Latest news with #Zeeba
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Brazilian DJ Alok wants to 'keep art human'
As artificial intelligence begins to creep into the creative realm, one DJ aims to uplift the power of human artistry. Last Saturday, Brazilian DJ Alok — whom DJ Mag notably ranked the No. 4 DJ in the world — made his debut appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where he took the Sahara stage at golden hour. He was accompanied by Brazilian American singer Zeeba and "Sweet But Psycho" hitmaker Ava Max, as well as 50 performers from the dance company Urban Theory. Wearing masks and metallic gloves, the dancers used their hands to mimic machine-like movements, which they call "tutting." The man-made spectacle, which appeared almost computer-generated, served as a reminder to 'keep art human,' as Alok's T-shirt read during the performance. ' I'm just trying to [use my] platform to [uplift] the voices of a lot of artists that are afraid about what AI is doing,' said DJ Alok in a Zoom interview. Alok, along with creative director Fabio Soares, envisioned this performance as a living art installation, hoping to contrast the mechanical movement of dancers with ongoing AI efforts to automate creative fields. ' When humans are connected on the same purpose and synchronized, we can do stuff that is extraordinary, but we have to also trust each other,' said Alok of the concept. 'If one dancer makes a mistake, it can compromise all of them.' Ahead of the Coachella performance, Alok uploaded a teaser clip to his more than 29 million Instagram followers. In the comments, some expressed both skepticism and surprise at the ability of humans to perform such precise movements. At the very top of the responses, Alok pinned a postscript message for added clarity: 'This is not AI.' ' How crazy is that?" Alok marveled. "That people do not believe that humans can do this kind of stuff anymore, like everything has to be AI." The 33-year-old electronic artist acknowledged that certain software tools have helped him extract vocals, samples and instruments necessary to form creative beats. Yet he doesn't believe AI should replace artistic sensibility, 'because to create art, you need to touch the soul.' 'I'm not against AI. I'm just [concerned] about how we use it. Because anything in the world can be used to do damage or create good things right?' said Alok. He recalled a drone show he did two years ago when performing at the United Nations in New York. After the show, he said someone from Ukraine's embassy approached him crying and saying, "because in my country you use drones to kill each other and make war.'" The beat maker — born Alok Achkar Peres Petrillo in Goiânia, Brazil — is no stranger to the cause of social justice. In 2020, he used royalties obtained from his popular gaming character in "Free Fire" to fund his own nonprofit organization, the Alok Institute, which boosts social and environmental initiatives in Brazil, Africa and India. ' If you asked me 10 years ago if I cared about all this stuff, I would say no,' he said. Two years ago, following a major depressive episode, Alok journeyed to the Amazon rainforest to connect with Indigenous groups. The experience changed his outlook on life. 'I was doing songs to work on the beats, they were doing songs to heal, you know?' he said, hinting at its irony. The experience inspired him to use his platform to aid in the preservation of Indigenous languages. Through his institute, Alok unveiled a humanitarian project and album titled 'The Future Is Ancestral,' which showcased Indigenous music from eight communities across Brazil. Its release came days before an annual protest in the nation's capital, where Indigenous groups convened to demand more land protections. The album received praise from UNESCO and the United Nations; the song 'Pedju Kunumigwe,' sung by the Guarani Nhandewa people, was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Latin electronic music performance in 2024. 'As an artist, we have the responsibility to try to push culture forward through art,' he said. 'That's why art has to be made by humans.' Alok and Urban Theory will return to the Sahara stage on Saturday, April 19, at 4:10 p.m. Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Why Brazilian DJ Alok wants to ‘keep art human'
As artificial intelligence begins to creep into the creative realm, one DJ aims to uplift the power of human artistry. Last Saturday, Brazilian DJ Alok — whom DJ Mag notably ranked the No. 4 DJ in the world — made his debut appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where he took the Sahara stage at golden hour. He was accompanied by Brazilian American singer Zeeba and 'Sweet But Psycho' hitmaker Ava Max, as well as 50 performers from the dance company Urban Theory. Wearing masks and metallic gloves, the dancers used their hands to mimic machine-like movements, which they call 'tutting.' The man-made spectacle, which appeared almost computer-generated, served as a reminder to 'keep art human,' as Alok's T-shirt read during the performance. ' I'm just trying to [use my] platform to [uplift] the voices of a lot of artists that are afraid about what AI is doing,' said DJ Alok in a Zoom interview. Alok, along with creative director Fabio Soares, envisioned this performance as a living art installation, hoping to contrast the mechanical movement of dancers with ongoing AI efforts to automate creative fields. ' When humans are connected on the same purpose and synchronized, we can do stuff that is extraordinary, but we have to also trust each other,' said Alok of the concept. 'If one dancer makes a mistake, it can compromise all of them.' Ahead of the Coachella performance, Alok uploaded a teaser clip to his more than 29 million Instagram followers. In the comments, some expressed both skepticism and surprise at the ability of humans to perform such precise movements. At the very top of the responses, Alok pinned a postscript message for added clarity: 'This is not AI.' ' How crazy is that?' Alok marveled. 'That people do not believe that humans can do this kind of stuff anymore, like everything has to be AI.' The 33-year-old electronic artist acknowledged that certain software tools have helped him extract vocals, samples and instruments necessary to form creative beats. Yet he doesn't believe AI should replace artistic sensibility, 'because to create art, you need to touch the soul.' 'I'm not against AI. I'm just [concerned] about how we use it. Because anything in the world can be used to do damage or create good things right?' said Alok. He recalled a drone show he did two years ago when performing at the United Nations in New York. After the show, he said someone from Ukraine's embassy approached him crying and saying, 'because in my country you use drones to kill each other and make war.'' The beat maker — born Alok Achkar Peres Petrillo in Goiânia, Brazil — is no stranger to the cause of social justice. In 2020, he used royalties obtained from his popular gaming character in 'Free Fire' to fund his own nonprofit organization, the Alok Institute, which boosts social and environmental initiatives in Brazil, Africa and India. ' If you asked me 10 years ago if I cared about all this stuff, I would say no,' he said. Two years ago, following a major depressive episode, Alok journeyed to the Amazon rainforest to connect with Indigenous groups. The experience changed his outlook on life. 'I was doing songs to work on the beats, they were doing songs to heal, you know?' he said, hinting at its irony. The experience inspired him to use his platform to aid in the preservation of Indigenous languages. Through his institute, Alok unveiled a humanitarian project and album titled 'The Future Is Ancestral,' which showcased Indigenous music from eight communities across Brazil. Its release came days before an annual protest in the nation's capital, where Indigenous groups convened to demand more land protections. The album received praise from UNESCO and the United Nations; the song 'Pedju Kunumigwe,' sung by the Guarani Nhandewa people, was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Latin electronic music performance in 2024. 'As an artist, we have the responsibility to try to push culture forward through art,' he said. 'That's why art has to be made by humans.' Alok and Urban Theory will return to the Sahara stage on Saturday, April 19, at 4:10 p.m.
Zawya
17-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Supple Tek gears up to showcase premium Basmati Rice at Gulf Food Festival 2025 in Dubai
Dubai, UAE – Supple Tek Industries, the world's largest exporter and miller of premium Indian basmati rice, is excited to announce its participation in the highly anticipated Gulfood 2025, scheduled to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from February 17 to 21. Gulfood, a premier global food and beverage exhibition, provides a unique platform for industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to connect, explore the latest trends in food, and explore new business opportunities globally. Supple Tek, renowned for its commitment to excellence in the rice industry will showcase a wide range of premium basmati rice products, including its flagship brand, "Zeeba." Visitors to Supple Tek's stand (Hall: Za'abeel Z6, Stand: D4) will have the opportunity to explore the company's cutting-edge processing techniques, dedication to sustainability and mission to deliver authentic and honest flavors to consumers worldwide. As the largest exporter and miller of Indian basmati rice, recognized by APEDA and FIEO, Supple Tek is the only Five-Star Export House in the rice industry. Supple Tek prides itself on its high-quality standards and significant international presence. With a reach in 89+ countries, the company is recognized globally for its exceptional basmati rice, which is exported to markets across Asia, Middle East, North America, and beyond. In addition to showcasing its rice products, Supple Tek is proud to be the Category Sponsor of Pulses and Grains at the Gulfood 2025 This sponsorship highlights the company's commitment to supporting the food industry at large and fostering innovation in the grains and pulses sector and champion the growth of the industry in the most holistic way . 'Our participation in Gulfood is an exciting opportunity for us to connect with stakeholders, industry leaders and food experts, while highlighting the exceptional quality of our products,' said Ramneek Singh, CMD, Supple Tek Industries. 'We are thrilled to showcase our premium basmati rice and share our story with the world demonstrating our continuous drive for excellence, sustainability and innovation with the grains of honesty .' Throughout the event, representatives from Supple Tek will interact with attendees, distributors and culinary specialists to showcase the company's diverse varieties of basmati rice, advanced rice milling technology and its industry-leading certifications. Building on its reputation as a trusted provider of pure basmati rice, Supple Tek aims to strengthen its presence and expand its market share in the Middle East through its premium brand "Zeeba." About Supple Tek: Supple Tek Industries is the world's largest exporter and Miller of premium quality Indian basmati rice, known for its superior product range and state-of-the-art milling techniques. As the only Five Star Export House in the rice industry, Supple Tek has established a strong presence in over 89+ countries worldwide. The company is committed to providing consumers with authentic, flavorful basmati rice while driving sustainability and innovation in the food sector.
