Indian Ocean Enthralls Houston

Report: Ruchi M
TV Asia

{Video Courtesy – TV Asia}

The famed Indian rock fusion band, Indian Ocean got their audience glued to the seats on Friday, August 29th, 2008 at the University of Houston’s Cullen Performance Hall. The concert was brought to Houston by Shangri-La Entertainment, an offshoot of Shangri-La Art Gallery and Child Rights and You (CRY) America Inc..

Indian Ocean is a contemporary fusion music band from India. Some music critics describe the Indian Ocean music as “Indo-rock fusion with jazz-spiced rhythms that integrates shlokas, sufism, environmentalism, mythology and revolution”. The band comprises Susmit Sen (Guitar), Asheem Chakravarty (Tabla, Percussions & Vocals), Amit Kilam (Drums, Percussions & Vocals) and Rahul Ram (Bass Guitar & vocals).

Shangri-La’s goal is to promote contemporary Indian art, music and culture to the overseas Indian community, as well as to the mainstream American community. “Our mission is to bring musical performances of a high international caliber to the Houston music audience,” says Atul Vir, promoter of the art gallery. Our catchphrase is “Cool Contemporary Indian Music”. This genre of music is also referred to as Lounge Music, New Age and Fusion.

Akshay Lalla, leader of CRY America’s Houston Chapter said that music has always transcended boundaries to bring people together for many a cause. The Indian Ocean concert is one such opportunity to bring people together for the cause of underprivileged children. In just 5 years CRY America with the support of over 8,100 donors and 500 volunteers has impacted the lives of over 156,503 children in India and the US across 1,211 villages and slums through support to 30 Projects. CRY is a 501c3 non profit organization driven by its vision of a just world in which every child has an equal opportunity to develop to his or her full potential.