18
May
2011
Swami Premiere “Dumdaraka” on Friction
The last new material we heard from Swami, was when they performed in Mississauga last year.
So when I heard Bobby Friction would be interviewing Diamond and playing a new track last night, you know I had to tune in.
Diamond talks to Bobby Friction:
Highlights from the interview:
Making all the lyrics match (English, Hindi, Punjabi) is very difficult
The album will be very electronic, as it has always had a big influence on Diamond, and it will be very experimental
All live instruments were played for the album (No sampling – “but not like there is anything wrong with that”)
There will be Punjabi and Hindi influences and vocals on the album
The album is a culmination of two years worth of recording
Diamond assures the album will contain a lot of different stuff, and there will be something for everybody on there
It will be releasing at the end of Summer
(I think Bobby Friction may be the one person more excited than I am about the release)
And now for a snippet of “Dumdaraka” (Dub Upgrade Mix)
10
Mar
2011
Days of Bhangra Producers Lives: Where Tigerstyle (not Tigerblood) hits India.
Seems like most Bhangra Producers are on twitter these days. With tweets ranging from album updates, what they’re doing to pass time, or how good they are at cooking, twitter is a little telescope into their day to day life. However every now and then, they may also paint an even more interesting picture of what is running through their mind. This feature helps you chew on what is happening in Bhangra Producers lives.
Panjabi Hit Squad Hans Raj Hans has one of the most amazing vocal skills and tones in the world! So underrated in 2011.. I want him on our album! #worldfamous
S-Endz the only people still complaining about piracy are people who are not smart or creative enough to monetize in other ways.
Tigerstyle Mystics, Martyrs + Maharajas LP releasing in India very soon. FINALLY!!! India is so SSSLLLOOOWWW on it.
Diamond Duggal Too many good ideas on a track requires serious production experience to correctly remove what is not needed…
DJs Inc. By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.
Shizzio HERES THE BUNDHPANGA TRACK: QUICK JOKE TUNE LMAOOOOO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ-uf6m5xnQ
18
May
2010
The Post That Wants to Save the BBC Asian Network!
It’s been a few months now, but the BBC have announced the proposal of bringing the axe down on some BBC Radio initiatives in order to save money. One of those initiatives under scrutiny is the BBC Asian Network. In case you’re not familiar with the BBC Asian Network, scroll down to the sidebar and see that it is the only Radio Show that I link to. Why? Because it is completely funded by the people of the UK, as well as it is the only show I go to, in order to discover new music first. Specifically, it’s Bobby Friction who leads the charge when it comes to championing new artists, and presenting us the sound of not only Asian Britain, but the world.
I’m not going to play the race card, but If you’re familiar with UK politics, you can say that it is a Conservative government led charge. In fact, the new government is stirring up a number of emotions.
I’m also, not supporting this case just to help save some jobs. The future of the presenters of the Asian Network have enough qualifications, and other ventures going for them, that they will safely land on their feet.
I’m doing this strictly for what the closure of the station would do for the future of Asian music.
The BBC Asian Network is one of – if not – the strongest platform for Asian artists to establish themselves in the world. The station is known across the world. Can you say that about any other Asian station?
Bobby Friction said it himself recently, when he said that by playing new unestablished artists on his show, he is letting them get their foot in the door to the industry. It helps them collaborate with other artists, and even find management.
Had it not been for the Asian Network, we may not have heard of such artists like Bohemia, Shizzio, JK, and Raghav just to name a few. We definitely would not have had the first Asian Download Chart Show.
Sure, there are other radio stations out there catering to South Asians. But they lack professionalism, and they sure as heck don’t help starving artists.
What do I mean by that?
PRS
The Performing Rights Society, is a royalty collection society. As a broadcaster, the BBC Asian Network pays artists that are registered with the PRS, to get paid every time their song is played.
If registered with the PRS, one play on the Asian Network is worth about £15. I was talking to an artist recently, and he has made “a few grand from one of his songs, a lot of which came from Asian Network.”
Other stations that complain about the Asian Network budget, do not take into account that the Asian Network pays PRS.
These same stations that are hitting out on the Asian Network, also aren’t paying PRS, and are matter-of-factly, breaking the law.
I’m not saying there aren’t any flaws in the Asian Network, but closing down this platform is not the answer.
In the meantime, there are things that we the public can do.
The main thing is to send in your emails to the BBC stating your opinion/displeasure/disgust at the proposed closing.
Email: srconsultation@bbc.co.uk
Tigerstyle, recently released a song with Shizzio about the closure, and if you check out the video description, Tigerstyle have laid out a a template for anyone to copy and email.
There is also the official facebook group dedicated to the cause, which will keep you posted on all the happenings surrounding the issue, of which 27.000+ people are already a member of.
And finally, let your voice be heard in Central London and Birmingham this Saturday, May 22, with the first ever Bhangra Flashmob to save the Asian Network.
For more details on the flashmob, go here.
Save the music!
10
Oct
2009
S-Endz – “Outer Space” Press Release
S-Endz
‘Outer Space’
featuring Kazz Kumar & Rukas
neofunk entertainment
Blast off into new worlds with the hottest collaboration of the year!
S-Endz, world reknowned vocalist, songwriter, member of critically acclaimed electropop band Swami, affiliate of the late Tupac Shakur’s “Havenotz” crew and leader of the neofunk movement recruits the neon-tinged vocal styles of Kazz Kumar (Sona Family) and the lyrical firepower of Australian rapper Rukas (co-CEO of Outlawz Australia, the latest venture by Tupac’s Outlawz) to take you into Outer Space….
Produced by S-Endz, ‘Outer Space’ is a club thumping cyber-hop ode to escapism. No agenda, no pretenses, this is pure feelgood music, so let down your defences and prepare for takeoff!
The 4-track digital single of ‘Outer Space’ will be released for free via S-Endz.com (in association with Bandcamp) on the 21st October 2009 and will include 2 exclusive remixes as well as a bonus track from the forthcoming S-Endz debut album, ‘Emanate’.
Although the EP will be free, there will be the option to pay for it also, and you may pay how much or little you choose.
If you choose to pay, you have the option of higher quality and uncompressed audio, as well as the nice warm feeling of supporting the art that you enjoy, and a personal note of thanks from the artist himself for doing so.
‘Outer Space’ – taking off on October 21st 2009!
15
Sep
2009
Swami “Sugarless” Video
Here is the video for Swami’s track “Sugarless.”
There originally wasn’t a plan to create a video for this track, but since the track blew up so huge on the world scale, they couldn’t deny the fans.
The band went with live footage of shows they performed the track at in the UK and here in Canada, with a predominant amount taken from their show from this night.
If that’s not enough, I am spotted in the background, albeit a bit blurred in a few scenes. (How’s that for a debut?)
The album “53431″ is available at the following outlets;
18
Jun
2009
Swami in Toronto Dates
They’re on their way, in fact they’ve probably touched down by now.
Swami are in Toronto for over a week, with three official concerts lined up.
Here is what you need to know:
June 20 – Swami at the Telus Mosaic Fest (Mississauga) at 8PM – www.mosaicfest.com
June 21 – Swami featuring Fell On Deaf Ears at NXNE at Yonge Dundas Square at 4PM – www.nxne.com
June 26 – Swami at Global Grooves at Yonge Dundas Square at 8PM – www.ydsquare.ca
Also, S-Endz will be doing a solo set tomorrow, performing tracks from his upcoming solo album “Emanate” at Rock the Coliseum in Mississauga at 4PM – www.cre8iv80studio.com/rock
I think the June 20th and 26th performances will be your best bets if you want to catch the full Swami experience. I’m telling you, it is a sight to be seen. These guys have such a magnificent stage presence and energy, that you just have to see it. I guarantee the way these guys sound on their album, is the exact way they sound on stage – and they don’t use a tape back up.
See you there!
17
Jun
2009
Free Download – Swami “Sugarless”
1999 marked the year Swami released their first album “Desi Nu Skool Beatz.”
Fast forward ten years, and we have what the band is calling “the journey so far” with the release of “53431.”
Set to release this Summer, 53431 is a compilation album, which commemorates ten years of Swami, with hits from “Desi Nu Skool Beatz,” “So Who AM I?” and “Equalize.” The album will also include two all new tracks, and two remixes.
The first new track “Sugarless,” has been released online ahead of their North American tour, and it is simply awesome.
I’ll give you a moment to download the track here
Listening to the song, you can instantly tell the music is uniquely Swami.
Once again Diamond does not disappoint. Listening to other peoples music sometimes, I get the feeling that there is too much going on, where some of the instruments and sounds are smothered. But in this track, I feel like every single beat is precise, and has been given the ability to just breathe.
Vocally, the lyrics are evocative and catchy. Diamond has called this track, their most “Pop song to date.” I cringe at the word “pop” but, I remind myself, that pop is short for “popular.”
In preparation of this release, I shot off a couple of questions to S-Endz;
How did the song come about? Who wrote it? Who thought of the concept?
The song came about purely because we wanted to do a couple of new songs to go on the ’53431′ compilation so that it would truly represent the journey so far of Swami, starting with Desi Nu Skool Beatz all the way to present day.
Diamond of course produced the song and he also came up with the title. The lyrics and melodies were written by Diamond, myself and Liana. Where ‘She’s Mine’ marked the first release where I wrote male pop vocals and melodies, ‘Sugarless’ marks our first release where I’ve written female pop vocals sang by Liana. All three of us contributed lyrical and vocal ideas and just jammed, finetuned and worked on them in the studio until they were right! There is also live percussion on the track from Bobby P.
What inspired the music to the song? I feel like it has an 80′s vibe.
You could say that the music to the track was inspired by Johnny Depp! That’s all I’m gonna say, but if any clever individual figures out how, we’ll send them a free album or something! Haha! The music is a reflection of Diamonds mind, and I would say that it is new territory for us musically whilst still retaining the classic ‘Swami sound’ that our fans know and love. We’re incredibly happy with the response the song is getting so far! As for an 80′s vibe, the sound of the 80′s is something that Diamond and I both love and we’re always sitting around talking about artists like Zapp & Roger, Cameo and Prince. There is a cycle in music whereby certain era’s and their sounds come back around and I think Diamond hit the nail on the head with his production here because while it evokes an 80′s vibe, it also sounds ultra-modern!
So there you have it, if you want to take a stab at figuring out the Johnny Depp connection, you can contact Swami in a number of ways:
SwamiMusic.com
twitter.com/swamimusic
myspace.com/swamimusic
Also, hold tight because I will be posting about the three (YES, THREE!) Swami concerts happening around the Toronto area this week and next week.
19
Jan
2009
New Swami Tracks Dropping
New Swami tracks are imminent!
Sure we haven’t seen the release of “Electro Jugni/She’s Mine,” but according to S-Endz cryptic blog post, we can expect their most commercial songs to date.
Whatever their meaning of “commercial” is, I’m sure it’s gonna be dope.
Anyone want to play the speculation game? Leave a comment.
Also, if you haven’t heard the “She’s Mine” version of “Electro Jugni,” it’s streaming on Swami’s Facebook Page.
