Mumbai-based new media and entertainment agency Third Culture Entertainment has recently announced three new signings across film, podcasting and education signaling its expansion beyond the world of indie music.

The first act is the acclaimed multicultural collective, Berklee Indian Ensemble, an innovative, diverse group known for its unique style that honors Indian traditions while boldly experimenting with a cross pollination of genres, cultures, and multidisciplinary art forms started at the Berklee College of Music in 2011.

Next on the list is presenter, journalist, podcast producer, and audio content/production consultant with over 15-years experience in radio and podcasting - Mae Mariyam Thomas. Mae is also the founder of podcast production company & consultancy, Maed in India.

Last but far from least is Bangalore-based anonymous filmmaker Lendrick Kumar. Responsible for some of the most unique and creative music videos in the indie music circuit today, Lendrick’s style has established him as one to watch out for among artists, brands and fans alike.

Third Culture recently launched its very own record label, Export Quality Records that has since released over 14 projects consisting of singles and albums. Branching out beyond managing music was the clear next step as stated by the company’s founder, Tej Brar, "I've always viewed Third Culture as more than just a music management company. Over the years we've grown our portfolio from just artist management to our music festival offerings, bringing on board social media influencers and most recently launching our record label Export Quality in August 2022. In a post pandemic world, we've really seen the importance of further diversifying into the content space and are extremely proud to be working with industry leading creators like Mae Thomas and Lendrick Kumar. We are beyond excited to further grow the independent ecosystem with our new signings.” With a roster of 13+ artists around the globe, the company has continued to grow steadily since its inception in 2018 making strides within live music, brand collaborations, content partnerships and more.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Berklee Indian Ensemble

Founded in 2011 by Annette Philip, the first Indian musician appointed as a faculty member at Berklee College of Music, the Berklee Indian Ensemble is a world renowned collective, known for its global Indian sound that honors traditions while boldly experimenting with a cross pollination of genres, cultures, and multidisciplinary art forms. A viral sensation with over 255 million views (accounting for 51% of Berklee’s total YouTube views), the Ensemble was in such high demand globally that it organically transitioned into a professional band in 2021, marking the Ensemble’s ten year anniversary. This pro entity is led by 11 full-time members representing India, Jordan, Israel, Nigeria, Indonesia, Norway, the USA, and other regions across the globe. “The questions, ‘what if’, and ‘why not’ have been at the core of every chapter,” Philip shares. As true pioneers, the Ensemble is releasing their first collection of transnational, genre-bending music on their hotly-anticipated debut album, Shuruaat (Hindi for ‘beginning’).

Lendrick Kumar

Bangalore-based visionary filmmaker Lendrick Kumar has been making waves within the Indian independent music space since 2020 with his unconventionally refreshing narratives and distinct ability to bring artists' visions to life. His talent as a director has not only facilitated collaborations with acts like Lucky Ali, The F16s, JBABE, Hanumankind, and more, establishing him as the go-to indie director in the country but has also brought him international recognition, recently winning ‘Best Music Video’ at the South Asian Film Festival of America for his work on ‘Punch me in my third eye’ by Jbabe. A true creative, Lendrick chooses to maintain anonymity as a filmmaker stating, “When I am anonymous, I am not bound by any industry standards, I can go as crazy as I want with my ideas,” His name, a pseudonym derived from Hip-hop legend Kendrick Lamar, a significant source of inspiration on Kumar’s journey, is a further testament to his ability to cleverly recreate existing notions in a uniquely amusing way. Having made strides within the indie space, Lendrick’s most recent project sees him venture into the world of brands with Tinder’s anthem - 'Swipe Right Material' featuring Guru Randhawa, Anirudh Ravichander and Dee MC, produced by Supari Studios.

Mae Mariyam Thomas

Mae Mariyam Thomas is a presenter, podcast producer, journalist, entrepreneur and voice over artist, with over a decade of experience in the radio industry and 5 years in the podcasting space. She started her career as a News Editor/Journalist for a community radio station in Wales, UK. When she moved back to India in 2010, she continued working in radio as a presenter, producer and creative manager at Chennai Live 104.8FM and then moved to Mumbai hosting their afternoon request show, 'Mumbai On Demand' on 94.3 Radio One. Eventually from radio, she began exploring the growing medium of podcasting and now runs her own podcast production company. She’s most well-known for being the host of India’s first indie music podcast Maed in India which was selected by Apple as one of the Best Podcasts of 2018 in India. The show has been running for over 7 years and is a platform to showcase some of the best independent music coming out of India. With over 250 episodes out so far, it features interviews, new/unreleased music and live recording sessions with indie musicians. In 2019, she was chosen by GQ magazine for their 50 Most Influential Young Indians. Also, Maed in India is a 2021 Webby Award Honoree in the category of Limited Series & Specials - Diversity & Inclusion. Currently, she works as a podcast consultant to develop audio ideas, design shows, handle production and distribution of podcasts. Her ideal is to be creatively bold, nurture ideas and help people find their voice.