Reggaelok

Bant Singh Dub-ified

2010-09-30T11:36:00.001-05:00

Check out the story on SepiaMutiny:

http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006335.html

Here's the video:

No Woman, Nah Cry?

2009-10-28T05:16:00.000-05:00

Link: "No Woman No Cry ≠ No Pain No Gain: negation in Jamaican Creole"

A "Likkle" Sound Change in Jamaican Creole English

2009-10-18T17:31:00.001-05:00

“...Well, me said ‘no, no, don’t be like dat’, me likkle heart a pitter-pat...”

Read here.

More Qawwali Reggae - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan remixed

2009-10-06T07:17:00.002-05:00

See Amardeep Singh's post, "The Ghosts of Nusrat: Dub Qawwali", on SepiaMutiny: here.

Desi Ska Music

2009-10-06T07:11:00.001-05:00

See this post on the Sepia Mutiny blog.

Forward and payaaka, manhangle and den go saaka?

2009-10-06T07:09:00.001-05:00

Interesting discussion on Jamaican "lects", code-switching, and creoles at Language Log.

Uthaa Jagaa! Nepali Reggae

2009-09-25T09:09:00.006-05:00

Nepali band "Samba n The Thadi Bitos" covers Bob Marley's "Get Up Stand Up", with Nepali lyrics at certain points (Uthaa Jagaa). I don't know anything about this singer apart from what's in the video, which is nicely done.

Link to video

5th Generation Indo-Kenyan "Coolie" drops new reggae album

2009-09-17T07:03:00.008-05:00

Elephant Wise: "Well I'm a fifth generation coolie from Kenya and my mother is Swedish. In Kenya reggae music is a part of day-to-day life so it was just something that was around me from day one. Later on in my teens I moved to Europe where I saw reggae music go from a small movement to absolutely exploding with tons of reggae sound-systems and festivals popping up everywhere. It was around that time I started getting into the whole sound-system culture but it wasn't until later on after moving to Australia in 2005 that I started working the mic and eventually becoming a reggae artist."

Interview here:

Being caught up in a hi-jacking ordeal whilst visiting family in Africa in 2009 caused Elephant Wise to evaluate his priorities and decide to pursue music on a more serious level. And so he began work on his debut album. He released his new album The Reasoning on 18th July. Get a free (192kbps) copy at http://www.myspace.com/elephantwise.

The Dub Factory

2009-07-10T10:16:00.011-05:00

My current favourite Indian/South Asian reggae artist. His album Qawwali Meets Reggae: A Revolution by The Dub Factory [QMR] masterfully intertwines roots reggae and qawwali (along with a couple of non-qawwali, but indian-flavoured roots tunes), in Parvez's collaboration with Ram Shanker. His album QMR seems to have been originally released by ISQH Records (in 1999?), under the title Revolution: Qawali Meets Roots Reggae, and rereleased by Nupur in 2008 (under the supratitle "Bally Sagoo Presents").

This is what Parvez ("The Dub Factory") writes about himself on his Myspace page:

Parvez, AKA, "The Dub Factory" was born in Birmingham (UK). "As an Asian living in a multi-cultural area of Leicester I had a variety of influences as a youth. Reggae was the main music at that time. The big basslines echoed off the walls day and night and just became part of my life". I started my musical career at the age of 19 in a rock band called 'Unison', I admit that I would have never bought any of the music the band made!! I then went onto joining a reggae band called 'Aduwa'. But this band was soon to disperse when I decided to take on a more serious role in my music, as a multi-talented musician and singer who is heavily influenced by such luminaries as Bob Marley, Black Uhuru, Aswad and Steel Pulse, I created 'The Dub Factory'. I created a number of fresh sounds which leaned more towards the ears of those heavily into roots reggae with no Indian influence whatsoever. But this was soon to change and the eastern flava was soon to play a major part in my passion of roots reggae music. My 'OWN roots' came through when I collaborated with the mighty Ram Shanker. Like 'hand' fits in 'glove', so too, did, the eastern introduction to roots reggae ...hence the birth of qawali/reggae music. Taking my new born music on the road was a huge success, taking the headline act at the Sunplash in Germany and then onto tour the whole of Europe. They felt the same vibe as me, that the coalition of traditional qawali's and reggae was a great concept. In 1999 Ishq Records, showcased 'The Dub Factory' in Miami, USA to a thunderous response . "My main objective now is to take reggae music into another dimension. Roots reggae music is my heart and soul and that is what I will put into all my future albums. I want to make some noise in the music industry. It's hard to break through or to be given a chance to be heard. Now that I'm over that hurdle I want to make my mark and be known as one of the best Asian Reggae producers ever to come out of the UK..." "I am an Asian from an Eastern Land, Making roots music for every nation, No matter if your black, white, Chinese or Indian, I, have the rhythm to conquer everyone...." Unique in name and unique in sound...'The Dub Factory'.

And a review of QMR by Thom Jurek (All Music Guide):

This is presented by Bally Sagoo, which doesn't tell you anything. The liner notes are sketchy, so you have to infer that the prime influence behind this was Indian, but even so, there is no saying for sure. The bottom line is that Dub Factory is the creation of M. Parvez, a British-born musician and DJ with deep Pakistani roots. He has a live band for touring, but this set is almost a solo affair. Most of the tracks here fall firmly in the digital dub territory; there are some live instruments, but mostly it's keyboard- and computer-created. Parvez also does most of the vocals so there's very little -- in the way of entire tracks -- that can be considered dub, per se. There are plenty of dub effects, but these come off as stilted because of the production. The most interesting thing about the recording is the participation of Ram Shankar, a qawwali and Ghazal vocalist. His tracks were recorded in India, and he adds color, depth, dimension, and sheer-out mystery to every track he's on, the most notable of which are "Kaise Guzar Rahi Hai," "Ali Ali," "Deknay Ke Baad," "Pyar Se Dekha Hota," and a number of others. As an experiment this is an interesting recording. It definitely moves into some shape-shifting territory, which dub records are supposed to, but it never quite gets out to lunch -- there's always a foot remaining in the doorway, and one suspects that this is Parvez himself, having too much control of the proceedings and the studio. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

In contrast to Mr Jurek, I think QMR is a brilliant fusion of roots reggae and South Asian music.

Reggae-ic Yoga

2009-07-09T11:41:00.004-05:00

Something I came across by accident, but it fits the India/reggae theme: Reggae Yoga. In the Baltimore/DC area, yoga instructor Anne Harrison combines yoga and reggae music. See her site here.

New Indian Reggae Mix: Dvi-Ja(h) Reggae Two: Dharmic Riddims

2009-07-07T07:11:00.014-05:00

::download::

Back with a brand new Indian/South Asian/Hindu composed/themed/flavoured mix: Dvi-Ja(h) Reggae Two: Dharmic Riddims! I think this mix is even better than the first one.

From Parvez's "Asian Rocker" (brilliant heavy beat) to the Hindu riddim dancehall tracks of Elephant Man and Rage to some more Apache Indian to Cornershop's typically eccentric "Motion the 11" to the electronic/reggae/desi Asian Dub Foundation tracks to Jewish American reggae singer Matisyahu's refashioning of George Harrison's "Within In Without You" (keeping the Indian flavour of the Beatles' original) to Bombay Dub Orchestra's remix of the classic Marley & the Wailers "Lively Up Yourself"---this time we even have some Hindu/Urdu-language roots reggae, Parvez's (Dub Factory) "फिर मुझे याद आने लगे हैं" and "कैसे गुजर रही दिल में जावा", with vocals by Ram Shankar.

Track	Song	Artist	Album
01	Asian Rocker	The Dub Factory	Qawwali Meets Reggae (2008)
02	Hindu	Rage	Hindu Riddim (2009)
03	Cyberabad	Asian Dub Foundation	Enemy of the Enemy (2003)
04	The Israelites	Apache Indian / Desmond Dekker	Time for Change (2005)
05	Phir Mujhe Yaad Aane Lage Hain	The Dub Factory	Qawwali Meets Reggae (2008)
06	Motion the 11	Cornershop / Jack Wilson & Kojak	Handcream for a Generation (2002)
07	Belly Dance	Elephant Man	Hindu Riddim (2009)
08	Everyday	Apache Indian	Time for Change (2005)
09	Within You Without You	Matisyahu / Easy Star All*Stars	Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009)
10	Kaise Guzr Rahi Dil Mein Jawaa	The Dub Factory	Qawwali Meets Reggae (2008)
11	Armagideon Time	Apache Indian / Yami Bolo	Make Way for the Indian (1995)
12	Lively Up Yourself [Bombay Dub Orchestra remix]	Bob Marley & the Wailers / Bombay Dub Orchestra	Roots, Rock, Remixed (2008)
13	Warring Dhol	Asian Dub Foundation	Tank (2005)
14	Reggae Meets the East	The Dub Factory	Qawwali Meets Reggae (2008)

Reggae India - new Delhi reggae collective

2009-05-28T10:09:00.006-05:00

Get Up, Stand Up and Jam anushreemajumdar
Posted online: Apr 02, 2009 at 0002 hrs

: Delhi’s first collective of Reggae artists is sending a big shout out to music lovers

Two weeks ago when Kardinal Offishall was in Delhi everybody expected “Canada’s hip-hop ambassador” to start the show with Dangerous, his hit single with Akon. But Offishall wowed Delhi’s unsuspecting audience with his reggae-dancehall influenced rap. Mohammad Abood, 22, who was in the audience, smiled, the evening was testimony that Delhi was ready for reggae. This evening, head out to the Living Room Café at Hauz Khas Village and sample Roots Reggae, Dancehall, Ragga, Lovers Rock, Ska, Ragga Jungle and Dub Music, courtesy Delhi’s first reggae collective, Reggae India.

Reggae originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s and is characterised by three kinds of drumbeats: One drop, Rockers and Steppers. Reggae lyrics range from love, religion, poverty and social injustice. Abood, along with friends Priyanka Singh, Raghav Dang and Zorawar Shukla, has set up Reggae India, which aims to spread the magic of reggae music and all it’s sub-genres in the country. “We all went to international schools and we’ve been listening to this kind of music. After that, we went our separate ways, to universities abroad and now that we’re back in India, we want to let people here get a taste of all the reggae we’ve been lucky to have heard and watched live abroad,” says Shukla, 24, who along with Dang, 25, has recently returned from university abroad and joined hands with Abood to form the collective.

Singh, one of the rare female DJs in the city, was playing reggae nearly seven years ago at Pluto’s, Vasant Kunj, and although other DJs such as Grenville and Tony played reggae as well, but unlike hip-hop, the music never really caught fire with Delhi’s party crowd.

When I meet them at the venue a day before, they’re fixing the console, using spray paint to splash red, yellow and green over the wood. Thursday evening will see a whole night devoted to reggae, with Jamaican food on the menu but don’t make the mistake of thinking they’ll be playing Sean Paul tracks. “There are several misconceptions about reggae and it’s not just Bob Marley. People enjoy

reggae music without really being able to discover it, we’d like to change that, with events such as these,” says Anisa Nariman, 24, reggae lover and a member of the growing number of people joining the reggae movement. And now is a good time. Gone are the days when a gig meant only rock and metal; in the past two years, electronica has hit the city and DJs are coming out of the woodwork. “Everybody wants to be an electronic DJ now and although it’s good news for the city’s music circuit, the Live music scene suffers. Reggae is about both DJing and Live music,” says Shukla.

Reggae India has some plans up its sleeve and as ambitious as they sound, the collective has worked out a practical way to infuse Delhi’s music scene with a healthy dose of reggae. “We’d like invite reggae lovers, musicians to collaborate with us. Come with a saxophone, a drum kit and you’re on. We’re arranging more outdoor events, reggae is perfect for the summer, with a barbecue and a pool. We’d like to get RJs on popular English music friendly stations such as 95 FM and Meow Radio to play reggae tracks at a particular time slot too,” says Abood. But the first thing they’re working on is their very own track, tentatively titled The New Delhi Bus Stop Rhythm. “Using the traffic jam noises such as horns, general yelling, engine starting sounds, we’re infusing some reggae flavour and with a little mixing, we have a desi reggae tune,” smiles Abood. Bring it on.

original: ExpressIndia

Reggae India's myspace page

Hindi pop blends with Reggae - Reenie Mansata & Maxi Priest

2009-05-08T15:51:00.003-05:00

Mar. 7 - India born and New York based pop star Reenie Mansata is teaming up with Reggae icon Maxi Priest in an effort to internationalise her brand of Hindi pop music....[click here to read full story and view video interview]

Indian/South Asian, British Indian, Indo-Caribbean reggae artists...

2009-05-07T20:44:00.011-05:00

Indian:

Delhi Sultanate (Taru Dalmia) - Delhi-based reggae/hip-hop artist I recently came across.

Reggae India - new Delhi reggae collective: Abood, Priyanka Singh, Raghav Dang, and Zorawar Shukla

Nepali:

Samba - Nepali singer. Seems to do covers of English songs (sometimes with Nepali mixed in). But apparently only one professionally recorded song, "Get Up, Stand Up", with video.

Sri Lankan:

Jayashri - I don't know very much about them, but they seem to be popular in Sri Lanka. Do they sing in Sinhala or Tamil (or both)? Austrian-based, I believe.

British Indian:

Apache Indian (Steven Kapur) - Well-known British-born Indian (Panjabi) reggae/ragga/bhangramuffin/bhangragga artist.

Asian Dub Foundation - Rap, dub, dancehall, electronica.

The Dub Factory (Parvez) - Roots reggae meets qawwali ! Brilliant stuff, on which more later.

Indo-Jamaican:

Super Cat (William Maragh)

New Mix! - Dvi-Ja(h) Reggae - Hindu / Indian themed reggae mix

2009-05-07T17:24:00.012-05:00

::Download::

Click on links below to see more about the artists.

Some notes:

Delhi Sultanate is something I recently came across and he's pretty cool.

Requisite Apache Indian included.

Shri Ganesh se shuru kiya, of course ;)

Samba n The Thadi (or Thabi?) Bitos is Nepali - classic Marley song with some Nepali additions; he's a very nice singer, but only seems to have done one song professionally (the one included here, check below for Youtube link to video).

Track	Song	Artist	Album
01	Jai Shri Ganesh	I Made Sentana feat. Ramona Graham	-- (2008)
02	Third Eye	Midnite / I-Grade feat. Jah Ruben	Jah Grid (2006)
03	Desi Dancehall Jungle	Delhi Sultanate	-- (2009)
04	Through We Rasta	Funkadesi	Uncut Roots (2001)
05	Rastafari	Lee "Scratch" Perry	Panic in Babylon (2004)
06	Mental Slavery	Delhi Sultanate feat. Sukhmani	-- (2008)
07	Om Numah Shivaya	Apache Indian	Karma (2001)
08	Omega	Dezarie	Fya (2002)
09	Police Patrol	Delhi Sultanate feat. Sukhee	-- (2008)
10	Baby Krishna	Lee "Scratch" Perry	Panic in Babylon (2004)
11	Wesside	Midnite / Lion Tribe	Suns of Atom (2006)
12	B-Boys on the Corner [surprise riddim]	Delhi Sultanate	-- (2008)
13	All Religions	Apache Indian	Time for Change (2005)
14	Light of Jah	NiyoRah	A Different Age (2005)
15	Jalado ye Duniya (Burn This World)	Delhi Sultanate feat. Dhruv Sangari	-- (2008)
16	Get Up Stand Up (Utha Jaga)	Samba n The Thadi Bitos	-- (2002?)

Delhi Sultanate

2009-05-07T11:59:00.003-05:00

Listen at:
Delhi Sultanate MySpace page

Delhi Sultanate Youtube page