RAAGTIME - 24 NOV, 7:00PM

Join RaagTime as they take you on a journey around the world with their music. RaagTime has a unique sound and improvisational style that is inspired by elements of Indian Music, Jazz and popular music. They perform a mix of jazz standards, Indian Classical tunes, original compositions based on Indian Ragas, songs by leading jazz and fusion musicians and also pop classics by the Beatles, Sting, Stevie Wonder, etc.

The band comprises of Ben Fernandez on piano, Manjit Singh on tabla and vocals and Dean Rodrigues on bass, and featuring guest vocalist Amrita Bhende D’Souza.

RaagTime’s musicians have performed at events, gigs and festivals all around the world, including (in NZ): Music in the Parks, the Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Arts Festival, World Masters Games, as well as in concert with some of the world’s leading Indian musicians, such as Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, Ustad Fazal Qureshi (tabla), Purbayan Chatterjee (sitar) and Ustad Dilshad Khan (sarangi).

Pianist – Ben Fernandez: Ben Fernandez (pianist, composer and music producer) has a M.Mus majoring in Jazz Performance from the University of Auckland. He has performed at events and concerts in over 20 countries and at most leading jazz and music festivals in New Zealand. He also composes music for advertising jingles, film soundtracks, corporate films, TV shows, audio visuals, etc. Visit www.benfernandez.com, www.facebook.com/benfernandezmusic for further details.

Tabla & Vocals – Manjit Singh: Manjit Singh is an expert on the Tabla and Indian music. He has a Degree in Music from the University of Auckland, a Sangeet Vishard Degree (Tabla) and also received training from the Punjab Gharana Tabla School, India. He is the Director of the Rhythm School of Indian Music in Auckland. Manjit performs regularly with leading jazz and classical musicians and has played at concerts and events all over New Zealand and overseas.

Bass – Dean Rodrigues: Dean Rodrigues is a multi-instrumentalist who has studied music at University level and has worked with a number of artists and bands in the Aotearoa Music scene, playing drums, bass and percussion for L.A.B., Niko Walters, Geoff Ong and Batucada Sound Machine and Marmalade to name a few.

Guest Vocalist – Amrita Bhende D’Souza: Amrita Bhende grew up around music and learnt from the best – her father, Indian Rock Star Nandu Bhende. She professionally recorded advertising jingles in various Indian languages from the time she was just five years old. Amrita was nominated for the MTV Best Newcomer Award for her 1997 Hindi pop album 'Kaun Hai Woh' and has 2 other albums as a child artiste in India. While she sings, plays the piano, acts and takes an active interest in theatre; singing remains her central passion. In New Zealand since early 2016, Amrita has continued to enjoy sharing her musical talents in her new homeland, performing with multiple bands and showcasing various musical genres.

Guest Vocalist - Daljeet Kaur: With a Masters in Hindustani vocal music with a distinction in practical, and a vocal expertise that ranges from Classical and Thumri to Gurmat Sangeet (Sikh traditional music), Daljeet Kaur is a vocal par excellence. She has won many competitions and awards over the years and is respected by her peers for her sublime tonal quality and vocal skills. Her skills as a musician, however, don’t remain limited to performance, as she is an equally amazing teacher too.She has done numerous music albums and participated in many reality singing shows in India. She is teaching in Auckland since 2009 and has trained hundreds of students.

NZ BLOSSOM ART TROUPE 新西兰百花艺术团 - 24 NOV, 8:30PM

New Zealand Blossom Art Troupe was founded by the troupe leader Li Yulin 李玉霖 in 2008. The Chinese traditional orchestra has nearly 100 members undertaking various acting roles, such as traditional folk musicians, vocalists, dancers and opera performance artists.

The troupe is considered one of the best amongst all New Zealand Chinese art troupes in terms of skill sets and diverse performances. It collaborates with Auckland City Council and many other organisations through co-hosting events. The group is often invited to perform in Hamilton, Wellington, Rotorua, Whangarei and other places, and it always receives positive feedback from the local organisations and audiences of different ethnic backgrounds.

ASIAN COMEDY TAKEOVER - 25 NOV, 7:30PM

For one night only, join us at ASIAN(SOUND)SCAPES @ Basement Theatre for all-Asian line-up of new, emerging and pro stand-up comedians at the Asian Comedy Takeover! MC’d by Jess Karamjeet, this bumper-packed show gives nine comedians the opportunity to be something other than ‘the token Asian’. Expect jokes about Asian-ness and a whole lot more, given the vast range of perspectives from this unique and multi-talented bunch.

Line-up:
Jess Karamjeet (Host), Ed Amon, Henry Yan, Manish Latch, Summer Xia, Vasu Premkumar, Hiren Khatri, Pax Assadi (Special Guest), Angella Dravid (Headliner).

WĀHINE ASIANS ARE HERE TOUR! - 26 NOV, 7:00PM

Miss Leading, Reshma Martin, Ersha Island 二沙岛 and DJ RNG⁺sus are teaming up for WAAHT! (Wahine Asians Are Here Tour!). A power line-up of feminine Asian energy set to take North Island stages. The group will be touring Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington Friday 18 November, at Meow Bar, Whanganui on the 19th of November at Porridge Watson, and Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland 26th November at Basement Theatre. This is a collaborative production between Peach Promotions, the Eastern Sound Collective, Where The Asians At? and SquareSums&Co.

The three groups have teamed up as they recognise the need to promote unheard voices in Aotearoa, with Asian women still missing from most festival line-ups and few represented in main-stream music media.

Audiences should prepare to be blown away by the talent-stocked line-up of some of New Zealand's best emerging female artists playing an eclectic mix of pop that borders with classical music and indie to avant-garde.

MISS LEADING • 7.30pm (45’ set)

Miss Leading is a New Zealand-born songwriter and music producer of Indian and Pakeha heritage living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She plays live electronic art-pop using an NZ made synthstrome deluge. Her live performances blend melodic synth lines with intricate percussion, poetry and sultry singing with the juxtaposition of heavily conscious lyrics. She has played both NZ and UK festivals and her album Minor Thing and her recently released music video Woke have both had editorial acclaim internationally, with Minor Thing receiving five-star reviews.

Follow Miss Leading:

Spotify • Website • Instagram • YouTube • Facebook

RESHMA • 8.30pm (45’ set)

RESHMA’s career launched in 2016 after she appeared on the final season of the Malaysian singing competition "Akademi Fantasia." After this event, she went on to achieve music awards nominations and notable success in Malaysia, Japan and Los Angeles before moving to Whanganui Aotearoa and now Tamaki Makaurau. In Aotearoa, Reshma was involved with NZ reality show Popstars in 2021, released her first English single titled 'Loneliest Girl', and is gearing up to release her second single 'Where My Asians At?', which is an appeal to the NZ music industry, calling out the lack of Kiwi-Asian visibility, opportunities and representation in the sector.

Follow RESHMA on:

Spotify • Instagram • TikTok • Facebook • YouTube

ERSHA ISLAND 二沙岛 • 9.30pm (45’ set)

Ersha Island 二沙岛 is a Chinese-Kiwi duo who live in Tamaki Makaurau. Having chalked up early achievements in Classical Performance at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing, sisters Dani and Tee now create mesmerising and memorable soul-pop compositions featuring their piano and violin pedigree. Ersha Island have been writing new music in both English and Mandarin; they released their debut singles "Gut Feeling" and "Good Day" in February this year on both Western and Asian/Chinese platforms.

Follow Ersha Island 二沙岛 on:

Spotify • Instagram • TikTok • Facebook

ASIAN(CLUB)SCAPES feat. DJ RNG⁺SUS - 26 NOV, 10:30PM

DJ RNG⁺SUS • (120’ slot, opening DJ TBC)

The night will close with a pop-up nightclub featuring WAAHT resident DJ RNG⁺sus and a special guest DJ (to be announced). They will bring an assortment of fresh tunes to the dance floor. When asked what she may be playing RNG⁺sus answered "Devine intervention/hellish chaos? Who knows." Either way, it will be the ultimate end to an incredible night of powerful female Asian-fronted music.

Follow DJ RNG+sus on: Facebook • Instagram

ASIAN(SOUND)SCAPES @ Basement Theatre

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