MUMBAI: - The third edition of the IndiEarthXChange took Chennai by storm this past weekend, with a whirlwind three days at The Park Chennai that included 27 conferences/workshops, 27 musical showcases from around the world, and 26 independent film screenings. The event saw a turnout of over 4000 people over the span of three days.

Over the span of three days at The Park Chennai- December 5th - 7th-delegates from the independent music, film and media industries worldwide came together for three scintillating days of what can only be described as truly memorable. The industry oriented panel discussions were heated and thought provoking, the music performances inspiring, the film screenings engaging (with directors present to interact with the audiences) - three days of a real exchange of ideas, philosophies, artistic collaborations, and future partnerships.  

The musical showcase performances this year were varied and vibrant, bringing together artists from different corners of the world including Reunion Island, Germany, Kuwait, Israel, Australia, France, and more - a melting pot of culture, music, and art. Day one saw acts like The Ganesh Talkiesfrom Kolkata with an electrifying performance that blended elements of Bollywood kitsch with alternative rock, and a powerful live show played to a frenzied crowd.Day two's showcases featured acts like the Kutle Khan Project playing to a packed auditorium with his invigoratingly soulful Rajasthani folk sounds; an extraordinary visual experience portrayed by Draupadi - Flamenco &Kathakali(a Spanish - Indian musical dance collaboration); Maya Kamaty from Reunion Island who left her audience spellbound witha unique cocktail of Maloya blues music blended with French and Indian sensibilities; and Yogev Haruvi from Israel with a captivating, entrancing one man didgeridoo and drum show.

Day three highlights included Nathalie Natiembe from Reunion Island with a powerful performance, singing in Creole and performing Maloya blues with jazz and reggae influences; The Zenpad Experience, an intimate session which broke down the boundaries of performance, featuring Yotam Agam, Patrick Sebag and Yoav Rosenthal creating vivid sound scapes on Ableton Live and inviting other artists and collaborators to participate; DonnBhat + Passenger Revelator presenting a fascinating experimental electronica experience; Chennai's Grey Shack back from playing in Austria and showcasing their heavy rock edgy style.  

The film screenings were packed out to full capacity, with directors like Q(Nabarun),GitanjaliRao(True Love Story), and Simon Broughton(Sufi Soul) all present during their films to engage in Q & A's with the audience immediately after.Conference sessions includedMaking The Space For Culture - with panelists Radhika Bordia (NDTV), Nikhil Udupa (Pepsi MTV Indies), Ajay Prabhakar (Score), Verhnon Ibrahim (Independent Media) - where Media heads addressed issues relating to creating space in their publications for non-mainstream content, receiving heated feedback and debate from the audience.Connecting The Dots: Regional Networks proposed various ways that music markets could work together to help both artists and their related businesses - with speakers RomualdRequena (Sakifo Festival), Sonya Mazumdar (IndiEarthXChange), Gerald Seligman (Borneo World Music Expo) and Min Kim (Asia Pacific Music Meeting), while other sessions and workshops discussed at length issues relating to the independent music, film and media industries.  

"What's truly remarkable this year is that we have already seen business opportunities being created and tangible results manifesting themselves just in the span of those three days,"-  said EarthSync CEO Sonya Mazumdar "artists have been booked by festival organizers, new projects are being created, the media are releasing content about rather niche and otherwise difficult to access musicians and films they were exposed to at XChange - in a very real and immediate way, the initiative is already realizing its vision".

"Chennai has such a rich and vibrant musical landscape, but in terms of providing spaces where independent artists can express themselves - the city still has a very long way to go", continues Yotam Agam, EarthSync and fellow organizer of the XChange, "Initiatives like the IndiearthXChange are trying to address and change this by providing an open space where artists can come together and share pieces of themselves, where Chennai audiences also have opportunity to be experience new alternative sounds and inspiring artists from around the world."