The Future of Music
THE music industry in India is at a turning point where the world congregates in India for the first edition of India International Music Week — IIMW2025 from February 4-6, 2025. This is significant as international exchange for the evolving domain holds the key to unleashing its vast potential. While the conversations keep delegates globally connected and relevant they work towards a grid with its inaugural global edition in Goa.
IIMW’25 edition holistically impacts the industry stakeholders. It marks the starting point of the future for music and global exchange from creative to technology to network connections where stakeholders of the industry can look forward to having a structure in place.
The festival holds the promise of top-of-the-line live performances in a vibrant indoor venue. It doesn’t just cater to industry professionals but also ensures fans have an unforgettable time. IIMW is a celebration of music, innovation and culture. It’s the dual play of knowledge sharing and unwinding with a curated live showcase for all audiences as Goa witnesses music history in the making.
Here’s to the Indian music industry arriving to its due maturity. Viva and here’s to those who wear their heart to envision the creative Universe.
https://insider.in/india-international-music-week-echo-feb4-2025/event
Viva La Vida
SOME of the best views of epic performances like the recent Cold Play one are backstage. The crew wear off their soles and live at the edge but the highs of seeing the magic unfold is truly divine, music paradise. To see the collective energy of an exponential concert is to live. To encounter the sheer zenith of showmanship and all the elements that keep audiences engaged and mesmerised is the power of music.
More warm vibes as the design capital of India, Ahmedabad, gets set to get captivated by Cold Play’s Martin and Crew. Letting the Higher Power of music believers uncross their fingers that the band won’t take another nine years for them to perform in India.
Disclaimer: All of Mumbai has a Cold Play hangover, it’s not just the spectacular fireworks that lit up the skies for miles. The bells ringing in our heads are Fix You.
Break Free, The Art of Being Liberated
JOMO (The Joy of Missing Out) is what I now believe in. There is a reason why things happen or don’t and that little voice in you is what you need to hear. You try and the intent is what lets any regret be replaced with relief. My new learning is not GOFLO — Go with the Flow — and compromise, but to value your courage in being vulnerable and honest. Say it sincerely and LEGO (Let Go). You own up for and are then responsible for your actions and reactions so get moving with your learning and staying true to your reality, stay you. Let Somebody Go.
THIS weekend instead of hovering in public transport around Mumbai for my Art Stalk, I took up reconnecting with my college-mate who has relocated to Pune. She as most of my circle knows that art it is. We explored Monalisa Kalagram and were rewarded with the ceramic exhibition there. Lina Pingale, who was one of my Pune art connects during the pandemic, has eclectic exhibitions next to the oasis of her brother’s farm in Koregaon Park. It was a huge plus to catch up with my idol Gandhiji at the Aga Khan Palace surrounded by green stretches. Got to get back to Pune soon!
Geriatric Parachute
I MADE a pit stop to meet my college mate’s baby, her 91-year-old Mum. It’s heart-wrenching to see our loved ones helpless. As custodians of their welfare, it means tough calls juggling multiple challenges of healthcare, finances and emotional wellbeing.
Yellow, the Colour of Sunshine
IT WAS a delight to meet my ex-boss, Arun Nanda. The young, brilliant company secretary for the mobility sector of Auto and Farm Equipment of gigantic Mahindra & Mahindra ( listed among the top 10 in turnover in India) soared in a few months after setting up as Corporate Communications to Executive Director from EVP for the varied projects he helmed as other businesses in 1991-92.
In 2012 he founded Adhata, safe spaces for ageing seniors. In 2010 he discovered that despite all the material comforts that he could provide for his parents there was a gap in meeting their emotional needs. He sensed that community centres with peer interaction and mindful engagement would alleviate their loneliness. The holistic centres he set up in and around Mumbai were the bridge that kept them healthy both in body and mind. The activities for the community recently included sponsoring 1,900 seniors for a marathon. This is the spirit of giving our social fabric needs. Heartwarming! Kudos and wishing the initiative touches many lives.
Medical policies attract a reeling 18% GST which you get stuck with after being lured by cheap first-year premiums that spiral over 300%. To compound it, is the insensitivity with which medical policies are bandied.
I am hopeful that social security measures will be legislated on a national level to support this selfless generation and step up to meet this gnawing need. While providing joy to the living is fulfilling, our seniors are the foundation of our society and it is incumbent that they are given their due dignity in their holistic wellbeing. Further, the efforts of their families must be eased as we evolve and progress as a society.
Shoot across the Sky
FOR now, I will sign off with the abundance of MGW still to be revisited. Besides the art district of Mumbai Colaba with Experimenter, Mumbai, Chatterjee & Lal, Sakshi, Apre and Maskara on the hot list, I have to visit Snowball at Worli. Art & Soul presents “Madamast” by Indore-based visual artist Aparna Bidasarias. Her cathartic journey into releasing emotions in the form of free-flowing abstracts is akin to poetry.
PS: The highlight of my weekend has to be the SOI rehearsal under the baton of maestro Zubin Mehta. Nothing like watching the process towards the grand performance. My Hymn for the Weekend from the British Band’s seventh album A Head Full of Dreams of Cold Play in 2015 for all my angels! Wish you all a Sky Full of Stars.