The New York Times and Newsweek magazine have both decided she is one of the most influential South Asians in the US. She has performed with Outcast, Rah Digga and The Roots, but is perhaps better known for putting Bhangra on the map (of New York City—at 200 Varick Street, to be exact).
DJ Rekha (née Rekha Malhotra) is the powerhouse behind Basement Bhangra—a popular desi dance destination, and what New York magazine has called “the best party in NYC.”
Last Sunday Rekha was featured on CNN where she dished on identity (“to me it’s a shifting idea”), the future (a CD featuring collaborations with Bikram Singh and Panjabi MC) and what it’s like to be a woman in the male-dominated world of DJs.
The first Thursday of each month you can catch Rekha holding down the decks at the club SOBs—lower Manhattan’s address for Basement Bhangra.
Check out www.sangament.com for details.
If I’m not mistaken, she’s been at it for nearly a decade or so. It’s interesting that she’s only now getting recognition.