AwokenWord - Episodes Tagged with “Music”

#019: G Yamazawa - "Way of The Shogun"

Anuj Rastogi — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:00:00 -0400

Anuj is joined by G Yamazawa, in this conversation deep into the COVID19 pandemic. G Yamazawa is an innovative rapper, spoken word poet and hip hop artist. Originally out of Durham, North Carolina, G is now based in Los Angeles.

G shares a lot about his life growing up, how hip hop entered his life, and the path that spoken word poetry opened up for him to find his own voice in the world of hip hop. Anuj and G unpack life in the US at the early stages of the COVID19 pandemic, as well as the worlds of artistry, social media, creativity and evolving as an artist. This is a fresh glimpse into the mind of a prolific artist.

Special Guest: G Yamazawa.

#018: Jeff Teravainen - "Acting Human"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Anuj sits down with Jeff Teravainen. Jeff is a well-loved actor, voiceover artist, and musician. He's played the role of Lieutenant Anders on SYFY's hit "Dark Matter", as well as roles in SYFY's "12 Monkeys" in Season 2 along with movies such as the 2019 Netflix hit, "Christmas Chronicles". Jeff has also given his likeness and voice to characters in popular animation and video games such as "Far Cry", "Splinter Cell" and "Resident Evil". Most recently, you can find Jeff as the recurring character Gerald on the new HULU / CBC series "Utopia Falls" which debuted in 2020.

Jeff shares a lot about what inspires him, what influences his work and what the actual life of an actor and creative is like today. Anuj and Jeff also explore fatherhood and family, as well as what it means to be a man today, the value of boredom, and our hopes for the future. This is an honest, intimate and inspiring glimpse into Jeff''s world, and a conversation that will resonate with his fans and all aspiring actors and creatives around the world.

Source: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1617292/bio

Special Guest: Jeff Teravainen.

#017: Sammy Chand - "Genesis Man"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Live from DASH Radio studio in Los Angeles, Anuj Rastogi sits down with Sammy Chand. Sammy is the founder of Rukus Avenue Radio, a rapper, producer, record label exec, entrepreneur and man of the people. In this conversation, Anuj and Sammy explore the impact of Hip Hop, the genesis of Indian Hip Hop and its ties back to Sammy's group KARMACY. The two discuss identity, the evolution of music, fatherhood, the current political climate in the US and what we can do to shape the world for better.

https://www.sammychand.com/

Special Guest: Sammy Chand.

#015: Shantanu Pujari - "Hip Hop India"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 20:00:00 -0500

Anuj Rastogi reconnects with Shantanu Pujari, a multi-talented artist and fighter. Shantanu is a professional competitive mixed martial arts fighter, yoga instructor, action director for film, activist, b-boy, beatboxer and hip hop label artist manager. Shantanu is also the host of the "Shakahari Show" on Rukus Avenue Radio. Shantanu shares his incredible personal journey, and a deep respect and knowledge of the history of Hip Hop as well as India. This conversation is an inspiring and exciting journey through the eyes of India's youth which is on course to transform the country and the world in positive ways.

Here, quite literally is how Shantanu and Anuj met...

And here's Shantanu in action...

Special Guest: Shantanu Pujari.

#013: Ashwin Srinivasan - "The Airbender"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Live in Mumbai, Anuj Rastogi sits down with Ashwin Srinivasan, one of the most highly sought-after musicians in India. Ashwin is an acclaimed Indian Classical flautist and vocalist, and long-time collaborator with internationally renowned composer Nitin Sawhney, as well as core member of Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman's band. Ashwin's vocal and instrumental brilliance is well known, and in this conversation, Anuj and Ashwin explore the worlds of music, Ashwin's journey as an artist, and his unique approach to his art. Anuj and Ashwin also discuss the incredible beauty of India, and the experience of exploring the country and its people by road.

Special Guest: Ashwin Srinivasan.

#009: Nicki Wells - "The World is Sound"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Anuj connects with London-based singer, songwriter, composer, producer and multi-genre musical prodigy, Nicki Wells (aka TURYA). Nicki is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, and capable of astonishing fluency across Western classical, pop, and Indian Classical styles of music. A long-time collaborator with leading global artists, Nicki has worked with acclaimed film, theatre and studio music composer Nitin Sawhney, vocalists Tina Grace, and Joss Stone among many others. Nicki has performed across many of the globe's most esteemed venues from Australia, the Middle East, East and South Asia, through Europe, Canada and the US. Nicki has also performed for, and composed original music for acclaimed film, theatre and dance productions, and her voice is found on soundtracks including the 2018 feature film "Mowgli" directed by Andy Serkis, and streaming on Netflix.

Anuj and Nicki share their unique and common experiences in the worlds of music and art, and explore Nicki's incredibly unique journey both as an artist, and as a human being whose life journey has spanned living in India, the UK and Australia, and touring much of the world as a working composer and vocalist. Nicki also shares her unique perspectives on Indian music, and its relationship to her own life and music in general. Nicki and Anuj also discuss the experience of an artist in today's challenging world, how music and art bridges human divides, and what makes the human experience so dynamic.

Nicki's debut album "OCEAN" is available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other platforms, and she's regularly performing and touring around the world.

Special Guest: Nicki Wells (aka TURYA).

#006: Dwayne Morgan - "The Race To Pay It Forward"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 20:00:00 -0500

In today's AwokenWord episode, Anuj Rastogi sits down with Dwayne Morgan, one of the country's most prolific event producers, as well as a talented author, speaker and poet. Anuj and Dwayne dive deep into many important territories, from race, the experience of being black in this world, creating spaces and platforms for others to shine, to being a man, fatherhood, sociopolitical polarization, the importance of self love, and paying it forward.

Special Guest: Dwayne Morgan.

#005: IF The Poet - "Renaissance Reincarnated"

Anuj Rastogi — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi talks to Ian French, popularly known as "IF The Poet" and finalist in the 2015 World Slam Poetry championship in Paris. Ian has been the subject of a CBC documentary, and is a respected performer whose work spans the breadth of our collective, and individual human experiences. Anuj and Ian talk at length about the state of the world today, poetry, the journey of creativity, masculinity in today's world, being honest, the nuances of identity politics and political correctness, self-love and the importance of knowing your own story.

[*NOTE: Though planned at the time of this recording, Ian ultimately pulled out of present at the 2018 "Men and Masculinity Summit" in Toronto, for specific concerns of his own regarding a decision for this year's sumit. He's continued to be a supporter of the summit, and the cause.]

Special Guest: Ian French.