“South Asian culture, on its own terms” is the ethos behind Dialled In: the artist-led initiative championing alternative music and art from South Asia and its diaspora, while carving out space for it on the global stage.
Five years ago, a group of friends from three London collectives – Daytimers, No ID and Chalo – staged the first Dialled In Festival. Since then the initiative has expanded through events, workshops and residencies across the UK, Europe and Asia, alongside recording imprint Dialled In Records and industry event series Dialled Industry.
To mark its fifth birthday, the one-day festival returns on Saturday 30 May across multiple East London venues, spanning live music and dance performances, food pop-ups, comedy gigs and DJ sets.
Service95 asked six of the artists involved to maps the spaces that have shaped their home cities – and inspired their work in return.
ZAINAB On The New York Spaces That Inspire Her
“New York really is the world’s city – built by immigrants and a mecca for cultures from around the globe,” says Lahore-born, Brooklyn-based DJ and producer ZAINAB. “For that reason, I've never felt too far away from home.”
The artist draws on both her birthplace and home city for everything she creates, building on her beginnings in New York’s hip-hop and underground electronic scene for her party series and label Azadi (meaning freedom in Urdu). Next up: she’s releasing original music on Ninja Tune’s Technicolor imprint. These are the spaces that inspired her to create it.
Punjabi Deli, East Village
“When I lived in the Lower East Side, this became my third space. It feels like a slice of Punjab and is one of the few places in NYC where you can get a cheap, vegetarian, home-cooked meal. The chai and aloo paratha are my go-to.”
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
“While people from around the world frequent the Brooklyn Bridge Park, to me, Brooklyn Heights promenade offers the most striking views of the lower and midtown Manhattan skylines and the Statue of Liberty. I love to sit on a bench there and watch the ferries go by.”
A-1 Record Shop, East Village
“One of my favourite independent record stores in the city. It has the broadest selection: hip-hop, soul, salsa, reggae, disco, house and beyond – the staff are incredibly knowledgeable. You can get lost in there for hours, especially in the listening booths.”
BamBoy On Mumbai’s Cultural Spaces
“Seeing people from my own community – from lower caste and working-class backgrounds – continue to hustle, survive and smile through it all pushes me to create music that reflects the realities, struggles and strength of marginalised communities,” says BamBoy (AKA Tushar Adhav), a producer, DJ, emcee and multidisciplinary artist from Mumbai.
As a member of hip-hop collective Swadesi, his music bridges grime, hip-hop, rap and soundsystem culture through multilingual lyricism in Marathi and Hindi. He also releases music as a solo artist as Kaali Duniya, explores dubstep and electronic-inspired sounds. A debut solo grime rap album is slated for next year.
G5A, Mahalaxmi
“G5A is a proper cultural space that does nearly everything, be it music, mixed-media art festivals, plays, cinema screenings, exhibitions, talks and discussions. They also put on some of the best curation in the city.”
antiSOCIAL, Lower Parel
“Most artists look up to antiSOCIAL and want to perform there at least once. It’s one of the only 500-capacity venues in Mumbai supporting independent musicians. They host a wide range of curation every month and lots of international acts, many of whom I don’t think I would’ve been able to see at other venues.”
Nirmik Cultural Center, Kandivali
“Run by Yalgaar, an Ambedkarite collective of actors, activists and musicians. They curate plays, screenings of world cinema, workshops and discussions for women from the ghettos around Kandivali, as well as workshops for children and elders – and a lot more. A space doing things for people from the margins.”
Gayathri Krishnan On Late-Night Spots In Los Angeles
@justoffthesiz, Jiji's Jazz Club, Jai Tea Loft, Alondra Costilla
“Los Angeles is inspiring in so many ways,” says Gayathri Krishnan about her home. “It’s cool to see people around me going after what they want with everything they have.”
She channels this spirit in her music, merging Carnatic, the classical South Indian music system she was raised with – with contemporary R&B, and makes her Dialled In debut this year. “I stay connected to my heritage by continuing to practice Carnatic music in LA and practising with my Dad, who’s always showing me a new song raga (scale) that he’s been learning.”
Jai Tea Loft, East Hollywood
“I love Jai Tea Loft. It’s a warm communal space that holds performances, workshops and events. I love a chill night out and Jai is the perfect space to sip on some tea and catch up with a friend.”
Paper Tiger Bar, East Hollywood
“I like the Paper Tiger Bar in East Hollywood for a night out dancing because it’s close to my house! It's nice when things are close by in LA, because I spend a lot of time driving places. Some of my friends host DJ events there and it’s always a good time because they have great music taste.”
JIJI’s Jazz Club, across LA
“I really like JIJI's Jazz Club’s events in LA. The music is so good, and they showcase such amazing talent. Everyone is friendly, chill and it’s a nice way to wind down during or at the end of the week.”
Raf Reza’s On Toronto’s Music Scene
Born in Tokyo, trained in Glasgow, now based in Toronto, Bangladeshi producer and DJ Raf Reza’s debut album Ekbar sits at the intersection of the Bangladeshi folk music and UK hardcore/bass continuum. Since moving to Toronto, Raf has found that “a lot of the brilliant cultures that cohabitated here are slowly being erased. Inspiration is getting harder to find, but it does exist in the small cracks.”
BSMT 254, Bloordale Village
“This is our quintessential reggae/dub venue. It’s run by the most down-to-earth group of people. I’ve hosted many release parties here and tested my music on their incredible dubwise sound system.”
Tranzac, Annex
“This venue champions experimental music and is a community-driven, nonprofit organisation. I particularly enjoy going here during the week to listen to some of the best free jazz and experimental live shows the city has to offer.”
BLKSPACE, West Queen West
“I’m not going to say too much here, but this is a Black-owned and operated space that feels like one of the only venues left in Toronto where true DIY spirit exists. It’s a true ‘if you know, you know’-type experience.”
G33 On The Creative Initiatives To Know In Liverpool
DJ G33 (Gaia Ahuja), part of all-women collective Girls Don’t Sync, draws on a Brixton upbringing and South Asian heritage. She’s now based in Liverpool in England’s northwest. “There’s such a strong sense of identity and community here, which feeds into my music and the work I do beyond it.”
Decks In The City, across Liverpool
“My sister Sharan is a DJ, cultural curator and tutor at Decks In The City. If you’re looking to learn how to mix, meet like-minded people who have an interest in production, or budding promoters wanting to host their first wave of events – this is the place to exercise those passions.”
Namma Ooru Dosa, Old Swan
“When I’m touring, I try to find a dosa place in each city I’m in. When I’m home in Liverpool, my go-to has to be Namma Ooru Dosa in Old Swan. Food carries so much memory and emotion, especially when life gets hectic from travelling and performing, so the act of sitting down to eat something familiar feels like such a comforting reset for me.”
Brown Sugar Studio, across Liverpool
“Brown Sugar Studio is an innovative take on creative collectives, headed up by three powerhouse women – Renee Charles, Mia Thornton and Rachel Duncan – curating meaningful spaces, championing and celebrating underrepresented voices and bringing people together.”
Tash LC On London’s Nightlife
DJ, radio host and cultural curator Tash LC holds an NTS Radio residency alongside regular slots on Kiss FM and Worldwide FM. Drawing on Caribbean and South Asian roots, her sound moves through Afro-diasporic music, UK bass, grime and club rhythms. But no matter where she’s playing, she calls London home. “London inspires me so, so much,” she says. “Every day I look around and notice something new, whether it’s an artwork or a restaurant or a local playing reggae out of their boombox.”
These are her go-to London club nights to check out.
Ormside Projects, Bermondsey
“Just a really cool club with an open approach to programming and such a nice team. The sound is so good and you can really get lost in there.”
Studio Crumb, across London
“Haseeb Iqbal’s party and events studio, which I’ve actually not been able to go to yet but he’s built such a strong community.”
Shai Space, Peckham
“These guys have been really grounding us with a gorgeous mix series that allows DJs and artists to explore their softer sides. Very, very needed and soothing in these hectic times.”
