Wednesday, September 3, 2025
6:30 – 8:30PM
A4 brings together Asian diasporic artists from experimental/countercultural music scenes and community leaders to discuss the lack of access Asian diasporic communities have to countercultural arts. Artists in the diaspora, especially those who work within experimental and countercultural scenes, often challenge traditional boundaries of genre and aesthetics. In doing so, they often look inward towards their own cultural roots, as well as practices from various other cultures. It is only natural then that Asian countercultural artists would wish to perform for an audience that would deeply understand the cultural implications of their transgressive work.
Yet in organizing around aesthetic ideologies, countercultural music scenes and audiences, especially in New York City, exhibit a widening class and racial divide. The dominance of white curatorial spaces often distances Asian diasporic communities from artists and venues. Further, who gets to be an artist within countercultures must also be critically examined. While arts movements often idealize working-class politics, the level of professionalization of music writ large necessitates capital investment (in the form of schooling, PR, marketing, agents/managers) to even consider becoming a working musician in any genre, including countercultural ones.
Who is countercultural music for? Who should countercultural music be for? How can we organize in a way that changes who this music scene is being developed by and for? Join us for a panel discussion on these questions, the current state of the problem, imagining better futures, and more.
Panelists include Che Chen, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and curator for Four One One; Amirtha Kidambi, musician, bandleader of Elder Ones, educator, and activist; Thanu Yakupitiyage, also known as DJ Ushka, who traverses genres across electronic club & bass music; and Shahana Hanif, City Council Member for New York City’s 39th District.
The discussion will be co-moderated by Ravish Momin, drummer, producer, and educator; and Leo Chang, musician, scholar of experimental arts, and operations associate at A4. The evening will begin with a short performance by panelists Che Chen and Amirtha Kidambi, followed by an hour of structured panel discussion. There will be time for Q&A and mingling following the panel.
The event is hosted by the Clemente, a Puerto Rican and Latinx cultural space rooted in the Lower East Side. This event is open to all, particularly performers, community and arts organizers, and cultural workers of all backgrounds.