This weekend, six urban artists departed for India to spend 15 days discovering how urban art forms can make a positive difference in communities.

The program, called Celebrate the Connections, is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. They will be teaching, learning, and performing in four cities, engaging in cross-cultural dialogue with their Indian counterparts. In May, some participants will showcase their work in India through a documentary film screening in Washington, D.C.

We can’t wait to see what the fellows put together. For now, let’s get to know the artists themselves.

Ansley Jones aka Jukeboxx

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia
Twitter: @BgirlJukeboxx
Artist that inspires you the most:
Stevie Wonder, Amel Larrieux (dance music), and Bboy Radio from Romania (dancer).
Artist to look out for in 2016:
Matt Reeves (from Staten Island). I consider him a Hip Hop Feminist emcee and appreciate the way he approaches his topics. He is a wonderful emcee.
One thing you always travel with:
iPod
If you had to pick a theme song, what would it be?
“A Place in the Sun” by Stevie Wonder
What are you looking forward to most on this tour of India?
Collaborating. I love working with other artists and becoming a part of the learning process with them. I love sharing the creative space with others. I learn about them and I learn a plethora about myself.

 

Giddy Perez

Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Twitter: @itsmegiddy
Artist that inspires you the most:
I find myself most inspired by any emerging youth artists in our global poetry community.
Artist to look out for in 2016:
Icon! She is a nationally touring slam poet who, right now, is killing the game with all her black girl magic.
One thing you always travel with:
Clippers! As a barber and someone who uses them myself, I wouldn’t be the same without it!
If you had to pick a theme song, what would it be?
Hmm.. any 90’s cartoon theme song with be fitting.
What are you looking forward to most on this tour of India?
I am most looking forward to the stories and experiences I get to document and I’m also excited about the food!

Neel Agrawal

Hometown: East Lansing, Michigan (currently residing in L.A.)
Artist that inspires you the most:
Trilok Gurtu (world percussionist)
Artist to look out for in 2016:
Michael (Dwan) Singh in Boston. His unique musical voice fuses North Indian sarangi, vocals, Middle-Eastern oud, keyboard, and electronics.
One thing you always travel with:
Notebook (unruled)
If you had to pick a theme song, what would it be?
“Heart of Gold” by Neil Young
What are you looking forward to most on this tour of India?
Integrating the Indian and Western art forms. I am also excited about experiencing the feeling of being in India because my last visit was eight years ago.

Sheri Booker

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Twitter: @sherijbooker
Artist that inspires you the most:
I still listen to Lauryn Hill and DMX for inspiration.
Artist to look out for in 2016:
I will let you know once I get to India :).
One thing you always travel with:
My laptop! My life’s on it.
If you had to pick a theme song, what would it be?
“I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan
What are you looking forward to most on this tour of India?
Developing lifelong connections and creating new art.

Follow the Celebrate the Connections program at #CelebrateUSIndia