Eastside Projects
Public Project
Seema Mattu

“Saheli Open Call: Band Members Wanted”

–

Incidental Artist Seema Mattu is calling out for musicians and vocalists to join Saheli, a new sonic collective which will be part of the making of an artwork ​that will launch at Eastside Projects in May 2026, before touring to FACT (Liverpool) and Focal Point Gallery (Southend) across 2026 and 2027. This is an evolving project that will develop with the band.

  • We are looking for five band members
  • Saheli will be formed between musically-minded South Asian people in the UK​. Priority will be given to South Asians who are queer, trans, non-binary, indigenous, a dalit (or self-preferred term), and/or a woman.
  • Each band member will be paid​ a fee of £2500 to take part in regular band rehearsals in Birmingham from November 2025, and perform live at each venue.
  • Stages of the forming of Saheli, from auditions and rehearsals to performances, will be filmed. ​Seema will use some of this documentary footage,​ and sonic landscapes made by Saheli, in combin​ation with​ interviews, testimony, and 3D digitally animated characters and​ environments to create a new large scale audio visual artwork in three chapters.
  • With a DIY, folk-punk ethos Saheli will make its own music, so we are especially interested in ​hearing from people who are ​i​nto writing, jamming and improvising.
  • We welcome all forms of musical expression - wind, keys, strings, vocals, beats, electro - and are ​k​een to embed traditional instruments and sonic structures from the South Asian stratosphere.
  • Sorry but you must be aged over 18 to take part.

HOW TO GET INVOLVEDDeadline for Expression of Interest - Monday 15 September 2025

  • Complete the short expression of interest form which you will find HERE
  • You will be asked to share a link to a 5-10 minute long audition tape, uploaded to Youtube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, Googledrive (or similar)

GOT QUESTIONS? Seema will be hosting an online Q & A session on Wednesday 3 September, 6–7pm where she'll talk a bit more about the project and answer any questions you have. Book your spot HERE Alternatively email us at info@eastsideprojects.org

Resources