.

When I got back to my computer this morning, had a gift waiting from Yuriyi.  He’s made a chillout mix and included the new Wildflower World Remix by Soul Avenue. 

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Enjoy, enjoy!  More news from London in a bit…also, check the Ashanti Omkar post.  My show with her is live on their site!

Posted in: Music & Creativity | 1 Comment »

UPDATE:  My show on South Side is live!!!

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After nearly 4 days in London, having battled jetlag and getting a local mobile, I had my first official music jaunt today.  Ashanti Omkar, of Desi Hits! South Side, had me as a guest on her show today (will air on Monday so stay tuned for the update post).

Quite honestly, I was a bit nervous for three reasons.  I knew Ashanti to be a serious music journalist - she is not afraid to ask the tough questions.  Then there was Ghetto Guru, master provoker - I could not be held liable for my defense.  And thirdly, today was my first trip on the tube by myself!  (you’re supposed to say “awwwww” now.  okay, fine.  i’ve been on the subway in NYC.)

With guitar on back, I headed to Eastcote Station.  Despite it being July, it’s gray, rainy and chilly here.   You can see from the picture below, sunshine is not to be found.

Of course, the Piccadilly line had a small fire alert and therefore, trains were delayed.  I texted Ashanti to let her know I was running late and that oddly, the tube kept randomly stopping in the middle of the journey - not at the stops.  Graciously, she waited for me at Acton Town, the nearest station to the Desi Hits! studio. 

When I finally reached and met up with Ashanti, I wondered how anyone could be intimidated by this lovely, sweet woman?!?  That’s us in front of the studio.  We hid the only woman on the wall because the artist and the guys at Desi Hits! thought it would be funny to make her “well endowed.”  To see how well, you will need to go to Acton Town.

All I can say about the day is that I had such a blast!  I can’t wait for you to hear the show.  We laughed for an hour straight.  Listened to great music.  And as far as Ghetto Guru is concerned…  Let’s just say I handled my business.

It’s pretty late here.  After dinner with Ashanti and live concert photographer Akin, I headed back on the Tube to Pinner where I’m staying with my aunt and uncle.  By the way, they are super sweet!  Getting to know this side of my Punjabi family is turning out to be illuminating and enlightening.  London, even with shite weather, captured my heart all over again.

More soon… 

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After 5 years of being involved with ArtWallah, once again, I had the privilege of performing at the Festival this year. My dear friend, Lakshmi Iyengar, and I performed a traditional Bharatanatyam piece. For music, I played acoustically on Saturday and with the band on Sunday.

My acoustic performance was also graced by Sandra Chatterjee’s lovely improv dancing. Here’s a rough recording of the piece we improvised to live on Saturday night. I’ve named the piece Mirage…enjoy!

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Thank you to Soumya, Sarita, Megha and all the volutneers for making the event so lovely!

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So a while back, my booking agent, Chris, got me and Harpal a couple of tickets to watch Moby perform at Yahoo! Live Sets. Guess who got to ask Moby a question?!? You guessed right if you guessed me!!! Video below…proof that I chatted with Moby. Yup…it was a good moment! (I’m about half way through…)

Posted in: Music & Creativity, Out And About | Add Comment »

Like all birthdays, I want to feel like this year my life will have some awe-inspiring purpose and wonder that even I cannot deny (or mess up)! The sign from God. The moment of truth. (I know…no pressure or anything.)

When my dear friend and fellow actor, Carey Embry, told me that Amma, commonly known as the ‘Hugging Saint’, was in town and giving Darshan on my birthday, I thought, if this is not a sign from God… Carey is an Amma devotee and his enthusiasm for our day is rivaled by none. Not even me, and I even received lovely birthday blessings from Amma.

You can’t help but to smile when you see her. She exudes pure love and joy, though she is surrounded by so much pain that we all carry around with us like dead weight. Saint she is. With ease and patience, Amma lifts us all up. Truly she and her work are holy.

But I will let Carey tell you more about our “fantastic” day…

My Revolution is much more than music. I want us all to be about love, compassion and joy. If we could all give the way Amma does, this world would be heaven. I am the first to say I have work to do.

So you can see what lovely gifts Amma gave me….we came and took a picture before we cut the apple and fed my moms, me, Carey, Harpal, my dad and saved some for YL dad. It’s prasadam..we ate it as the way to accept Amma’s blessing.

May you all continue to be blessed…

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UPDATE: I got a copy of Dave’s Lounge: #119. Enjoy!

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Hello, hello!!! Today is a special day….well, for me it is at least. Two reasons. It’s my birthday and also Dave Warner featured a remix of ‘Wildflower World’ on his podcast this morning! I love this remix. A very talented producer named SoulAvenue put together this little bit of heaven. I hope you visit Dave’s Lounge and enjoy the best in chillout, downtempo and trip hop music.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes and I hope you are all having a lovely June 17!

Posted in: Music & Creativity | 4 Comments »

A new friend of mine recently challenged me with a single question, “Do you have a plan for yourself?” I just stared at her for about 2 minutes and then answered, “Clearly, I don’t.” It’s been my experience that plans never work out the way you envisioned and so I told her that about 5 years ago, I decided to stop making plans and to just go with the flow. Projecting way out in the future is a futile endeavor, I feel. It sets you up for incredible disappointment. Life happens, and not in any way you imagined.

My friend spends her days helping people define who they are and what they want to be in the world. Nebulous job description I know, but useful nonetheless. She explained to me that long-term goals are dangerous but invaluable. Interesting paradox. She went on to say that plans help you work out what you want to do with your days; today, this week, this month. They help bring forward short-term objectives.

I am still grappling with this conversation. What is the point of working hard every single day on short-term objectives you hope gets you to a goal that you will most likely never get to? Why not just go with the flow and let life happen to you?

I explained to her that for nearly 5 years, I’ve been a gypsy. She said, “I’d go so far as to say that you’ve been a nomad. It’s time to come home.”

Fascinating. All this time, I thought I was on a path. Turns out my path has been to not be on a path. The ultimate goal-less goal. Even I am getting dizzy thinking about this.

Yoga has taught me to be in life’s current. My friend inviting me to use life’s current to take me where I want to go. She asked me to think about what I want to be known for in 10 years. For the first time in my life, I am definitely aware of the fact that I have no idea. What type of legacy do you want to leave? Have you thought about that lately?

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I’m getting more and more excited for my upcoming trip to London. I leave in about a month…on July 12! Chips and pubs. Friends and funny British humour. And of course, music, music and more music. They have an incredible scene out there.

Today, I received the official flyer from The Bedford, where I’ll be performing an acoustic set.

It’s been nearly 2 years since I picked up my guitar. Well, actually, I take that back. I picked up my lovely old friend on Friday for the first time in nearly two years. I want to write new songs for this set. Definitely a little rusty. I tell you what…I will take a little video of some of the new songs so you can see/hear what I’m up to acoustically these days. Promise to post that in the next day or so. Hope you’re having a lovely Monday!

Posted in: Gigs and Concerts | 1 Comment »

My dear friend, Varun Soni, recently got appointed as the Dean of Religious Life at USC. He’s the first Indian to hold the position, not to mention the youngest, and it’s already made headlines at the LA Times and the Washington Post. Varun also happens to be a lawyer, a patron of the arts and a DJ for LA’s progressive independent radio station, KPFK.

Early this morning…and when I say early, I mean 1:45am, I went down to KPFK’s station house to meet up with Varun and be a guest on his last Indica show as presented for the past year. With the new USC position, Varun will have to figure out a new way to continue his DJ gig. He reminded me that I was his first guest a year ago and his last today. Life always comes full circle.

We talked about the new album, REVOLUTION. We also talked about the Muslim women’s collective I’m a part of. It’s called Deeyah Presents: Sisterhood. The aim of Sisterhood is to help inspire other Muslim women to move beyond the resistance we face in our community as performers and artists. It’s an oddly held belief that if a woman is on stage, she is too seductive for any type of productive output for society. Much better if she stays indoors and has babies. Nothing wrong with having babies. Hope to have some someday, but I’d like to think that having babies and a family can coexist with being an artist! Imagine that novel idea?!?

Varun highlighted Sisterhood’s Kiran Zamman and Jus1Jam, both UK-based artists. He also talked to Elly of Elly and Khai up in the Bay Area.

Varun then sent a little message for all of you.

I got home around 4am this morning. For now, I’m signing off.

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