Clap Your Hands Say Yaar

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.

— Hilal Nakiboglu Isler

1. October 18, 2006, 11:28 am Mili

   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.
2. December 22, 2006, 2:04 pm Nirali Magazine: The Blog | Get Into the Groove

   […] Nirali fave DJ Rekha will be flying in from New York to spin at Dhooom ‘07, the New Year’s Eve festivus maximus being held at the Santa Clara Convention Center. […]
3. January 26, 2007, 9:06 am Nirali Magazine: The Blog | DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid

   […] And at Holocene’s, where they’ve been spinning since 2003, they host the monthly event Atlas featuring the sounds of UK Asian Garage and Drum’n’Bass, Middle Eastern electronica, French HipHop, Funk Carioca, Meren-Rap and Reggaeton. The duo has headlined at NYC’s “Basement Bhangra” and supported many artists including Digable Planets, DJ Spooky, State of Bengal, Karsh Kale, DJ Rekha, Antibalas, Maga Bo, Ming & FS and J-Boogie. […]