Chris Votek "Searching" Album Release Party

Chris Votek "Searching" Album Release Party

Chris Votek celebrates the release of his record Searching with a unique ensemble concert showcasing songs from past and present , near and far. This concert will highlight Greek and Turkish Folk Songs by Oud Maestro Dimitri Mahlis, Hindustani Bhajans sung by Snigdha Prakash, and Chris’ original songs orchestrated for a cross-cultural ensemble of strings, woodwinds, and tabla.

All Ticket Revenue will be donated to CHIRLA to support humane immigrant rights.

Suggested donation $10 - $25 sliding scale

Please RSVP by buying a $0 ticket, donate at the door

5:30pm Tasty Treats and beverages provided by Rice and Shine

6-7:30pm Music

8pm Event Ends

Address: 2806 Clearwater St, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Featuring:

Chris Votek - Cello, Guitar Voice

Dimitri Mahlis - Oud, Guitar, Bouzouki Voice

Neelamit Dhillon - Tabla, Clarinet

Snigdha Prakash - Hindustani Voice

Megan Shung - Violin

Chris Woods - Viola

Derek Stein - Cello

(photo by Hannah Arista Photography)

Chris Votek’s fluency in musical languages from North Indian classical, Arabic, electronica, jazz, ambient, Western classical to pop, makes him highly sought after as a performer, composer, arranger, recording artist, producer and sound engineer. A disciple of the legendary Indian violinist Dr. N. Rajam, Votek is one of the few cellists in the world performing the rare Gayaki-Ang style Hindustani Raga.

Votek has toured 4 continents with acclaimed songwriter Julia Holter and performed at the Royal Opera House Muscat as principal cellist of Nabil Azzam’s Arabic orchestra MESTO. As a touring and studio cellist, Votek has worked with Chris Martin, Father John Misty, Wild Up, Bridge to Everywhere, The Dirty Projectors, Amanda Palmer, The Marias and Homayoun Shajarian among others.

To Preorder Searching Digital or Vinyl click here

True to its name, Searching is an exploration—sometimes chaotic, often hauntingly beautiful, and always compelling. Blending elements of Hindustani, folk, ambient, and Western classical music, Votek crafts a vivid self-portrait across six immersive tracks. The album traverses rich electro-acoustic soundscapes and intimate songwriting, drawing comparisons to The Books, Brian Eno, and Arthur Russell.

Dimitris Mahlis is a multi-instrumentalist and composer based in the Los Angeles area. Since coming to LA, Dimitris’ skills on oud, guitar and other stringed instruments have led him into a rich variety of performing and recording experiences.

Dimitris has had the good fortune to receive training in both Western and Eastern musical systems. His style is known as both soulful and original. He currently studies with oudist Ustad Necati Celik from Istanbul, Turkey.

Neelamjit Dhillon is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Los Angeles. Born and raised in Vancouver Canada, Neelamjit is skilled in both North Indian classical and American jazz music. His music is a reflection of his own multifaceted identity, spirituality, and vision for promoting a more equitable and just society through shared experience and collective action.

Neelamjit’s primary instruments are the tabla, saxophone, and bansuri. He has played tabla since the age of 10 and continues to study the instrument under the tutelage of world-renowned maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. Neelamjit has performed around the world at prestigious events and festivals in locales such as Somalia, India, Brazil, Europe, the United States, and Canada.

Snigdha Prakash is a dedicated student of Hindustani classical music, training in vocal performance for over a decade under the tutelage of her erudite guru, Smt Chaitra Sontakke, and in the Gayaki Style of Hindustani violin under the legendary violinist, Padma Bhushan Dr Smt N Rajam and her illustrious granddaughter, Smt Ragini Shankar. As a vocalist, Snigdha has performed at esteemed venues across the United States and India, including the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai. Professionally, Snigdha is pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, maintaining a deep commitment to both artistic and academic excellence.