British nutter, hooligan and music producer/percussionist Mr Bops seems to be developing his website a litte bit these days (last I checked there was a pic of a skeleton and a tameta and well, that’s about it). Some, ahem, ‘large developments’ (wink wink nudge nudge)… well, enough cutting to the chase:

Go visit mr bops’ website and download a raunchy wallpaper for your desktop of a fake whisky and hot bindiya okay?

Attention all vocalists and violinists looking for musical co-conspirateurs… Outcaste Records founder and former BBC Asian Network dj Ritu is looking for new members to join Sister India. Here’s the low-down, grabbed from Asians in Media:

The band is looking to audition a vocalist and violinist with specific skills. They have to be female Asian, can sing English and Hindi/Panjabi and have a contemporary appeal.

They are looking to audition in the next few weeks in East London. Email Prithpal Sirjeet or call 07947319761.

Check out the vid and  tell me what you think of it.

You might know the name ‘Swami’ from a track called DesiRock that shook up the bhangra world some time back (read a review here ).

q/.. 

Anyone checked out Video Wallah ?  Its a new site I just stumbled on from the Shiva Soundsystem’s crajjy blog.  The site seems to pretty much be an archive of videos shot (possibly edited as well?) by Laura Taflinger of  http://www.revoltinghoosier.com/ an Indiana, USA, transplant in London.

Definately worth checking out, Video Wallah has some great footage shot over the past few years including Brown music events in the UK and India - (eg. Shiva’s co-founder Nerm beating up an imaginary friend whilst DJing in Bombay ,  female Punjabi/UK MC HardKaur busting some freestyle etc..).

As well, the site features some interesting Public Service Announcements with the ‘quit smoking’ theme that are pretty innovative in speaking to a South Asian audience.

The site was created by EthnoTechno.com ’s founder etc Sank - a NYC based web/graphic designer, who also has a hand in ClubWallah , an event listing site that started up sometime last year to focus on alternative South Asian music events (ie. with Asian Underground/Indian Electronica tunes instead of the mass-appealing r’n'b/bhangra club styled beats).

Club Wallah seems to be on hiatus at the moment but in all this web-wallah madness, I’m wondering when I’ll be able to boot up my trusty ol’ PC and order up some Mittaa Paans over the web from PaanWallah.com? Perhaps that’s why their on break (new site in the works Sank?) - come on Yaar, give us something we can chew!

q./ 

TJ's supposedly producing the debut full-length release for Emilia Sosa, a vocalist from New York City who's signed to 5 Points Records. Incase you are unfamiliar with TJ's work, he's an interesting cat who's played guitar for early UK Bhangra acts like Achanak and AS Kang, and since been producing a range of dub-influenced electronica ranging in tempos. This new production effort has us excited here at IE because we really aren't sure what sub-genres of 'downtempo' or 'electronica', in general, it may fall into, but know that TJ's musical inquisitiveness and charisma will shine through so check this space for the latest!

We have an interview on site from the last time TJ visited NYC (which was his first time in the US ;) that's definately worth checking out to get a better feel for TJ's musical tastes and experience.

Just in time for December's end-of-year festivities, the Bombay High Court slapped a temporary restraining order on five clubs in the trendy suburb of Juhu, banning them from playing music for which they have no licence. The clubs—Vie Lounge Bar, Club Escape, Sun-n-Sand, J49 and Four Seasons—have been charged with violating rules by playing music protected by copyright. The move came in response to a suit filed by a copyright-protection organisation representing large music companies, including Sony BMG, Crescendo and Magnasound.

Lawyers defending the club-owners have refuted the charge and hearings will continue in January. The campaign is not restricted to Juhu—about 200 clubs in Mumbai have been issued letters directing them to purchase a music-playing licence, costing the equivalent of $1,000-1,500 for each special event. Expect clubs to charge higher entry fees.

Sneha Mistri

The project, which started off in January in response to the Tsunami in Asia, was given further impetus by the recent earthquake in Kashmir.

All we know is that our web production company, Design Guru, is building them something special at the moment and until it launches at http://www.indochill.com, we're hosting their newsletter - so sign up at their site or directly on Indian Electronica (click here) to stay up to date on this cool new record label!

Resident DJs include original founder (and Six Degree recording artist) Karsh Kale, as well as Ethnotechno's Dimm Summer, dK (AVAAZnyc - click here for photos), Zakhm (MUTINY) and founding-member of San Francisco's epic Dhamaal Soundsystem, Janaka Selekta.

Be sure to check out http://www.kollektivmusic.com/ and stay tuned here - AvaazNYC's new website is soon to launch and we'll be speaking with dK and Dimm to get the low-down on the storm brewing in the USA.

Serese

If you've kept your ear pinned to the ground this past year, apart from risking a nasty neck injury, you'll know that diversity within the British Asian music scene has hit a giddy peak, with emerging talent dabbling in a wealth of different genres and striking out against tired labels...

The two will offer digital downloads of Asian artists, with infrastructure provided by Napster and the shopfront by Club Asia. The radio station will also advise on Napster on what music to feature and artists to plug.

Standing at 5'9 plus long heels, she might be slightly imposing but Ms Scandalous has such a disarming smile that you quickly realise there is nothing to be afraid of.

Darragh Jye

Haunted Dancehall is a tune to bring peace to your stereo and take you out of the madness, into dream state, and for 4 minutes 45 seconds life shall be good again.

The first single from KU's forthcoming album titled 'From Sinners To Angels’ shows that the standard for quality British music is alive and well...

Damn the Yam: Gujurati Yam Boy

The two west London producers, DJ Asif and Martti Sewell, have put together Digital Asia, the album they refer to as 'an adventure into eastern electronica, Arabic beats with the dhol, sitar and tabla fusing into house, breakbeat, drum&bass, and funk'. The album is released on their own label: Just Play records.

Riding high on their popular club single, also titled Digital Asia, the album includes the electro beats of Threads of Identity and the hypnotic, dark house rhythms of Desert Queen . All three tracks were played listed on Radio 1's Bobby and Nihal top ten chart.

Dhamaal's Logo

If you're in the Bay Area, Indian Electronica urges you to mosey on down to Worldly III and be prepared for what feels like the largest house party you've ever been to - friendly folks with amazing musical and an overall super-chilled vibe; why not take an appetite with you too? A cafe will set be up all night serving Indian Chaat food and authentic masala chai!

The main room will also host Cheb I Sabbah with Dhol Champion, Mitch Hyare, Karsh Kale playing his electronic tablas & Dhamaal’s Janaka Selekta with MC Colonel performing their patented mix of heavy breakbeat and MCing. Live Classical Indian and Pakistani folk music will be performed by Ustad Sukhawat Ali Khan & Riffat Sultana as well.

Check out:

• Photos we took@ the Dhamaal's Worldly II party
• Info @ Dhamaal's site
• Performer Details

In case you're not familiar with these chaps - FNB is a crew out of England that's been doing well with their blend of Electronic music that combines tempos and sub-genres with skill to great effect! The group has been getting rotation on both the BBC's Asian Network as well as Radio1's Bobby and Nihal Presents - the UK's quintessential weekly urban South Asian radio show.

• For more information about these guys, check out founding member Asif Gillani's Profile!
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KU are a true 21st century music collective with a fine nucleus comprising of producer and singer-songwriter Darragh and guitarist Jay Stezeker who are about to light up the airwaves with their debut album titled ‘From Sinners To Angels’...

Rinse it Bobby.

Ever Felt Dumped On? Like poor farmers around the world, Bobby Friction and Nitin Sahwney have now been dumped on in support of Oxfam's campaign to make trade fair.

Click on Read more.. to see the images and learn more about what you can do to help make trade fair around the world with Oxfam.

album cover

Nitin Sawhney's seventh studio album, Philtre, will be released on 2nd May, his management has confirmed. The versatile and highly acclaimed musician has been busy DJing all over the world including an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.