Bobby Friction, David Starfire Raise$5000 at Pickin' Mangoes
Indian Express - July 14, 2006
MASTTONES.COM, the leading provider of South Asian themed ringtones and entertainment and Project Ahimsa, a San Francisco-based non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of youth through music, raised $5,000 at a benefit event on June 23 here.
The event, ?Pickin' Mangoes," was sponsored by Masttones.com, Sid Shah, and FabIndia Clothing.The fundraiser was also the official pre-party for the seventh annual ArtWallah Festival of South Asian arts, which took place the following day.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Manav Sadhna and Project Ahimsa Mahatma Gandhi Community Music Center in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat.The Center will be built inside the Rampir No Tekro, the largest slum in Gujarat, across the street from Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad.The Community Music Center will also house facilities for healthcare, education, women's empowerment and micro credit services.
At the event, over 300 people danced to the music of the evening's key performer, the UK-based DJ Bobby Friction.
Bobby Fricition represents the British Asian sound as a DJ all over the world.His British Asian Urban compilation Friction (on Sony India) has reportedly sold 120,000 copies in India since its release in 2004 with top hit for several weeks.Other DJs included Gabe of Didjital and David Starfire who kept the party engaged at the Standard Hotel Hollywood Lounge.
?Pickin' Mangoes" was Project Ahimsa's third benefit event in the Los Angeles area.Previous Project Ahimsa fundraisers were held at the Viper Room and the Sunset Room and featured world- renowned artists such as The Black Eyed Peas, 311, Lily Hayden, Ravidrums and drummer Lal Singh Bhatti.
The benefit event also marked the beginning of the ArtWallah 2006 weekend, with the seventh annual ArtWallah Festival, an annual showcase of the South Asian arts featuring dance, film, music, spoken word, theater and visual arts from artists from around the world.
At this year's ArtWallah Festival, Project Ahimsa presented ?Touch The Beat," a 90-minute workshop on the tabla?traditional South Asian drums.The workshop enabled 20 participants to learn the spoken syllables of tabla rhythms, touch the drums, and collectively create sound collages.Participants were introduced to South Asian classical musical traditions in a simple and exciting way, while at the same time understanding the depth and beauty of music on the subcontinent.Robin Sukhadia, Project Ahimsa's International Grants Program Director, conducted the workshop, which was based on Project Ahimsa's innovative Tablas & Turntables program for at-risk youth.
Project Ahimsa aims to promote non-violence, cultural exchange and the healing power of music to improve the lives of at-risk and impoverished children.Through its grants and instrument donations, it provides music education for children in under-served areas around the world, particularly those affected by violence.
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