HOUSTON, November 6, 2020 — This October, musician Zeshan B joined us for Asia Society Texas Center's first digital performance in partnership with Miller Outdoor Theatre. Playing from a Brooklyn-based studio alongside collaborators Mike MacAllister on guitar and Jeremiah Hunt on bass, Zeshan was joined in conversation by Houston's own Kam Franklin, artist and vocalist for The Suffers.

The two artists conversed throughout the set, with Zeshan recounting his musical evolution and how each song came into being. The conversation began around Zeshan's upbringing and earliest musical experiences growing up in Chicago, as well as visiting his parents' native India. Tracing his wide-ranging personal and musical influences, the session provided both a brief glimpse into the deep meaning behind each tune, as well as musical history, covering topics from the devotional performances of South Asian qawwals to the 18th century harpsichord.

The dialogue also honed in on the issues at the core of Zeshan's songs — themes of protest music rooted in the desire for justice and equality. Both artists shared the power of music to bring diverse communities together and articulate shared experiences through art.

View the conversation and performance, including songs "Nausheen," "Brown Power," and "Cryin' in the Streets."

About the Muslim Series

Through a multidisciplinary approach that utilizes Asia Society’s breadth of programming opportunities, this series explores the artistic talents and stories of American Muslims to inspire our community to better understand one another.

For information about sponsoring the Muslim Series and other programs like this one, please contact Jenni Rebecca Stephenson, Director of Development, at [email protected] or 713.496.9909.

Series Sponsors 

Eddie Allen and Chinhui Juhn 
Alliance for Compassion and Tolerance  
Shaista Khan and Shahzad Bashir 
Saniah and Hyder Kazimi
Drs. Basheer and Saleha Khumawala
Monira and Azam Kundi
Shazma and Arshad Matin
Selma and Mustafa Tameez

Major support for Performing Arts programs comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Ellen Gritz and Milton Rosenau, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment, The Hearst Foundation Inc., The Brown Foundation Inc., Mary Lawrence Porter, and the Anchorage Foundation of Texas. Generous funding also provided by AARP, The Clayton Fund, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, Miller Theatre Advisory Board.  Additional support provided by the Wortham Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, United Airlines, The Southmore, and through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas Center. This presentation of Zeshan B is sponsored in part by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board. 

Official Airline Sponsor

Program Sponsors

Presenting Partner

About Asia Society at Home

We are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.