Live from Dharamshala

Over many decades music has played a crucial role in facilitating creative exchange of ideas, thoughts and stories between the two physically separated communities of Tibetans inside Tibet and Tibetans in exile. This is reflected in the many endearing songs from the 80s and 90s sung by Tibetan singers from both sides of the border. This episode of Live from Dharamshala is our effort to pay tribute to such songs and their respective creators. Music directed by Tenzin Jamyang (JJI Exile brothers) Vocalist: Tenzin Shenphen & Tenzin Nyidon Taklung Guest Artist: Lobsang Dawa Presented by Drung Tibetan Filmmakers Collective 2021

Founded in 1959 in Dharamshala by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) is a cultural institute in exile that aims to preserve and promote Tibetan musical heritage and its associated arts. Over the last six decades the institute has been training Tibetan youths in traditional dance, music, opera and other art forms. TIPA artists have performed all over the world showcasing the rich Tibetan cultural heritage and many of its alumnis have become successful musicians and performers around the world. In this episode of Live from Dharamshala, Drung features members from this premiere institute and presents a set of traditional Tibetan songs along with a musical ensemble.

Tashi Gyatso popularly known as G Tashi is a budding Tibetan singer-songwriter and a rapper based in Dharamshala, India. His songs, recorded in his amateur home studio, are known for its simplicity and realistic expression of emotions and experiences. G Tashi hopes to help expand musical diversity in the Tibetan community. Tenzin Kusang, popularly known with his stage name K(dot)kush is also a Dharamshala based singer-songwriter and a rapper who is also part of a growing hip-hop and rap scene in the Tibetan exile community. He hopes to inspire and learn from other artists like himself.

Tenzin Jamyang, a versatile Tibetan singer-songwriter, who is a member of the well-known Tibetan rock-band, JJI exile brothers. In this session, Jamyang performs six songs. The performance was recorded live at the office of Drung, Tibetan filmmakers’ collective in Dharamshala, India on July 6th 2020 for the show "Live from Dharamshala".