Two-time JUNO award-winning artist Kiran Ahluwalia is set to perform at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on April 23 with her new album, "Comfort Food." According to Ahluwalia, the album is about the rise of fundamentalism marginalizing Muslims in Modi's India.
In her first-ever performance here in Oakville, Ahluwalia will perform songs like "Jaane Jahan" and "Tum Dekhoge" which address the intolerance gripping India, questioning humanity's essence amidst cultural divisions.
"It's so hard to talk to people with opposing political views, we're all so entrenched in our own political thoughts," said Ahluwalia. "Can we say we are human, if we lack humanity?” Ahluwalia asks in her song “Jaane Jahan. “We bleed the same red, we shed the same salty tears."
"Comfort Food" also offers hope, featuring collaborations like "Ban Koulchi Redux" with Algeria's Souad Massi. The album's themes resonate globally, reflecting on disenfranchisement and political polarization. A central theme in Ahluwalia's songs is the essence of unity, which she hopes that by confronting division, will inspire understanding and bring connections across divides.
The album also has personal songs for Ahluwalia, some she says helped her through difficult times.
On the album's creation, Ahluwalia shares, "Writing these songs gave me an emotional release from my own sense of helplessness – in this way creating this album has been my comfort food."
Ahluwalia will be performing at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. as part of an international tour
For more information, visit the event's website.