Street Party Kick-Off

Street Party Kick-Off

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Street Party Kick-Off

Street Party Kick-Off

Fri, Sep 25, 2015, 5:30pm
  • Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
  • Throughout the Cultural District
  • Ticket Prices
    Free

Part of the Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District.  See a full list of events at trustarts.org/crawl.

British-born, New York City-based, DJ Rekha is a DJ, curator, record label owner and educator. Called the “Ambassador of Bhangra” by the New York Times and named one of the most influential South Asians by Newsweek, Rekha is among the first DJs to merge classic Bhangra and Bollywood sounds into the language of contemporary electronic dance music. Since establishing herself on the club scene with her inaugural event, Basement Bhangra in 1997, Rekha has produced some of the longest-running and most successful parties in New York, including Bollywood Disco, and Mutiny. Rekha also produces a weekly radio show, Bhangra and Beyond.

Her label, Beat Bazaar Music, launched in November of 2011 with its first release, Pyar Baile. Versed in a broad cross-section of musical genres -- from Bhangra to Dancehall to Hip Hop to Bollywood -- Rekha has helped launch the careers of artists across the musical spectrum. DJ Rekha was the first to present the artists Panjabi MC, Tigerstyle, and M.I.A in the United States.

Rekha’s musical accomplishments include sound design for the Tony award-winning Broadway Show, ""Bridge and Tunnel"" and the off-Broadway show, “Rafta Rafta.” She also served as the associate producer for the NPR Radio Documentary, ""A Feet in Two Worlds."" She marked the ten-year anniversary of Basement Bhangra in 2007, with the compilation, DJ Rekha presents Basement Bhangra, featuring an array of international stars, including Wyclef Jean, Panjabi MC, Tigerstyle and Bikram Singh.

In 2009, Rekha was chosen by the State Department for a three-week tour of India as a cultural ambassador to the U.S. Consulate. More accolades followed later in the year when DJ Rekha was inducted into the New York City's People's Hall of Fame.

In 2010 at a White House Asian Pacific Islander reception, President Obama said, ""I want to thank DJ Rekha who's been spinning a little East Room Bhangra for everybody, mixing a hip-hop beat with the sounds of her heritage, making a uniquely American sound that may not have been heard in the White House before.”

Rekha has given lectures and led workshops on Hip Hop, politics and South Asian art for various universities and institutions, including the Smithsonian, Brooklyn Museum and Columbia University. Her work has been featured on CNN, NPR, PBS.

Rekha has curated shows for NYC’s Summerstage, Celebrate Brooklyn and the Desi Diaspora’s film series at the 92YTribeca. She has a BA in Urban Studies from Queens College.

Other performances by CMU Bhangra, Surhabi Saraf, Dhruva Krishna, Kadambari Arts, and more.

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