Live Tabla by Aanand Dika + DJ Otm Shank | Bedrocktoberfest Los Angeles (2016)

In 2016, I had the wild pleasure of stepping onto the Bedrocktoberfest stage in Los Angeles for a one‑of‑a‑kind collaboration with DJ Otm Shank of Pink Turban. It wasn’t just a gig—it was a collision of worlds. Otm Shank brought his signature blend of global bass and electronic textures, and I plugged straight into that energy with the earthy heartbeat of the tabla.

The moment the beats dropped, the crowd felt it—ancient rhythms weaving through futuristic soundscapes. I wasn’t just playing with a DJ; we were building a live conversation between percussion and production, between tradition and experimentation. Every tihai, every flourish, every groove found its place inside Otm Shank’s hypnotic sonic architecture.

Bedrocktoberfest is known for its eclectic, genre‑bending spirit, and this set fit right into that ethos. Under the LA night sky, surrounded by artists, makers, and music lovers, we created something raw, improvised, and electric. It remains one of my favorite live performance memories—a reminder that music evolves best when cultures collide and rhythms travel freely.