In Imperfect, she sings, “I wish I could break up with the girl who doesn’t love herself”; and in Consent, she croons, “Come and get my permission, It won’t mess the rhythm.”
Avanti Nagral
We quite liked the vibe of 20-year-old Mumbai singer, Avanti Nagral’s EP, Double Standards. It’s peppy, and stays light and fun, even as it talks about serious subjects like jealousy, gender equity, consent and body and beauty standards. In Imperfect, she sings, “I wish I could break up with the girl who doesn’t love herself”; and in Consent, she croons, “Come and get my permission, It won’t mess the rhythm.” Her voice is sweet and in control, and she has that international aesthetic just right, especially for someone singing English pop in India. When we spoke to Nagral about the thought behind the EP, she said, “I’d describe the EP as coming-of-age empowerment pop, a record that explores themes that are important while growing up, but those that we don’t always openly talk about.” Nagral also sees the EP as the beginning of her journey—which aims to make her followers, and the youth in general, more aware and more empowered. “The work has just begun. We already have a sex education series in the works. We have a lot more music lined up over the next year; exciting content and collaborations that I’m looking forward to sharing more about soon. We’re also building a physical studio space in Mumbai that will serve as a multipurpose creative [venue] for creators, fostering community among [practitioners of] music, videography, photography, dance and art. I can’t wait to announce the details,” she says of The Dream-space. You go, girl.
On Spotify, JioSaavn, Hungama
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Mumbai inspired
Conserve. Cherish. Celebrate. These are the ideas behind a new art initiative by Vaastu Vidhaan, a company co-founded by conservation architect Rahul Chemburkar. As part of the project, Chemburkar will be putting prints of some of his artworks, inspired by the city, on sale.
Rahul Chemburkar
From sketches of the Kessowjee Naik Fountain and Clock Tower at Masjid Bunder, to a free-hand drawing of Banganga Tank, coloured prints of Flora Fountain, and the many pyaavs in Mumbai that Chemburkar and his team have restored, this is a lovely collection to own or even gift a fellow Bombay lover. One set comprises six postcards and two bookmarks. “The aim of this art initiative is to sensitise our society about our built heritage. I try to bring out the intrinsic value of any heritage edifice through my sketches, thus, creating a social connect with it,” says Chemburkar. The sets are priced at Rs 450.
@vaastuvidhaanprojects, Instagram
Around the world’s clothes in 79 pages
PIC COURTESY/THE CULTURE OF CLOTHES, TEMPLAR BOOKS
A new illustrated compendium of clothing, The Culture of Clothes (Templar Books) by Giovanna Alessio and Chaaya Prabhat, reminds us that wearing is also about flaunting. The book, rich with vibrant artwork by Chennai-based Prabhat, who is a graphic designer and illustrator, takes us around the world. Each region’s dressing style is inspired by local legends, folklore, nature, history and culture. With this in mind, Brooklyn-based writer Alessio tells the sartorial stories of cultures across Asia, Africa, Oceania, Europe and the Americas. In India, we are introduced to the Banjaras and their voluminous ghagras, while in China, we learn about the gigantic headdress worn by the Longhorn Miao community, with a horn-shaped frame, and made with a collection of yarn, wool and human hair, worn to frighten off wild beasts. There’s also the gorgeous pollera dress, comprising a ruffled blouse and enormous skirt, worn by the Panamanian women, and the masks made of cowrie shells, worn by the Yorubas of Nigeria. This book is a celebration. Buy it for the drawings. It’s priced at Rs 1,099.
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