INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH OF THE 2007 INDIAN ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL IN TORONTO CANADA ON JULY 20TH

The first of 5 Festival Installments through the year: Toronto, London UK, NYC, New Delhi and Mumbai, India

LIVE performances by 4 Toronto-based audio collectives plus Djs Alkmst, Abdul Smooth and v:shal kanwar

Unique performance merging simultaneous Qawwali Ghazal with Tabla by Cassius Khan

International debut release of new 2-disc compilation CD: Indian Electronica vol. 001

Toronto, Ontario Canada July 9th, 2007 – Cutting-edge South Asian-flavoured electronic music hits international stages: the 2007 series of Indian Electronica Festivals launches Toronto on July 20th.

The Indian Electronica Festival is an international experience; in 2007 we're hosting Festival installments in Toronto, London UK, NYC, New Delhi and Bombay: 5 cities, 4 countries, 3 continents...

... Each festival installment is being held in a major World City and showcases cutting-edge South Asian flavored electronic music - consisting of a single event between 6 -8 hours long, with a mixture of live musical performances plus Djs, with Video Jockeys and dancers.

'Indian Electronica' is a Canadian-based online community, record label, radio station and annual international music festival - all focused on showcasing cutting edge electronic music inspired by South Asian traditions.

Initially popularised in the mid 1990s with the UK's Asian Underground movement, the music of Indian Electronica is expressive of an increasingly complex global identity. Indian Electronica music fuses 'East' and 'West' using technology and tradition to produce some of the World's most innovatively emotive and exciting sounds.

Today there are more professional producers and performers around the world than ever before seeking to express Diasporic culture through music. International audiences from all ethno-cultural backgrounds will appreciate our debut compilation – titled 'Indian Electronica vol. 001,' which features music from both established and independant artists including Talvin Singh, DJ Spooky, Up Bustle & Out, Breakbeat Buddha, Transglobal Underground and many more. This double-disc release will be first available at the Indian Electronica Festival in Toronto and from http://www.indianelectronica.com afterwards.

Collectively, there are a fantastic array of Canadian and International artists coming together on stage in Toronto for 2007 - from the amazingly talented Ghazal-singing-Tabla-playing Cassius Khan to 4 local sound-systems merging electronica with traditional instrumentation and vocals from around the world (LAL/ Omnesia/ Nawtiks/ Dubslingers). As well, the performance roster this year features DJs Abdul Smooth, v:shal kanwar and Alkmst plus unique live performances by the world's only performer who sings Qawwali Ghazal whilst playing Tabla – Cassius Khan, as well as Amika Kushwaha – a skilled Kathak dancer who also plays the Harmonium.

Its a show bound to please everyone; from wallflowers to breakdancers to all the people in-between.

Indian Electronica Festival details for Toronto:
When: From 8PM – 3AM on Friday July 20th
Where: Dragonfly (1279 Queen Street West)
Cover charge: Entrance is $15 and can be paid for at the door.

You can catch other installments of the Festival LIVE on these dates:

London, England - August 24th
New York City, USA - October 19th
New Delhi, India - December 21st
Mumbai, India - December 31st (New Year's Eve '07/'08)

The goals of the Indian Electronica Festival are manifold:

Open international dialog between South Asian music producers and performers of all electronic music interests and technical abilities, with the aims of promoting collaborative culture,
Encourage musicianship and professionalism within-industry,
Encourage music and the arts as a viable career path for young South Asians and spark their interest by introducing them to the tools and techniques used in music production and performance,
Promote electronic music to an audience with diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds internationally.

The Indian Electronica Festival is produced internationally with the support of the BBC Asian Network (http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork) and FatLabs (http://www.fatlabs.com)

Our 2007 Electronic Press Kit can be viewed online & downloaded as a PDF at:
http://www.indianelectronica.com/festival/EPK

'Indian Electronica' is a Canadian-based online community, record label, radio station and annual international music festival - all focused on showcasing cutting edge electronic music inspired by South Asian traditions.

Qasim Virjee (Festival Director)
Tel: 1 (416) 300-8065
Fax: 1 (647) 439-0891
email: festival@indianelectronica.com
web: http://www.indianelectronica.com/festival/toronto

This release was published on openPR.