Kiran Ahluwalia performs at Beckman Auditorium

This past Sunday, Kiran Ahluwalia and her band completed the last leg of their West Coast tour in Pasadena at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium. Several Poly students, including some members of the Global Scholars cohort, and faculty joined her for two hours of sensational performances. In her work, Ahluwalia blends the vocal traditions of India and Pakistan with aspects of jazz, rock, and Mali and Western blues to create a fusion that transcends any of her individual influences.


Onstage, Ahluwalia moves—and even seems to become one—with the music she and her bandmates create. Her movements appear loose and spontaneous, allowing the viewer to feel both sonically and visually immersed in her work. She also masterfully utilizes numerous implements and instruments during the performances of her songs. During this concert alone, she used a megaphone, a tambourine, and bracelets; coupled with her soaring vocals, Ahluwalia’s work is sheerly beautiful. Particularly in light of the recent tensions along the India-Pakistan border, her work also reveals the power and significance of intercultural connection and inspiration.

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