Here at Brown Boy Mag, we’re freezing our buttocks off—Naarm/Melbourne feels colder than an emperor penguin’s armpit, you know, if that was a thing. 

So, we can’t think of a better way to spend our Friday nights than thawing out our icy behinds to the sounds of South Asian Australian excellence—champagne and gruyere croquettes in hand, in between art gazing at the National Gallery of Victoria. Join us?

NGV Friday Nights’ Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® runs until 6 October 2023 (180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne) for Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi.

Opening in June 2023, the blockbuster Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® exhibition Pierre Bonnard presents the iridescent paintings of Bonnard within immersive scenography by Paris-based designer India Mahdavi. A kaleidoscopic exhibition, Pierre Bonnard features more than 100 works by the celebrated French artist, spanning the late nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. Paintings, drawings, photographs, folding screens and early cinema will bring modern France to life with startling beauty and vivid colour.

NGV

Go on. Support local South Asian talent and dance to ASHWARYA, Tiana Khasi, Priya, Surana, and Glass Beams at NGV Friday Nights over the coming weeks.

1. ASHWARYA

23 June 2023, 8 – 9 pm

‘Ashwarya fuses pop-minded melodies with electronic samples, unconventional arrangements, organic percussion and traditional Indian instrumentation to find a sound uniquely her own. Alongside her own flurry of singles including ‘Biryani’, ‘Flare’ and more, Ashwarya has also collaborated with US rapper Vic Mensa on their collaborative track, ‘To The Night’.’

2. Tiana Khasi

30 June 2023, 8 – 9 pm

‘It’s not often an artist establishes themselves so eloquently with the launch of their debut EP, but in the case of Brisbane-born, Melbourne-based future soul artist, Tiana Khasi, this was precisely achieved with the release of her critically-acclaimed 2019 debut EP, ‘Meghalaya’ – a powerful statement of intent that honours her Samoan and Indian heritage. ’

3. Priya

4 August 2023, 6 – 8 pm & 9 – 10 pm

‘Priya is a Naarm/Melbourne based DJ and producer playing at various party outfits around town. Listening to their production, Priya lays out some of the most subaquatic cuts for our listening pleasure, with many layers within.’

4. Surana

8 September 2023, 6 – 8 pm & 9 – 10 pm

‘Surana is the techno-focused outlet of protean drummer and percussionist Lucky Pereira. He was born with a rarified poise across groove and instrumental music. Forever exploring the interconnected relations in sound, Surana is his vehicle to push club music forward.’

And here’s Lucky performing with the legendary Joey Bada$$:

5. Glass Beams

29 September 2023, 8 – 9 pm

‘The enigmatic Naarm (Melbourne) based Glass Beams radiates a psychedelia rendered with cyclical riffs and dizzying melodies. ‘Mirage’ is the debut release from the artist, showcasing an inclination for cosmic instrumentation, eastern scales and kraut pervaded polyrhythms.’

Brown Boy Magazine (@brownboyau) celebrates worship-worthy tastemakers and changemakers in the South Asian Australian diaspora (without taking itself too seriously).