Embracer: Music Justice Arts is a platform that provides space for originality, creativity and expression primarily through various forms of arts and music. Themed  'Voices in the Silence' , the event this year is being held on 10^th March at Gulmohar Park Club, New Delhi.

The platform is a reminder of the power of arts and music and why we need it to retain the soul of love, justice, individuals and communities. While we supported and talked about freedom of expression and creativity in 2017, the second edition is more  about voices - Voices in the Silence. The silence, as we see it, is about the din created by mainstream noise and definitions. We see the silence as a form of exclusion and hence those who still stand up and do their thing, are voices that are driven by their own passion, conviction and art. Such voices bring joy and remind the soul of how important art is or to just say what you wish or to talk about your feelings or the questions that go unanswered in the hustle of life and routine. Such voices are also persistent souls that are amazing and would be great to listen to.

The platform came in to being last year as a result of a conversation between Sharif Rangnekar- a former journalist, researcher and  LGBTQ rights activist, and his late brother, Dr Dwijen Rangnekar, during his last months before he passed on late 2015. An academic, human rights activist and writer, he and Sharif strongly believed that original music, creativity and expression, had to go hand in hand and must have its own space particularly in a scenario that market economics and commerce determines the norms or templates. 

Voices in the Silence: 

Embrace aims to present different people, forms of art and the spoken word, representing a variety of voices that don’t necessarily subscribe to the norm of the mainstream or the oppression of the mainstream or set benchmarks of society. In a way, it is these people who break the silence of one idea of what is and what should not be and how they have broken away from the norm. It is also about people who use their art form to tell us stories of strife and victory over it or just to tell us things we seem to forget - particularly freedom of expression, issues of social justice or peaceful co-existence and diversity.  

What 4-AF brings to us, for example, are stories of freedom and protest from certain African nations including where most of them come from - Congo. Having faced racism of different forms, the band rejoices and keeps the soul going through music. The band leader, John, says "Why should it matter where one comes from when it is love". He believes that one bad experience should not label a whole community be it for Indians or for people from his region.  

Mayukh Hazarika, the nephew of the great Bhupen Hazarika - will run through songs that tell us about how people from Assam fled during the freedom struggle. 

Friends of Linger, known to be outspoken on a variety of issues and also credited with a same sex ballad music video (Miss You) and first dedication to the LGBTQ community (Head Held High) - will put out new songs on the state of democracy (Silence) and that of women (Dignity). 

Dignity is being dedicated to the largest global movement of and for women - She Decides - that rose after the Trump gag order on funds for NGOs working in the area of abortion and women's rights over their body. She Decides, into its second year, will be present as it makes its entry into India. 

Drag performances have largely remained underground if not restricted to Gay events in and around the metros. This is probably amongst the first times that such a performance will make it to a mixed audience. The performers - Lush and Betta Naan Stop - are of course courageous and confident as they test not just the waters but also the set forms that society defines. 

Similarly, Divya Dureja will perform her slam poetry with music and dance. An acoustic guitar with a ballerina is what she will be accompanied with making it a unique performance. She is known to produce material that is feminist and Lesbian in nature. 

The artist Snigdha Samal is self taught and has captured moments that are socially relevant and political. For example, images post demonetisation or women versus cows is amongst the works she will showcase. 

Even the Elton John AIDS Foundation supported Safe Masti campaign will take the stage to talk about its noble and novel safe-sex campaign targeting the men-having-sex-with-men category. It is primarily an online initiative and is the first of its kind.

Details:

Date: 10^th March

Venue: Gulmohar Park Club, New Delhi

Time: 4.30 pm

Entry: Free