Melam | Sounds of Diaspora

Melam is a cultural collective that celebrates global artists and creators with local roots. Founded by Barcelona-based creatives Sejal Parekh, a British-Indian interdisciplinary artist, and Davina Rajoopillai, a British-Sri Lankan cultural curator and creative producer. Our third gathering is an intimate listening room, Sounds of Diaspora. Relax and hear from artists Ahadadream and Opu Ku from Jokkoo Collective, who will share the tracks and influences that shaped and inspired them. Between each track, we converse: what influenced these sounds? How do migration, diaspora, and music travel through bodies and borders? Ahadadream weaves Pakistani tabla percussion into UK grime bassline structures, drawing from his heritage and sounds across the globe. A DJ and producer, he's also the founder of Dialled In, a South Asian creative platform from London. Opu Ku, member of Jokkoo Collective, explores dub histories, noise, and ancestral African musics, building Barcelona's Afro-diaspora community since 2017. With delicious bites from Mog Barcelona, a Goan pan-Asian restaurant founded by chef Rachel, who gives a special twist to her heritage flavours with local ingredients. Food is included with entry.