Retrospective Tara Rodgers

Tickets here

Friday, March 14, 2025 at 6PM

EMPAC Studio 2
CURTIS R. PRIEM EXPERIMENTAL MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
at Rensselaer

On the corner of 8th Street and College Avenue / Troy, NY 12180

Multi-instrumentalist composer and electronic music historian Tara Rodgers produces a retrospective concert of selected works from the past 20 years, diffused in an immersive 4.1 sound system.

Rodgers’ research and music explore electronic sound as material and metaphor, with studio practice as a hands-on parallel to study of the long history of electronic music and sound. Her music is described as combining “rigor and reverence... bold in the precision and subtlety it takes to mix such signals with thrill and grace and restraint” (NPR Music), “carrying her listeners along through deeply felt, deeply connected sonic energy that embodies joy, transcendence, and positivity” (Routledge).

The concert juxtaposes her wide-ranging work across styles and methods, from generative computer music written in SuperCollider, to electroacoustic compositions featuring piano improvisation, to pulsing ambient and techno tracks.

As a historian and multidisciplinary scholar, Rodgers has also published essays in foundational volumes in contemporary studies of music, sound, technology, and culture. Her book Pink Noises: Women on Electronic Music and Sound (Duke University Press, 2010) brings together twenty-four interviews with women in electronic music and sound cultures who expand notions of who and what counts in matters of invention, production, and noise-making.

After the concert, Rodgers is joined by Rensselaer Arts graduate student and renowned DJ Rekha Malhotra for an onstage conversation and Q&A.

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Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and performer Du Yun presents an evening featuring the artist's rock band and chamber ensemble OK Miss along with her friends NOMON and DJ Rekha. NOMON will perform music from their EP 'Card II' and new work from an upcoming album. Du Yun's rock band and chamber ensemble OK Miss headlines with songs from their forthcoming album and new material from an upcoming project with children of the Jinuo ethnicity from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. DJ Rekha closes out the evening with an alchemy of sounds from their NYC based global musical palette.

LIVE AT NATIONAL SAWDUST // DOORS AT 6:30PM

March 8, 2025

7:30 pm

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10th Annual Diwali Festival

NOV 2nd, 2024 
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 

12pm- 2:30pm Family Workshops & Dance Performances

2:30pm-4pm Dance Party with DJ Rekha

Indian Food for sale throughout the day

In-Person Tickets: 
$20 adults/$15 member adults/all children FREE

Flushing Town Hall is proud to present the 10th Annual Diwali Festival

Celebrate Diwali with this all-ages festival and dance party, featuring DJ Rekha and Kathak classical dancer Abha Roy, Srijan Dance Company with special guest dance troupe ADDA and Dr.  Santa R. Nandi!  With family friendly workshops, including:  block printing with Alka Mukerji, rangoli making with Joshua Roychowdhury, Indian cooking with Chef Nupur and Queens Curry Kitchen, as well as henna by Bella Beauty, Hindi calligraphy and more.

Our afternoon begins with family friendly workshops, and the dance drama Navadurga choreographed by Abha Roy and performed by Abha Roy, Srijan Dance Company and Dr. Sana R. Nandi.  This piece portrays aspects of the Durga, goddess & protective mother, who is also referred to as Navadurga in Hindu mythology. The aspects of the divine feminine, such as  innocence, love, compassion, righteous anger, chaos, sensuality and spirituality are portrayed through different forms of the goddess.  Now that you are inspired, it’s time for you to hit the dance floor with DJ Rekha and continue the celebration. 

Asia After Dark | Diwali Festival at Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art

Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with an evening of food, music, dance, and activities! Learn how different regions celebrate this Hindu holiday, create crafts to take home, and see the museum lit up once the sun goes down. Learn about Diwali. Find more Diwali events.

Accessibility: The public elevator in the West Building (Freer Gallery of Art) is out of service, so your route to the event location may take a few more minutes than usual. Use the accessible entrance at the corner of Independence Avenue and 12th Street SW, and follow the directions when you arrive. Get more accessibility details.

Program Details:

Food Vendors
West Building (Freer Gallery of Art), Plaza
5–9:30 p.m.
Enjoy cuisine from the Indian diaspora. Local food vendors include Rasa, Himalayan Soul Food, Apna Pizza, Swaadish by Neelma, Milaap Chai, and Malai Ice Cream.

Crafts & Coloring
5–9 p.m.

East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery)
Color a diya (Pavilion, level 1)
Decorate a rangoli with Kulture Khazana (Gallery 27, level B1)
Create a woodblock print with artist Trisha Gupta (ImaginAsia Studio, level B2)

West Building (Freer Gallery of Art)
Create a storybook with Sushmita Mazumdar (Freer Conference Room)
Learn and play different board games (South Corridor)

Performances
West Building (Freer Gallery of Art), Plaza

6 p.m.
Music by The Tabla Queen

7:25 p.m.
Dance by DC Bhangra Crew to kick off our Afterhours Dance Party

7:30–9:30 p.m.
Afterhours Dance Party with DJ Rekha

Special Decorations
West Building (Freer Gallery of Art), Plaza and Courtyard
5–9:30 p.m.
See the museum lit up to celebrate Diwali.

17th Street Farewell Party at The Rubin- Free Admission, DJ, Cocktails, and More

Friday, October 4, 2024 6:00 PM–10:00 PM

Free

The Rubin is transforming. On October 6, 2024, the Rubin will close its 17th Street galleries and transition into a global museum model, continuing to present Himalayan art through traveling exhibitions, digital experiences, and collaborations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and beyond. To mark the transition, join us for a 17th Street Farewell Party and toast to the Rubin’s next chapter. 

• Enjoy free admission, cocktails, live DJ music by DJ Rekha, and a dance party. 

• Visit our 20th-anniversary exhibition, Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now. The Museum-wide exhibition features artworks by over 30 contemporary artists, many from the Himalayan region and diaspora and others inspired by Himalayan art and cultures. The entire Museum is transformed by new commissions and recent works juxtaposed with objects from the Rubin’s collection, inviting new ways of encountering traditional Himalayan art.  The exhibition will travel next to Wrightwood 659 in Chicago, where it will open on November 8, 2024.

Bollywood Disco: Talk + Party

Location: William Fox Amphitheater

Part of Open Worlds

5:00–8:00pm 

Join Queens-based DJ Rekha and filmmaker Saleem Nasir Gondal for a discussion about how Hindi films (aka Bollywood, the film industry in Mumbai) engage with cultural, national, and political borders. We discuss the evolution of storytelling in Hindi cinema influenced by political tides, highlighting films that traveled across national borders and the greater South Asian diaspora. We will screen clips from Bollywood films across the ages, discussing the ways they were received in and outside of India, and present Gondal’s short Post Term (2023), a film about a Pakistani couple settling in Long Island in the 1990s that was inspired by the cultural heritage of Bollywood. At a time of intense division in the U.S. and abroad, we invite audiences to see how Hindi cinema offers a nexus point between different communities and identities across the diaspora.    

After the discussion, at 6:00 p.m. join us for Bollywood Disco by the legendary DJ Rekha. Classic numbers, live performances, film favorites, and disco grooves are remixed into bangers that will keep you dancing the night away. Don’t miss your “dance pe chance.” 

Bios: 

DJ Rekha (born Rekha Malhotra) is a DJ, producer, curator, and educator. Their dynamic dub- and hip-hop–informed DJ sets often incorporate South Asian Diasporic dance music with ears to a global sound that resonates with dance floors across the planet. They have shared the stage with many artists, including A.R. Rahman, Yoko Ono, the Roots, and M.I.A, and have performed in festivals, clubs, and community spaces worldwide, including the inaugural Women’s March, London Mela, 5X Fest, SXSW, Sundance. In 1997, they founded Basement Bhangra, one of New York City’s longest-running club nights. Their debut album DJ Rekha presents Basement Bhangra (featuring a track with Wyclef Jean) earned critical acclaim and was nominated for best DJ album by the 2008 Plug Awards. They are the founder of Basement Bhangra™, Bollywood Disco, Lipstick Optional, and co-founder of Mutiny (with Vivek Bald) and Ronak (with Atif Ateeq) club nights. 

Saleem Nasir Gondal (he/him) is a filmmaker based in New York. His work explores themes of language and intimacy in BIPOC communities onscreen. Saleem’s work has been supported by The Black List, National Board of Review, The Gotham, Pillars Fund, MPAC Hollywood Bureau, and the RespectAbility Entertainment Lab. Saleem’s short film Super Sonic has screened at festivals in five different countries, including the Austin Film Festival, TIDE Film Festival, and the Asian American International Film Festival. Saleem’s short Post Term is the winner of the Focus Features/JetBlue Short Film Showcase and was screened at CAAMFest, Indian Film Festival of LA, TIDE Film Festival, and more.  

INFO HERE

FREE

Tune in to this special 3-hour live broadcast straight from the opening of Los Herederos’ new community space, located in the 74th Street-Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave MTA station! As a multipurpose space dedicated to community projects, exhibitions, and of course LH Radio, the station offers a chance to include those coming and going throughout their day and to curate content that celerbates the singlular yet multifaced ethos of what it means to be from/make Queens home. Our inaugural exhibition, Queens as Cultural Crossroads shares materials from our multivocal and multilingual Diversity Plaza Community Archives. We are pleased to join you on air for this special opening event with none other than Jackson Heights’ own DJ Rekha.🎶

https://cityparksfoundation.org/events/arooj-aftab/

FREE

DJ REKHA'S BASEMENT BHANGRA BEYOND: PRIYA RAGU / DJ REKHA / AMI DANG / LADY PISTA + GUESTS

Saturday, July 20, 2024

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Grand Central Parkway/Whitestone Expressway between 111 St. and College Point Blvd., Corona, NY 11368

Queens’ very own DJ Rekha brings the energy of their legendary party Basement Bhangra back to the World’s Borough. Transcending the sonic borders of hip-hop, dancehall and diasporic grooves, they return to Flushing Meadows for Basement Bhangra Beyond with Priya Ragu, a Swiss singer-songwriter born to Sri Lankan-Tamil parents, whose debut LP Santhosam is an infectious summer soundtrack with buoyant beats, the NYC debut of Lady Pista whose remix of Diljit Dosanjh’s Naina is tearing up dance floors across continents, and Ami Dang, a sitar vocalist from Baltimore whose LP The Living World’s Demands weaves ancient stories with the sound of contemporary experimental, pop, and electronic music with the sounds of South Asia. Plus on the decks for an extended set, the cultural instigator DJ Rekha joins this unforgettable line-up with an array of percussionists, dancers, the signature Bhangra dance lesson and special guests.

FAQ

Is it really free?  

Yes it is, but you can support the team putting this event together by supporting SummerStage, and/or buying merchandise from the artists performing, following them on social media, and showing your love.

Where is the event? 

It's on the Cricket Field in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens.  Near the Unisphere, Queens Museum, and not far from the US Open.  For best results in GPS navigate to  “Maloof Skate Park.”

How do I get there? Parking is free but extremely limited so we recommend public transportation.  

• 7 Train to Willets Point (Citi Field), navigate to Maloof Skate Park

• Q58 to Horace Harding Express at College Point Blvd 

• LIRR Port Washington Branch to Willets Point

What is the minimum age?

The event is all ages. We do recommend if you are bringing the wee ones to consider headphones and/or avoid being directly in front of the sound. 

Can I bring food and drink? Will there be food to buy?

You can bring food, but rules of Flushing Meadows Corona Park apply.  Alcohol is not permitted. Food Vendors offering a range of cuisines will also be nearby.

Is there seating? 

You are welcome to bring your own blankets and chairs (but beware of the folks wanting to dance near the stage}. There may be limited seating: first come first serve.

Is it ADA accessible? 

Yes. If you would like to request ADA seating please request your accommodation up to 24hrs before the event through summerstage@cityparksfoundation.org and copy mgmt@djrekha.com. Please note that our ADA general admission seating section is first-come first-serve and some views of our stage may be partially obstructed.

Why is this called Basement Bhangra Beyond?  I thought DJ Rekha retired and Basement Bhangra was done.

DJ Rekha never stopped DJing and travels all over the world to spin. Basement Bhangra, the monthly club night, ended after 20 years in 2017. Now we hold  an annual all-ages free event imbuing the vibes of the iconic club night in a public park.  DJ Rekha continues to showcase amazing talent that goes BEYOND to transcend sonic boundaries.  

DJ Rekha Silent Disco at India Week Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center Presents

The Dance Floor

Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 9:00 pm

FREE

There are two ways to access this free event:
1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up!
2. Fast Track, opening the Monday before the event at noon. Click here to learn more and reserve.

The iconic DJ Rekha transmits their groovy sounds to your ear at Lincoln Center’s Silent Disco this summer under the stars! DJ Rekha (born Rekha Malhotra) is a producer, curator, educator, and founder of “Basement Bhangra,” one of NYC’s longest-running club nights. They've performed in festivals, clubs, and community spaces worldwide. Their dynamic DJ sets incorporate South Asian Diasporic dance music with ears to a global sound that builds inclusive environments of joy. They have been featured on Broadway, NPR, Taste the Nation, Celebrate Brooklyn, and Central Park SummerStage. Join us for an unforgettable night on The Dance Floor!

DJ Rekha curates a week-long series of silent disco DJs from July 10-July 14. Full line-up:

July 10 - Rajuju

July 11 - Offering Rain

July 12 - Ashu Rai

July 13 - DJ Rekha

July 14 - Roshni Samlal

Summer for the City
Silent Disco | India Week

RSVP HERE

We’re heating up our Chinatown dancefloor with NYC/Queens icon DJ Rekha x YiuYiu 瑶瑶 for a South Asian x Chinese dance party!

A big inspiration for Chinatown Records, DJ Rekha has been making NYC dance + sing along to their favorite songs for decades, from Basement Bhangra to Bollywood Disco. We’re going fully digital for this one, so expect favorites ripped from our CD collections and the world wide web!

Remember to bring along any special garments and textile remnants for this season's interactive art installation, With Flying Colors by Annika Cheng. These recycled textiles will be incorporated into a series of banner flags that will be flown over Corky Lee Way during future block parties. With Flying Colors seeks to honor Chinatown garment workers and the people who love and wear the clothing that speaks to the world about who we are.

This is a block party for the whole family! Rain or shine ~ let us know you’re coming by signing up for free. Extra big shoutout to Jeff at Canal Sound & Light for leveling up our sound & teaching our resident vinyl DJ to go digital. See you there 💃🕺

This season of Chinatown Block Party 夏日傾情 is made possible by Canal Sound & Light. Sponsored by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and NYC Dept of Cultural Affairs with support from NYC Dept of Small Businesses. Thank you to our community safety partner, Nonviolent Peaceforce.

DJ Rekha (born Rekha Malhotra) is a DJ, producer, curator, and educator. Their dynamic dub and hip-hop informed DJ sets often incorporate South Asian Diasporic dance music with ears to a global sound that resonates with dancefloors across the planet. They have shared the stage with many artists including AR Rahman, Yoko Ono, the Roots, M.I.A and have performed in festivals, clubs, and community spaces worldwide including the inaugural Women’s March, London Mela, 5X Fest, SXSW, Sundance.  

They founded Basement Bhangra, in 1997, one of NYC’s longest-running club nights. Their debut album "DJ Rekha presents Basement Bhangra" (featuring a track with Wyclef Jean) won much critical acclaim and was nominated for best DJ album by the 2008 Plug Awards. They are the founder of Basement Bhangra™, Bollywood Disco, Lipstick Optional, and co-founder of Mutiny (with Vivek Bald) and Ronak (with Atif Ateeq) club nights. @djrekha @basementbhangra

YiuYiu 瑶瑶 is a DJ and oral history educator for Chinatown Records 華埠錄音 ~ a homegrown community effort to celebrate the richness of music, memory, and history that comes with inherited family collections. Spanning across Chinatown block parties, sonic histories, living room listenings, and endless learning with family and neighbors, Chinatown Records is an ever-growing record of the people we love, who bring all this music back to life with us. @chinatownrecordproject @rochellehkwan

Details TBA

Pride Month Finale Party

Friday, June 28, 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Internationally renowned DJ Rekha is visiting the museum to help us keep the spirit of Pride alive 365 days a year. As a DJ, producer, curator, and educator, their dynamic dub and hip-hop informed DJ sets incorporate South Asian Diasporic dance music and global sounds for dance floors around the globe.

DJ Rekha will be performing along with Malai, an Indian drag queen whose name translates in Hindi to ‘cream’. Malai is known for her unique brand of performances that encapsulate ingenious lip-sync performances and stand-up acts. Malai is the founder of “Queer Brown History” – an online compendium of archived South-Asian queer histories.

Come join us to keep the pulse of Pride strong all year long!

This event is part of the Heritage Month Celebrations program series.

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Come celebrate 5 years of South Asia Institute at our Summer Celebration and Fundraiser event.

RSVP Here

PORTSIDE: DJ SERIES

Immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms of summer with a curated DJ series that blends cutting-edge music and waterfront views to create an electrifying atmosphere at Portside.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required to attend this event.

FREE! RSVP HERE

Wednesday, May 8 · 7 - 9pm PDT

Location

Experimental Media Lab (xMPL)

UC Irvine Campus Irvine, CA 92697

This event is Co-sponsored by UCI Music Department