@ButterChickenPodcast x @HafandHaf live and direct from @TheGullyNYC in partnership with @BrownGirlMag

Episode 38 - The Haf and Haf Episode

We start this new season of the @butterchickenpodcast off with a bang. Maria Qamar, illustriously known as @hatecopy, joins the #butterchickenboys @DJSharad and @DJJuicy for an incredible conversation at her solo NYC exhibit, FRAAAANDSHIP. They talk about the process of becoming an artist from within a desi family, the cyclical and long term effects of forming online and physical communities, and the paramount importance of promoting women’s education. Maria was born in Pakistan to parents of Bangladeshi and Gujarati descent and moved to Canada in the year 2000. She started drawing from a young age, and grew up reading comic books, which helped her realize that she was a visual learner. Maria’s work is influenced by what she realized about society after moving to and living in the West. Issues of policing women’s bodies and lifestyles form key tropes in her work. An important message that we took away from this discussion is the significance of putting your creations out there even at the risk of no one seeing it. We agree with Maria that the more visible you make this kind of work, the better the future will be for our culture. We round off the episode with a set of rapid-fire questions from @browngirlmag and then opened the floor to questions from our amazing audience. @hatecopy is a force to be reckoned with, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Episode 37 - The Maria Qamar Episode

On this very special episode, the #ButterChickenBoys facilitate an illuminating panel at @LincolnCenter called desi:NOW- Then, Now and Future, hosted by the @desinowshow. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy sit down with founder and executive director of the Indo-American Arts Council Aroon Shivdasani @aroonshivdasani , artist and rapper, and curator at @Spotify Himanshu “Heems” Suri @nehrujackets , CEO and founder of Mela Arts Connect Heena Patel @heenatabla , and founder of Product of Culture Archana Misra Jain @archanamisrajain. Aroon began her mission in 1998 as a response to the lack of visibility and recognition for the burgeoning world of Indian arts and culture, and describes the process through which she promoted these two aspects for artists. Heems speaks to not only how concepts of marketing have changed from his early days as an artist to now, but also what it means to strive for visibility. He asks the expedient questions - what is the end goal for us? What types of assimilation and visibility do we want and for who? Heena comes from the world of Bollywood and the classical South Asian arts. She talks about the rampant eurocentrism of art and the ways we can go about to dismantle that. Archana speaks about her company Product of Culture’s mission. It is an online curation platform and an offline community builder. She contends with the challenges of building a unifying platform for South Asians - an incredibly diverse group - particularly in the age of social media’s influence. 

What is diversity and what is inclusion? What is representation and what is collaboration? How do we teach our children? Tune in to hear an in depth and timely dialogue that addresses it all. And most importantly - let’s keep the conversation going.

Episode 36 - The desi:Now - Then, Now, & Future Episode [Live At Lincoln Center]

This week, the #ButterChickenBoys dive right in with singer and second #EastLondoner, Nish. @Musicbynish tells @DJSharad and @DJJuicy how he started singing at the age of 5 at the encouragement of his mother, and how he was first into live music - both Bangla and English. We hear about his major influences like @RyanLeslie and @champagnepapi, both of whom have mastered the art of rapping and singing together. Nish educates us on the intricacies of the #Bengali language when writing lyrics to Western beats and melodies, and tells us the story of how he met his mentor @mumzystranger. Mumzy also joins us in this conversation and, together with Nish, talks about creating a new movement amongst #Desis. Some gems dropped during the episode include: leave your ego at the door when you come into the studio, and don’t wait for life to happen. Stay tuned until the very end for an amazing vocal rendition by Nish, and be sure to check out his newest banger - #Xoss!

Episode 35 - The Nish Episode

This week, the #ButterChickenBoys sit down with trailblazer and trendsetter in the #urbandesi scene - Mumzy Stranger. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy learn about @mumzystranger’s heritage. Born and bred in East London to Bangladeshi parents, Mumzy mostly credits his siblings for paving his way into music. We hear the beautiful story behind his name, and also the artists who inspired his illustrious career - from @supercat_dondada and @bujuofficial, to @usher, @boyziimen, and @theofficial112. Mumzy’s hybrid vibes and openness to always keep learning have brought him to where he is today. He talks about being passionate and having unwavering support from his wife and mentors like Rishi Rich (@musicbyrr), but also taking the business side seriously too. We are here for his hybrid vibes and the newly emerging #UrbanBangla scene. Stay tuned till the very end for a surprise!

Episode 34 - The Mumzy Stranger Episode

This week, the #butterchickenboys sit down with a forceful Los Angeles team - singer and musician extraordinaire The Musical Doc, and producer, DJ, and engineer Peter Madana. We begin with @themusicaldoc telling @DJSharad and @DJJuicy about her music filled upbringing. Her parents are both classically trained Karnatic musicians, and her father is an #ethnomusicology PhD. The Doc sang in her gospel church choir growing up, and identified with music even before identifying with her own name. She finished medical school - we know, incredible - and then found her way back to her North Star: music. We then delve into the inspiring teamwork and respect between @petermadana and The Doc. Peter and the boys take a (some may say necessary) tangent into the philosophy of what makes a “foodie,” and then make their way back to the importance of trust, faith, and friendship within a team. The Musical Doc gives us a scintillating #acapella taste from her new record #MelaninandHoney, a project through which her anticolorism message shines through. She’s asks, how do you talk about something as taboo, uncomfortable, and deep rooted as #colorism in an attractive way on a mainstream level? Well, she did it - and we highly recommend checking it out!

Episode 33 - The Musical Doc & Peter Madana Episode

This week, the #ButterChickenBoys chop it up and laugh it out with their first Australian guest, Pav Dharia. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy learn about @pavdharia and his move from Punjab to Australia at an early age. Pav discusses the life changes, both good and bad, that came with migration, and how starting anew in a different land molded him into an independent artist who has been involved in all aspects of the creative process. We learn that Pav surprisingly was trained as a pilot, and started out doing production work on his talented dad’s vocals. This episode brings with it timeless wisdom about the dangers of instant gratification, the manipulative nature of social media “views,” and the joys of creating art with passion and honor. Give it a listen, and be sure to check out the ever-talented @pavdharia!

Episode 32 - Pav Dharia Episode

This week, the #ButterChickenBoys talk with the illustrious identical twin RnB duo The Mxxnlight - Luv and Kush Chandani. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy talk to @inthemxxnlight about their educational backgrounds in industrial engineering from RPI, and their musical backgrounds and love for @Sade and everything #Bollywood. The twins speak of their own trials and tribulations of the business side of things - from publishing deals and distribution, to monetization and paperwork. They are backed by @wizkhalifa, and share with us some savory stories of their journey from creating on #garageband and @soundcloud days to their life with @taylorgang now. Their sound is universal and deep - make sure you listen to their tracks on all
platforms!

Episode 31 - THEMXXNLIGHT Episode

In this week’s savory episode, the #butterchickenboys @DJSharad and @DJJuicy chop it up with RnB singer Robin Dey. Repping Southside Jamaica, Queens,  @_robindey discusses his musical lineage replete with Hindustani classical musicians, teachers, and his legendary mentor and #GaanDadu Manna Dey. From Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali to @therealtank, Brian McKnight, and @chrisbrownofficial, Robin’s inspiration is vast. He illuminates us on his creative process and the transitions that took place in his career from being a one man show to having a team behind him. He is focused, engaged, and humble, and we are here for it!

Episode 30 - The Robin Dey Episode

This week, the #butterchickenboys sit down with their youngest guest ever. At the mere age of 19, UK-born @ezuworld spits knowledge about his already remarkable career. Ezu speaks to @DJSharad and @DJJuicy about repping #SouthLondon and the priceless training and experience he gained at his college, East London Music and Arts. He poignantly lays out a 360 understanding of how the music business works, and how expecting overnight success is one of the worst mistakes one can make. From blind messaging #Bollywood starts and starting his @YouTube and @Soundcloud channels, to collaborating with some of the biggest names in the industry, it seems Ezu has lived a hundred lives. However, this is just the beginning and we’re here to see it grow! Grab a #kulcha, and check out the #youngbrointhescene!

Episode 29 - The Ezu Episode

This week, the #butterchickenboys continue their Tamil tour with their Chennai-born brother Sid Sriram. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy learn about @sidsriram and his illustrious career - from growing up in a family of classically trained Karnatic musicians and his education at #Berkeley College of Music, to working closely with @arrahman and navigating his own path through multiple aspects of his identity. We learn about delectable Tamil cuisine (#SweetAndSpicy), the importance of holding on to your individuality, and the vulnerability and ultimate joy that comes with finding yourself. Catch Sid’s album #Entropy, which released in February, and his illuminating melodies and lyrics. We were blown away by his knowledge, and are sure you will be too!

Episode 28 - The Sid Sriram Episode

In this sizzling episode, the #butterchickenboys sit down with their Brooklyn-born, Sri Lankan-Tamil sister, @rolexrasathy. @DJSharad, @DJJuicy, and #RolexRasathy (which, as we learn through the episode originated from her dad’s endearing texts calling her his rasathy, or queen) discuss different forms of adhering to culture in the diaspora. They speak of Rolex’s background in #Jazz and #Karnatic classical, deep love for dancehall and @champagnepapi, and her own trials and tribulations of being a perfectionist. This episode is packed with details from Rolex’s journey in the music industry (shoutout to @stevecliffmusic), and is empowering to many sects of society. Grab a napkin and dig in!

Episode 27 - The Rolex Rasathy Episode

This week the #butterchickenboys sit down with rapper, Taizu. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy begin the episode by discussing the importance of #humility, and @taizuhowyou illuminates their conversation with his own life philosophies and deep thoughts about the #braggadocious nature of hip hop culture, and #doubt being an important element of faith. We speak in depth about Taizu’s upcoming album #ZU, which features no collabs and is straight fire. There’s not much we can say about this spicy episode other than this - do yourselves a favor and give it a listen. We guarantee you will come out with a different worldview - one that forces you to question everything, and one that challenges the system that we take for granted.

Episode 26 - The Taizu Episode

The wait is over! We begin our buttery and well-marinated Season 3 with the talented musician PropheC. The #butterchickenboys @djjuicy and @djsharad sit down with Calgary native @prophecproductions and talk all things music - from the art of it, to the business side, and everything in between. PropheC began his vocal lessons at the age of 5. He started in the world of Desi music, and then delved into underground hiphop in his teenage years. His first album #Forever was released in 2011, when he established himself as a self-proclaimed #senti singer. The boys speak about the art of retaining your mother tongue throughout life, and the importance of remaining true to your own art form, as opposed to selling out to the latest trend. Some gems dropped in this episode include: being an amazing musician is key, but trust the value of marketing as well; and, you should never degrade your talent just to get work. The episode ends with arguably the most important question of all: which city has the best #ButterChicken? Tune in to find out!

Episode 25 - The PropheC Episode

On this week’s particularly rich episode of the @butterchickenpodcast, the #butterchickenboys have an amazing conversation with one of the OGs in the urban desi scene, Raghav. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy sit down with @raghavworldwide and discuss the beginnings his illustrious career - from his first singing show at age 4 and the musically diverse hallways of his home in Calgary, Canada, to his time at the Paul McCartney School of Music in the United Kingdom where he felt he was finally able to show his Indianness. Raghav describes his journey to success as more than the result of having a passion, but also a calling. His unique sounds of pop, Hindi and Bollywood, all steeped in Caribbean #riddims are what identifies this 6 time platinum artist. We hear the backstory of his hits #SoConfused and #AngelEyes, and get insight into the workings of the South Asian music industry and waves of pop culture. Raghav has collaborated with @arrahman on the film #JabTakHaiJaan, and has worked on countless projects both big and small in his lifetime. One of the proudest moments of his professional career has been recording the music video for his song Until the Sun Comes Up with @nelly and Abhishek Bachchan @bachchan, in which his passion for green energy and philanthropy came to fruition. Raghav ends the episode with visions of his career’s 2nd chapter - more sold out concerts, but with a twist. We can’t wait to see what he has in store!

Episode 24 | The Raghav Episode

This week on the @butterchickenpodcast, the #butterchickenboys sit down with artist, rapper, and poet Jasleen Powar - who goes by the name @horsepowar. A native of Vancouver, Jasleen talks about her upbringing in a large family and the diverse music that accompanied it. From listening to @BlackSabbath and @alicecooper to Hindi #bollywood tracks to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony @btnhlive, Jasleen’s musical canvas is vast. We speak about the heartbreak in her life that has brought her full circle in regards to faith and God, and the pain and darkness she harnessed from that time to transform into light. This #duality of despair and happiness is what contributes to her development as an artist. Catch her tracks on all major streaming platforms - #boldwoman, #cameraphone, and #powar to name a few. Jasleen’s newest venture is a show hosted by @complex called #TheCurryShop where she eats curries from around the world with the likes of @duttypaul and @aasifmandvi among others. We end with hints of what to expect from her in the future: new music that brings back her love of joke rap, a one woman show, and djing. A pearl of wisdom that she leaves us with is to “give a shit.” And we have to say, we agree.

Episode 23  | The HorsePowar Episode

In this week's episode, the #ButterChickenBoys sit down with prominent
news journalist Reena Ninan. @DJSharad and @DJJuicy learn about
@reenaninan 's upbringing in Tampa, Florida and her parent's
progressive outlook on life that supported her unique ambition to
become a news reporter. They discuss growing up #Malayali, the
exposure that the college experience brings with it, and the trials of
exploring an identity different than your parents'. Reena brings us on
the journey of how she got to where she is now - from temping as a
secretary half a block from the White House on 9/11, and freelancing
at #BET, to covering the Saddam Hussein trial in Baghdad, and her
seminal years as a producer and correspondent for #FoxNews in
Jerusalem. We learn about one of Reena's most memorable interviews - a
7 year-old Syrian refugee who wrote a book called #DearWorld. Reena is
currently at #CBSnews, where you can catch her on the weekends at
6:30pm, and on the #CBSN app everyday.
Through all the bars dropped, we learn that the hustle. never. stops.

Episode 22 | The Reena Ninan Episode

On this week’s episode, the #butterchickenboys decide to put together a live buttery experience with their friends and family, to get the story of Grammy nominated artist and cultural icon @therajakumari. In fact, @djsharad and @djjuicy bring the Queen to Queens, New York (their hometown). In this saucy episode Raja Kumari talks about her early days, training in Indian classical dance and what impacted the start of her musical career. Exploring all genres of music, to taking a chance and moving to Mumbai to further her career as an artist, Raja Kumari continues to take risks! The boys and Raja also touch on several milestones such as, being the first South Asian Woman being signed to @epicrecords, her Grammy nomination, and how she was able to create a loyal global fan base. Wait, there is more! Raja Kumari debuts her new single #Shook live on @butterchickenpodcast , you don’t want to miss this episode! A special thanks to @productofculture @dissdash_world and all our attendees for trekking through the snow to witness the live experience. The #butterchickenboys also want to thank their partners @queens_bully @browngirlmag and @bira91us for their help and support. LINK IN BIO NOW! #brownexcellence #brownrenaissance

Episode 21 | The Raja Kumari Episode

In this week’s episode of the #ButterChickenPodcast, @DJSharad and @DJJuicy sit down with artist @rajaforlifee. Raja and the #butterchickenboys talk about the hustle of surviving in the music industry, and the particular struggles Raja has had along the road. From devastating losses to overcoming substance addiction, Raja has come out the other end shining. He has worked with names such as @myfabolouslife and @torylanez and had gotten upwards of one million plays on @Spotify. We are huge fans of Raja’s new track #IslandGyal (out now!) and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him!

Episode 20 | The Raja Episode

On this week’s episode of the @ButterChickenPodcast, @DJSharad and @DJJuicy sit down with OGs in the footwear space, brothers Nick and Ankur Amin of @ExtraButter. They chop it up about life as Gujarati immigrants in Queens in the early 1980s, and the virtuosic level of entrepreneurship and family bonding that brought the Amin brothers to where they are now. Nick and Ankur bring us through the process of Extra Butter’s first collaboration with @Reebok and emphasize their values of team building and family support. From owning the @Renarts1981 chains, to bringing in their passion for cinema, Extra Butter has developed into a truly experiential apparel store. Some #bars dropped in this episode: what you build, builds you. Needless to say, this episode is #extrabuttery!

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