Published
Thu, May 6, 2021, 23:00
- From London to Hong Kong, artists are raising funds for NGOs providing Covid-relief in India.
Electronic communities are throwing their support behind India's non-profits as the nation experiences a horrific second wave of Covid-19.
Hospitals in the world's second most populous country are facing a dire shortage of oxygen and medical infrastructure as case numbers hit record highs. Today, May 6th, health authorities reported 412,262 new infections and 3,980 deaths over the past 24 hours. The overall death toll stands at 230,168 but it's widely believed that fatalities are much higher than what official numbers show.
To help organisations that are providing oxygen to critical patients, labels and crews around the globe have announced fundraisers.
In London, the South Asian collective Daytimers and anu are planning a fundraising night that's tentatively scheduled for later this month. Daytimers member Mera Bhai is also donating profits from sales of his records and merch to GiveIndia, an NGO headquartered in Bangalore. Rinse FM resident Jyoty also held a special radio show for donations earlier this month.
Over in Hong Kong, Bad Times Disco, an online record store, party and radio show, has announced that they will send a hand-picked record to anyone donating to community-based organisations in India.
Meanwhile on the ground in Asia's third-largest economy, vinyl selector Nishant Mittal AKA Digging In India has unveiled co-launched a movement called #ArtForCovidIndia. Interested individuals can sell whatever they like online and donate all proceeds to chosen fundraisers. As he described, "you can sell anything and everything - records, cassettes, posters, designs, photo prints, beats, taped performances, food, tutorials, consultation, zines, plants - anything." Mittal himself is selling records to support New Delhi-based Mazdoor Kitchen, which prepares meals for the underprivileged.
Mumbai producer Sandunes has released an album called Kerelief that consists of natural soundscapes recorded around the Western Ghats mountain range. All proceeds go to TIP Sessions, a platform that delivers medicine and food for Covid-affected families.
Goa-based techno label AsymetriK has put the 14-track compilation, S O S [Charity Compilation]. It features domestic artists such as Kohra, FILM, Murthovic, Bhish and label founder Arjun Vagale, who also makes music under the alias AsymetriK. All proceeds benefit the New Delhi non-profit Hemkunt Foundation.
"Our healthcare infrastructure is crippled - the system is broken!" Vagale described in a statement. "It’s now up to each of us to do our bit and help one another. As artists sitting at home, perhaps the best help we can offer is via our music."
Los Angeles-based Discostan, meanwhile, has partnered with designer Akshay Vig to create artwork, digital prints and handmade screen prints. All proceeds will be donated to Ketto India and Hemkunt Foundation.
This piece was last updated May 6th, 2021 at 23:54 BST.