Apple Music and Dishoom celebrate the start of South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian Heritage Month is more than a celebration of the past and culture. It is a moment where the opportunity is given to amplify the voices of artists and visionaries who are actively shaping its future. This July, Dishoom is surfing this wave with a new spirit through a creative partnership with Apple Music. Together, they are transforming the restaurant's celebrated Permit Room DJ Sessions into a global listening experience, giving emerging and established South Asian DJs a platform that reaches far beyond the walls of the restaurant. 

Dishoom is more than a place to eat. Inspired by the historic cafés of Bombay, its venues recreate the warmth and spirit of the city’s once-vibrant Irani cafés, where people gathered over food and conversation, becoming the thread that connected generations and shaped a living culture. At the heart of the Dishoom experience lies storytelling: from the carefully curated interiors, photographs and artwork to the menu and soundtrack. Every detail contributes to an immersive narrative that transports guests beyond the restaurant itself, to the feeling of home. Music, in particular, has become a defining element of the Dishoom identity, setting the rhythm of each space and reflecting the diversity of South Asian culture. 

Ultimately the partnership between Dishoom and Apple Music marks a significant milestone for both brands. For Dishoom, it is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the dynamic collective of South Asian creatives, tastemakers, and visionaries, behind Permit Room Sessions. For Apple Music, it expands opportunities for musical discovery, inviting audiences to explore the rich and evolving tapestry of South Asian sounds, alongside the cultural narratives that shape them. As one of the largest leading streaming platforms, Apple Music also lends the sessions editorial credibility and global reach, extending the vibrant energy of the Permit Rooms. 

Launched with an intimate exclusive dinner on 1 July at Dishoom’s Permit Room Portobello, the evening marked the beginning of a new chapter in the brands’ ongoing celebration. Bringing together pioneering figures and rising talents driving the future of the creative industry. The night reflected South Asian excellence, set against a backdrop of cocktails, conversations, laughter, and, of course, music. The evening welcomed groundbreaking musical acts including Raf Saperra, Ahadadream, Tara Lily, and Rushil, alongside creative voices and tastemakers such as Diya Joukani, Apna J, Tabitha Mary, Tara Kumar, and Manon Dave.  

To continue the dialogue, we spoke with Dishoom about the stories behind this new milestone and the cultural significance of music within the South Asian community. 

Dishoom has placed music at the heart of the Permit Room experience. How did it all start, and what made it the right moment now to bring those DJ sets to Apple Music?

Music has always been in Dishoom’s DNA (we launched Slip Disc, a vinyl compilation back in 2015), but with Permit Room, we wanted to dial up the revelry. The concept takes inspiration from the permit rooms and late-night drinking dens of 1970s Bombay — places where people gathered to let loose, swap stories, and sink into great sounds. We looked back to legendary Bombay spot Slip-Disc and the open-air gigs at Rang Bhavan, where Western rock, jazz, and soul met Indian rhythms.

When we launched Permit Room, we teamed up with producer and curator Rohan Rakhit and a brilliant collective of South Asian DJs to build a live soundtrack for our spaces. The energy on those Thursday and Saturday nights became so electric that guests kept asking: ‘Where can I find this mix?’ Bringing the Permit Room Sessions to Apple Music felt like the natural next step.

The launch dinner brought together musicians, creatives, and tastemakers from across the South Asian community. Why was it important to celebrate the partnership in such an intimate, community-focused setting?

Right now, the UK’s South Asian creative community is experiencing an incredible, overdue renaissance across music, art, and nightlife. The DJs, producers, and artists featured on these mixes - like Kizzi, Almass Badat, Shivum Sharma, Hiren Parmar, Ryan Lanji, Sharan, Somatic, and Kishan - aren’t pioneering this new wave (for lack of a better word!). Hosting an intimate family-style dinner was all about breaking bread, sharing chai, saying thank you, and creating a space where the community felt seen, celebrated, and at home.

What do you hope listeners take away when they press play on Dishoom’s Community Set?

We hope they feel an instant sense of energy, nostalgia, and joy. You might hear a vintage Bollywood a cappella seamlessly blended into UK Garage, or hypnotic Pakistani classical melodies weaving into deep house, drum 'n' bass, and Afrobeats. We want listeners to feel the friction and beauty of those genres colliding, like you’ve just stepped into the Permit Room whether you’re getting ready for a night out, hosting a dinner party at home, or on the commute. 

In your view, how does music offer a window into South Asian culture and heritage?

Sound carries memory across generations and borders. For many in the South Asian diaspora, music is the ultimate bridge, connecting the sounds played in our childhood living rooms with the club floors we dance on today. Music shows how South Asian culture is alive, fluid, and constantly re-inventing itself.