Soundscapes of India Season 3: NE Collective to perform
FROM the mist-covered hills of the Northeast to the heart of the capital, a new sound is ready to make its mark on India’s biggest musical stage. Meghalaya’s Da-La-Riti, Nagaland’s Seyie Intrepid and Street Stories, and Arunachal Pradesh’s Dobom Doji Collective are set to bring the region’s rich musical traditions and contemporary sounds to Soundscapes of India (SOI) Season 3, taking place from August 29-31 at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Performing alongside international artists and bands from across India, the Northeastern acts will showcase everything from Naga tribal traditions to Khasi folk traditions, pop-punk and indigenous Arunachal melodies, giving audiences and global music industry professionals a vibrant glimpse into the region’s diverse and rich musical landscape.
Organised by the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Soundscapes of India is the country’s premier Showcase Festival-where India’s exceptional music and artists meet the global music industry, opening doors to discovery, dialogue and new opportunities. Bringing together 100+ artists and 30+ bands from across India and the world, SOI combines live performances, industry pitching, panels, and mentorship on one platform, built to connect artists with the people who can take their music further: festival programmers, cultural institutions, and touring agents.
For India's Northeast, a treasure trove of talent, SOI Season 3 marks a rare and significant opportunity: a chance not just to perform, but to introduce the region's rich, distinct cultures to an international audience of curators and industry leaders.
The Northeast Line-up
Seyie Intrepid (Nagaland) - Led by Gold Award-winning artist Seyievinuo Chuzho, weaving traditional Naga folklore with contemporary expression, known for cross-cultural collaborations such as the Wales-Nagaland musical exchange.
Street Stories (Nagaland) - Channelling Nagaland's vibrant rock scene into high-energy pop-punk, inspired by acts like Blink-182 and Green Day, with songwriting rooted in the band's own travels and experiences.
Da-La-Riti (Meghalaya) - Carrying forward Khasi musical heritage from Shillong, closely associated with the SHLEM Institute of Music, with a sound that has already reached international stages, including Expo 2025 Osaka.
Dobom Doji Collective (Arunachal Pradesh) - A five-member ensemble led by vocalist Dobom Doji, blending indigenous Arunachal folk melodies with modern rock instrumentation.
Together, these acts represent the astonishing range of the North East's musical identity - from centuries-old folk forms to genre-bending fusion and rock.
At SOI, performance is only the starting point. Each act also gets a seat at industry pitching sessions, panels, and mentorship rooms - the kind of access to international festival circuits and global collaborators that has historically been hardest to reach from the Northeast. For artists who have spent years building an audience within their own state or region, it's a direct route to audiences and industries, far beyond home.
In their words
Da-La-Riti (Meghalaya): "Khasi music has always lived in our hills and our institutes, passed down quietly. Performing here means the world gets to hear what we've been protecting all along."
Seyievinuo Chuzho, Seyie Intrepid (Nagaland): " Sharing a stage with artists from different countries reminds us that Naga folklore is far more than a record of our history, it is a living expression of our rich and vibrant cultural heritage. Our traditions, stories, music, art, and indigenous knowledge have so much to tell and show the world, offering perspectives that can contribute meaningfully to a much larger global cultural conversation. Being part of this platform gives us the opportunity not only to share the richness and uniqueness of Naga culture with the world, but also to learn, connect, and celebrate the diversity of cultures through artistic exchange. That is what excites me most about this platform."
Street Stories (Nagaland): "People don't expect pop-punk to come out of Nagaland, and that's exactly why we want to be here. We want audiences outside the region to see this side of who we are too."
Dobom Doji, Dobom Doji Collective (Arunachal Pradesh): "We are deeply honoured to represent Arunachal Pradesh at Soundscapes of India. This platform is an opportunity for us to share the unique sounds, stories, and cultural spirit of our homeland with a wider audience. As Dobom Doji Collective, we carry with us the voices of our people, and we hope our music resonates with listeners across the country"
Alongside India's homegrown talent, SOI Season 3 brings a striking international line-up to the same stage - Ngartini Huang from Indonesia, who weaves the Chinese guzheng into contemporary Indonesian music and has performed for former President Joko Widodo; Noha Fekri from Cairo, blending Arabic influences like Fairuz with jazz icons Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald; and Jhuma Limbu and Raithane from Nepal, led by ethnomusicologist Jhuma Limbu, bringing the country's indigenous folk traditions to life through centuries-old melodies and authentic local instruments. Together, they turn SOI into a genuine cultural exchange- Indian artists sharing a stage not just with each other, but with the world."
New Delhi
August 26, 2026