Selected Live Projects: Events and Experiences
International Travel Trade Show
Interviewer and Video Creative Director, Director and Editor
Client: Fairfest Media
Location: Mumbai & Delhi
Year: 2020
For several months I worked with Fairfest on their largest event, OTM in Mumbai, and its satellite event BLTM in Delhi. This involved re-branding, content creation, art direction, video production, interviewing and more. I got to interact with the tourism leaders of many places in India and around the world, as well as the buyers who were coming from huge and interesting companies in APAC. I also had to run our small team of shooters and interview assistants, mostly from Mumbai & Kolkata. Fairfest is a Kolkata-born company with an office in Mumbai, and I was one of their few international hires.
Private Fashion Event
Client: Commes des Garçon and Circo de Bazuka
Project; “Cement” Perfume Launch
Location: New York
For Commes des Garçon’s launch of the perfume, “Cement”, they invited a select group of fashion guests, including some CDG employees, to a guided day-long tour of sites in New York. First, to the newly opened CDG retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum. Then onward to the top of 53 w. 53rd, New York’s tallest building under construction, an onto a boat party headed across the water to Williamsburg. Lastly, to a live experience designed by our friends at Nitemind involving cement mixers and interactive lighting.
Art Installation and Live Performance
XOMIA, Solo Multimedia Installation and Performance
Location: Ellis King Gallery, Dublin
Year: 2015
This live performance involved a video wall, a full-room installation and two performers mixing with the audience.
Hitashya Dj Gigs and Live Performances
Location: New York, Baltimore, London, Various European Cities, Mumbai and Goa, Cairo, Etc.
Years: 2013-Present
I have many years of live performance (singing and instruments) and party experience as a dj and musical event curator. I have been putting on events for decades! For me, the stage, the party, and the exhibition space are my homes.
Archive: Live VJ’ing and DJ’ing Before 2013
During my years in Baltimore and New York, I was heavily involved in the local music scenes as an artist collaborator with bands and dj/producers.
This included live visuals and tours in plenty of clubs and venues, and even a few museums. Through this and dj’ing I learned the back-end of stages, screens and venues.
Touring Band Live Show
Beach House
Live Art VJ
Location: East Coast Tour including Boston Museum of Fine Art
For a while I was playing with “live performance vj’ing” along with Beach House, a band of peers in Baltimore. I joined them on a few shows around the east coast and even went on a small tour with them where we played art museums and theaters.
Beach House also commissioned a music video by me later on, for their album Teen Dream on Subpop. They grew into a very famous band, as many acts from the Baltimore scene did. You’ve probably heard their music.
I was also a live VJ or made custom live video for:
Kingdom & Club Vortex in New York, who also commissioned video fliers and a music video based on the VJ work I was doing with him.
Teengirl Fantasy in New York, who also commissioned album art and a music video. Teengirl Fantasy are also ghost producers for many big name musical acts.
At one point I did get requested by MIA’s team, as they were friends of friends. But the project got cancelled for funding issues.
And many others…
A recording of a live VJ set for “You Came to Me” by Beach House from 2009
Personal Tour Guide and Host
Years: 2020-2023
Locations: Mumbai and Goa, India
By request I began giving personal and small group tours of Goa and Mumbai to visitors while I was living there, usually to Indian or NRI friends or tourists connected through friends. Indians are traveling more than ever, but many feel they need to also explore their own country! I absolutely love showing Mumbai and Goa to anyone, but especially to Indian nationals and NRIs, and especially women. (I love encouraging women to travel.)
Mumbai locations included Ranwar Village at Christmas, art venues, Pali Hill and Carter Road, Kotachiwadi, upscale secrets in Sobo, cafes and diners, penthouse views in Andheri and others.
Goa locations included several secret sunset spots and tucked away beaches and club-lounges that only residents know, as well as eating cashew apples from the tree and trying feni along with local Goan cuisine and of course, Hilltop and motorbike rides in North Goa’s most beautiful backroads.
Outdoor Recreation Events, Co-Host and Concept/Creative Director
Location: Goa, India
Year: 2021
During CoVid lockdown in Goa, I helped a personal trainer organize outdoor “Field Day” classes. Using some of Goa’s beautiful outdoor soccer fields, we did small group training sessions with drills, races and games.
Karaoke Host
Along with being a dj I’m also known for my karaoke parties across the world, which I call “Kai-reoke”. Just like with my dj sets, I try to encourage a multicultural experience with songs in any language and from any culture, and since I’m usually in cities like Mumbai/Goa, Dubai, Cairo or Paris, the multicultural part comes naturally. Sometimes this turns into Youtube singalong and dance-along parties. Bohemian Rhapsody is also banned!