“Connecting people, creating moments and finding creativity in collaborations”. That is the motto of Goa Socials, an event and community centre curated by Esha Majumder, where new and great minds who think alike, come together. After visiting Goa, Amritsar, Mumbai and other cities, it finally came to Social, Park Street, on March 3. Covering each of the three floors of the venue, Esha ensured it was a collaborative space for everyone to showcase their art and for individuals who would appreciate the art.
Esha Majumder, the woman behind Goa Socials
“As a Bengali, the love for art and culture is ingrained in me. After being in the music and entertainment industry for over a decade, I felt a strong desire to give back to society. I envisioned a space where people could come together, where creativity could flourish through collaborations, and where unforgettable moments could be made. We can gauge the success of Goa Socials by the level of engagement and participation from the local community. This includes factors such as attendance numbers, repeat visits, and active involvement in events and activities,” said Esha Majumder, organiser, Goa Socials.
Art and laugh in Anjuna
The first floor of the new hotspot was converted into the Anjuna Stage. This was where visitors had an open space to do open mic sessions, watch live paintings or deck up at a style studio that was set up as well. So, while people were feasting their eyes on a selfie corner that was painted live or adding some glam to their look at the style studio, comedians like Shahrukh Murshed, Shaffan Alam and Suraj Singh had the visitors in splits.
Shop and party at Vagator
The second floor of the venue hosted a mini pop-up showcasing local brands
On the second floor of Social (or Vagator stage), local and start-up brands showcased their products and artwork. The Kai Studio by Richa Sharma showcased their sustainable bags and home décor items, and in the process, also promoted sustainable living, mindful consumption and eco-conscious choices. Sustainable clothing brand Alluvial India followed a similar pattern and showcased unique shirts, diaries and cases.
The pop-up also included a couple of artistic brands like Gunjan Daga Arts whose speciality is charcoal artwork, which was showcased through paintings and on decks of cards. Palette N Colours were also in the house, where visitors could have fun with paint, decorating their own canvases.
The items on display by brands like Alluvial India, Gunjan Daga Arts and Palette N Colours left people spoilt for choice
The Vagator stage also saw several workshops taking place from 3pm to 9pm, post which the party began with some freestyle dancers. Names like Rawshan, Endless, Bboy Raja, Ruth and Aantika were a part of the Freestyle Dance Showcase where hip-hop, popping, waacking and other forms were performed.
Rawshan strikes a pose at the selfie corner
Post the dancing and shopping, it was time for the attendees to party it up. This was when local DJ and melomaniac PhreshPrince manned the console and played a mixed genre set with retro, hip-hop and old-school sounds. The party didn’t end there, as OG SHEZ was next on the lineup and she mixed a genre-blended set including hip-hop, Afro, UKG, Baile, remix edits, house beats, old-school classics, desi rap and more.
Live music and banter at Morjim
The rooftop of Social was called the Social stage, and this was where the music had initially taken off. Beginning the scene was a group of boys called Big8 Records, who performed some freelance verses over backing tracks. Next on the lineup was Fakeer & The ARC, originally from Bangalore, but now based in Kolkata. The band played a set of originals that was a mix of hip-hop and jazz-hop which the audience couldn’t help but pay attention to. The band has also received the Best Debut Artist Indian Music Diaries Award for their EP Ikigai. Local band, The Yellow Taxi, closed the night with their energetic lineup of popular songs.
