Doja Cat Is Trained in Classical Indian Dance? + No Nazar Debuts in NYC

Happy Tuesday! Today's theme is all about cultural exchange and discovery, which we get to explore through the work of some shining creatives. From global sensations like Doja Cat to underground collectives like No Nazar, we dive into the unique ways art can be expressed at the intersection of two or more cultures. 

— Rosh

Doja Cat Is Trained in Classical Indian Dance?

Amala Dlamini, aka Doja Cat, is winning hearts again as more people discover that she is trained in classical Indian dance, starting Bharatanatyam at the early age of five. The now-singer of hit tracks including “Vegas,” “Woman,” and “Get into It” started her musical journey with Carnatic beats.

What is Bharatanatyam?
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form that originates from the state of Tamil Nadu. It is physically characterized by subtle, yet loud, facial expressions and highly stylized postures and body language. These sacred movements express deeper themes and symbols related to Hinduism.

What does it have to do with Doja Cat?
As a child, Doja Cat spent four years living in jazz artist Alice Coltrane's Sai Anantam Ashram in the Santa Monica Mountains, where she practiced Hinduism with her family. Here, she also began her Bharatanatyam training and learned to sing bhajans. In a 2021 Billboard Magazine interview, Doja shared how learning the classical Indian dance allowed her to “be emotive and control [her] body in a special way.” 

While Doja Cat did describe her time at the ashram as “constricting,” she also notes that the beauty of the environment heavily influenced her. Though we haven’t seen her professionally perform Bharatnatayam, Doja Cat is notoriously known for her other dance talents. Her iconically provocative and sultry moves that her concert-going fans are treated to most likely can’t be credited to her early Bharatnatyam start, but it is a testament to the range Doja Cat can deliver outside of just her vocal repertoire. 

Maybe if we're lucky, we'll see a Doja Cat Arangetram in this lifetime.

"POPSHIFT HOLI" Is Coming to LA on March 11

We’re bringing the Festival of Colors to Los Angeles!

POPSHIFT HOLI, presented by Toyota, is on March 11 in Downtown LA. Join us and our exciting musical lineup of AJ WAVY, KHANVICT, PDNY, RAAGINDER, and SANJOY, for a sick event you’ll always want to remember. 

What to Expect:

• Lots of Color

• Dancing + Music

• Art + Photo Activations

• Premium Giveaways from Toyota + Popshift

• Drinks courtesy of Junglee + BollyGood (+ more to be announced)

• Paratta Food Truck

20% Off Discount Code: POPSHIFTNEWSLETTER
(Code available for 48 hours or until tickets last)

Abhi The Nomad Drops New Album with Kato On The Track

It’s hard not to smile when listening to the eclectic production and confident rhymes of everyone’s favorite South Indian rapper – Abhi The Nomad. 

Who is he?
Born Abhi Sridharan Vaidehl, Abhi is a global artist who doesn’t shy away from breaking South Asian status quos. With five other albums to his name, Abhi has been on the scene for years. Each project continues to showcase his growing talent as a producer and rapper. 

His latest energetic album with Kato On The Track, who has worked with artists including Jack Harlow and Snoop Dogg, was released on Feb. 24. Reminiscent of underground rappers before him, Abhi The Nomad’s lyrics are fierce and clever, matching Kato On The Track’s production.

You can steam their new album here.

No Nazar Debuts in New York City

Since 2020, Los Angeles-based creative collective No Nazar has captivated a diverse audience with their sold-out, underground parties that double as a space for inter-community cultural exchange and philanthropy. Now, they’re bringing their global beats to the east coast. No Nazar sold out their New York City debut party on Saturday, Feb. 25. 

The collective’s resident DJs Bianca Maieli, MTooray, Omar ؏, DJ SUDI and aku filled the packed room with high-energy edits that spanned a range of international genres, with fans excitedly dancing alongside the artists on stage. Each DJ brought their own flavor, treating the audience to everything from Bollywood classics and Punjabi folk to Arab pop and Afrobeats throughout the night. Lights flashed behind the stage, and a sea of arms flew up in unison with every beat drop. Still, the vibe felt intimate. No Nazar encouraged the crowd to let loose, and Brooklyn listened.

If you missed out, don’t worry. The LA natives plan to bring their unique take on South Asian sounds to the city again soon.  

Until then, you can listen to No Nazar’s remixes and sets here.

Other Notable News

• Hasan Minhaj is guest hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central this week.

• Apsara Iyer is the first Indian-American to lead the Harvard Law Review 

• Richa Moorjani signs with United Talent Agency.

• Arooj Aftab released a new track “To Remain/To Return.”

• Raf Saperra announced a new mixtape "Ruff Around The Edges."

Written by Saumya Monga and Roshni Rekha
Edited by Roshni Rekha