(From left to right) Shilpa Ananth, Reble and OAFF will perform at XP Music Futures 2025 in Riyadh. Photos: Partha Nair (Ananth), Courtesy of the artist (Reble), Anurag Baruah (OAFF)
Now five years in the running, Saudi Arabia’s XP Music Futures has been giving more shape and dialogue to the ever-evolving music industry in the Middle East/West Asia and North Africa (MENA) region.
Taking place between Dec. 4 to Dec. 6, 2025 at JAX District in Riyadh, the fifth edition of XP Music Futures—which features discussions, workshops, performances as well as experiences for the creative industry—has a more marked Indian presence.
Last year, XP Music Futures reported more than 5,130 attendees, 121 daytime sessions, 100 nighttime acts, and 380 speakers. The upcoming edition will likely build on that momentum and here are a few from India who are involved in that push.
Reble
The Shillong rap star has made plenty of waves within India over the last few years and she’s now steadily making global moves. At XP Music Futures, Reble will perform as part the XP Nite programming on Dec. 4, 1:15 am and follow it up with an “interactive rap masterclass” on Dec. 5, 6:45 pm. Arriving on the back of her latest track “New Riot” with producer Parimal Shais, Reble’s workshop—which ends with an open mic-style jam—will dive into her “creative cycle of building a rap performance,” as per the event description.
Nikhil Chinapa
The veteran DJ, curator and programmer with Submerge will be part of a panel titled Top Tips: Getting Booked on Regional and International Stages on Dec. 5 at 4:30 pm at XP. Speaking from a promoter’s perspective, Chinapa is joined by U.K. promoter Jenni Cochrane, Moroccan DJ-producer Daox and seasoned Saudi Arabia electronic music artist and MDLBeast’s chief creative officer Baloo.
OAFF
In addition to being part of a panel talking about how Indian sound is being defined beyond Bollywood, Mumbai-based composer-producer OAFF aka Kabeer Kathpalia is also performing on the final night of XP Music Futures. Slated to perform at 11 pm on Dec. 6, 2025 as part of XP Nite, OAFF will likely bring tunes from his 2025 project Between Flowers.
Tarsame Mittal and Vikram Mehra from Saregama
Music entrepreneur Tarsame Mittal (who helmed TM Talent Management, one of India’s leading artist management companies and now host of The Music Podcast) will speak alongside major label and entertainment company Saregama’s managing director Vikram Mehra and Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission CEO Paul Pacifico, representing the Ministry of Culture. Taking place on Dec. 5, 7:15 pm, the three will be have a “comparative discussion” on Saudi Arabia and India’s music industry evolution and what one can learn from the other. Previously, Pacifico was also invited to Mumbai music conference All About Music earlier this year.
Vinit Thakkar from Sony Music India
Another India-focused panel discussion at XP focusing on the “the expanding influence of Indian music” takes place on Dec. 6, 4:30 pm, bringing together Sony Music India’s managing director Vinit Thakkar in conversation with Sony Music Middle East counterpart Rami Mohsen as well as vice president of revenue and growth Ahmad Alghawanmeh.
Shilpa Ananth x Beatbox Ray
In addition to performing at the opening ceremony of XP Music Futures’ XP Nite programming on Dec. 4, 8 pm, Indian-origin artist Shilpa Ananth and U.A.E. beatboxer Beatbox Ray will perform on the final day, Dec. 6, 10 pm as well. With the opening ceremony, however, Shilpa Ananth x Beatbox Ray will take part in a collaboration with Saudi act Input/Output for a performance curated specifically for XP. An event description adds, “This performance blends rhythm, texture, and identity — merging deep-rooted musical influences from India with cutting-edge Saudi electronic production.”
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