Friday, March 5, 2010
In early April a new festival celebrating Indian culture will be launched by London’s Southbank Centre.
Called ‘Alchemy’, the festival will feature a full programme of music, dance, literature, food, debate and fashion.
Events will range from a rare classical concert by celebrated composer A.R. Rahman to the very best UK Bhangra, to an evening of music and chat with the Grewal Family from Channel 4’s hit docu-drama The Family.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010
by Kieran Yates
Freelance Journalist
Nitin Swahney is one of the most prolific Indian composers, musicians and producers alive today.
But Monday’s performance at London’s Barbican Centre however, was something new even to me.
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Saturday, January 23, 2010
Music and radio presenter Bobby Friction has been signed up by the NHS blood donation campaign, among other media personalities.
The National Blood Service’s VIP Appeal launched this month and will run until the end of March. The publicity campaign will also include former Misteeq lead singer Sabrina Washington
The ‘VIP Appeal’ campaign is targeting South Asian, Black African and Black Caribbean communities to give blood and help meet the need for rare blood types within ethnic minority communities.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
They say you’re not truly famous until you’ve been parodied. Perhaps Jay Sean, who is making waves across the United States with the hip-hop label Cash Money Records, will view this remix of his hit track ‘Down’ in the same vein.
The parody was published to YouTube by an amateur group calling themselves ‘The Midnight Beast’. It has proved so popular that the parody has been viewed nearly a quarter of a million times.
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Friday, December 18, 2009
Upcoming singer Gunjan, signed with Scottish producers Tigerstyle, is releasing her debut single this week.
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Modelling agencies fleecing Asian women across the country are likely to face strong penalties with new government legislation.
The government is planning to announce that modelling agencies would be banned from charging up-front fees.
The plans were aimed at “unscrupulous agents”, a minister said, who asked women for fees in advance of any modelling work.
In most cases the work never comes through and women pay extortionate fees for being on the register.
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Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Following the succesful launch of her single last month, upcoming singer Sarah Sayeed is working to release her hotly anticipated debut album.
The lyricist and MC has been tipped as hot ‘homegrown’ talent by presenters on BBC 1Xtra radio (video below)
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
One of India’s most critically acclaimed and popular films – Mother India – has been remixed, re-edited and rescored into a 45-minute silent film. (A preview is below)
The work is a project by Kala Phool, an arts and development agency, which has brought in DJ Tigerstyle to reinterpret the score through a unique live performance.
The resulting work, called MI21, is currently on a sell-out tour across the UK.
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Friday, August 21, 2009
Singer Mumzy, a protege of producer Rishi Rich, releases two music videos to his singles, this week.
The singer has released two promo singles so far: ‘Stranger’ and ‘Let’s Party’.
He recently released the video to ‘One More Dance’, and now ‘Showgirl’.
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has joined hands with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & group to pay tribute to one of the world’s greatest vocalists: the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
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Monday, August 10, 2009
Slowly but surely Mandeep Singh Jutla is making a name for himself.
The music video director (pictured, right) recently became the first British Asian to be signed by international agency Colonel Blimp – behind videos such as Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal, Crazy by U2 and Make Her Say by Kid Cudi and Kanye West.
It would be fair to say that while he is awed to be in such company, he tries to remain nonchalant.
“It’s certainly a confidence booster,” he says.
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Thursday, July 16, 2009
Actor and rapper Riz Ahmed has released another single – ‘Sour Times’. It is the MC’s second independent track after his highly political debut ‘Post 9/11 blues’.
Sour Times follows a similar political theme and features a montage of people mouthing the lyrics. It include rappers Plan B, Scroobius Pip, actors Jim Sturgess, Tom Hardy, and musician Nitin Sawhney.
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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Singer and actress Karen David released her debut single Magic Carpet Ride this week with an accompanying video.
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The critically acclaimed band Asian Dub Foundation have announced their first UK tour in year – with a particular focus on attacking the BNP. (dates & video below)
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Friday, May 1, 2009
British-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A. has been named by Time Magazine as among the 100 most influential people in the world. She is joined by the Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman, underlining the big impact impact Slumdog Millionaire has made in the United States.
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Trafalgar Square is hosting its annual Vaisakhi In The Square this Sunday, 3rd May. The event will feature religious hymns (Shabad Kirtan) as well as Bhangra performances by Veronica, H-Dhami, Shekie ‘n’ Sham, Navin, 3Mix, D-Boy & Des-C.
Sunrise Radio is the main media partner. This year the event also commemorates 300 years of the consecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru. The free event, organised by the GLA, will be held from 12pm to 5:30pm.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The BBC will showcase this year’s Proms 2009 Season with a first-ever Bollywood Prom performance.
The 2009 Season will be the biggest ever, according to the BBC, featuring a 100 concerts and 70 further Proms Plus events.
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Last Mango in Paris, aka spoken word artist Shane Solanki, releases his first single ‘Manbag!!’ on 20th April through Soundeasy Records. That will be followed up by his debut album ‘Broken English’, featuring Birmingham grime artist RT.
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Monday, March 2, 2009
Rapper Neil Patel says: “On the 26th of November 2008, my brother was taken hostage in the Mumbai terrorist attacks that shocked India and the world. He escaped and survived being shot dead. He was the lucky one. My reaction was to shoot too… but not a loaded AK-47 sub machine gun, but a music video loaded with spiritual ammunition. I aimed my lyrical revenge at decapitating the ignorance that dared mess with my family.”
He told AIM magazine: “I called the song and video ‘Same Skies’. It detailed my frustration at this event and others like it; whilst conveying a positive message for peace and for the future of my planet…yes, I said MY planet. I was born here and I don’t like what I see… I will take as much responsibility as I can carry for sorting this place out.”
Production Company: Chi Kri Beats
Monday, February 23, 2009
The annual UK Asian Music Awards (UKAMAs) will be held next week at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
The award ceremony aims to recognise and reward music talent from across the British Asian music industry.
It will take place on 5th March and is hosted by singer and actress Karen David alongside B4U’s Mumbai based presenter Salil.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A&R man Aadil Rasheed has launched a new venture with global record company EMI to produce what he calls a Motown for Asian artists.
Rasheed recently took the industry by storm by launching the Canadian singer Raghav five years ago. He has had less success with pushing singer Sona Rele however, and is now working with a new Asian boy band: 3Mix.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Singer Jay Sean releases his new single Tonight this week. It was available through iTunes and other online stories on 19th January and will be available in high street stores by 26th January.
Over the past year the singer has toured around the world, including Dubai, Japan, Beirut, USA, Poland, Russia, Germany, India and Romania.
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Friday, January 9, 2009
The deadline is approaching for talented performance artists to take part in the 2009 decibel Performing Arts Showcase, which will take place in Manchester from 15-18 September 2009.
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008
B4U Music has signed up pop singer Jay Sean for its annual Christmas charts. The Annual UK Top 20 of 2008 will broadcast on the channel on 25th December starting 9pm.
“Jay Sean was an obvious choice to present the annual countdown to the 20 biggest non Bollywood hits of the year gathering from his phenomenal success in the UK Asian Music scene,” said Kevin Rego, Head of Sales and Marketing at B4U.
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