The Croydon Mela being held in Wandle Park at the end of the month will stage a unique collaboration between cross-cultural performers as part of the Croydon Composers project.

Shri Sriram: unusual combinations
Ten of Croydon’s aspiring composers and musicians – drawn from hip hop to choral folk, Indian classical music to rock, from Turkish percussion to spoken word – have come together and been paired off in unusual, cross-genre combinations.
Each pair will create one composition which will be recorded and performed on September 30 at Croydon International Mela and on October 27 at live music venue, the Scream Lounge in South Croydon.
Participants will be mentored and produced by composer-musician and BASCA award-winner Shri Sriram, while music business consultant Michael Fuller will hold a workshop and practical mentoring session.
The project is being delivered by Croydon-based organisation Drum The Bass with support from Croydon Council and Arts Council England.
Drum the Bass director Shri Sriram said: “Croydon Composers has been a fantastic experience for me – the creativity, energy and commitment of these Croydon artists has been inspirational.”
The participating artists are:
- Tansay Omar (Turkish percussion player) with Amen Noir (spoken word)
- Katie Rose (choral folk singer) with Dan Buskell (creative drummer)
- Gill Manly (Jazz Singer) with Unorthodox Kings (hiphop, urban artist)
- Those Makeshift Heroes (singers, guitar and bass) with Saleel Tambe (Tabla player)
- Raveena Rajeevan (Sri Lankan/Indian classical singer) with Dave Koor (electronic, keyboards).
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