Four Indian Fusion Artists You Should Know

One of the hottest trends in electronic music right now is fusing traditional Indian Bhangra music and Electronica. There are many musicians who are embracing Indian Bhangra sounds and using them to create Bhangra/Electronica hybrids but there are some artists who have been doing it for years and are only now starting to gain recognition. The rise in popularity of Bollywood films in the West and major mainstream releases from Indian directors like Mira Nair have raised awareness of Southeast Asian music but it's still not on the mainstream pop music radar. The success of Gurindar Chadha's 2002 (2003 US release) film Bend It Like Beckham introduced many Westerners to fusion electronica and features music by many of the five artists spotlighted here. These four artists are the superstars of Bhangra Fusion music, and you should know more about them.

Bally Sagoo - Bally Sagoo is known as the "Godfather of Bhangra". He has been blending Indian Bhangra music with other influences since the 1980's and has become synonymous with Fusion music. Born in Delhi, India he grew up in a predominately Black neighborhood in Birmingham, England. Early on he developed a passion for music and was influenced by Motown, disco, hip-hop and soul. He also was influenced by traditional Bhangra music from India and Bollywood. In 1992 he produced an album featuring the legendary Indian artists Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. That album, "Magic Touch", became Bally's first commercial success. Next came "Bollywood Flashback", a compilation of remixed classic Bollywood songs. These two popular efforts led to 1996's "Rising From The East" which placed in the top 20 on the UK Billboard charts. With over 30 CDs to his credit and countless film scores and other projects, Bally Sagoo is the unquestioned pioneer of Indian Fusion music.

Karsh Kale (pronounced "Kursh Kahlay")- Karsh Kale grew up in the US, in Stony Brook NY but was heavily influenced by Indian heritage. Interested in music from an early age, he began drumming and studying Indian percussion as a child and played in rock bands as a teen. When electronic music gained popularity in the US he began fusing electronica with the traditional Indian percussion he had been playing since childhood. His style is very different from Bally Sagoo's style and focuses much more on loud, hop-hop, experimental style composition. He has collaborated with famous experimental artists like Herbie Hancock and DJ Spooky. Most of his work is instrumental. Karsh Kale is also a member of a Indian Fusion group called Tabla Beat Science whose music mirrors the experimental Electronica style favored by Kale. Kale is one of the more well-known artists released by Six Degrees Records, a record label known for signing very talented artists from around the world. His latest CD, "Broken English" was released in 2006.

MIDIval PunditZ - The Fusion Electronica duo MIDIval PunditZ hit the music scene in 2002 and quickly gained an audience around the world. The duo, Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj, have been credited as creating "the sound of 21st century India". They met in grade school in India. When they got older they both became active in the club scene in New Delhi and began producing music together. A song from their first CD,"Fabric" was featured on the soundtrack to Mira Nair's highly successful film "Monsoon Wedding". They work to bring a fresh perspective and 21st century update to classical and traditional Indian music by using traditional Indian instruments blended with Electronica. Their latest release, MIDIval PunditZ is available from Six Degrees Records and features contributions from label mate Karsh Kale.

Talvin Singh - Born in London, England Talvin Singh is a major player in the Asian Underground/Fusion Electronica scene. As a DJ he began mixing classical Indian music with popular Drum N Bass club music and audiences loved it. Also a classically trained tabla player, Talvin has worked with some of the most famous musicians in the world from a wide range of genres including the Indigo Girls, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bjork, Massive Attack and club favorites the Future Sound of London. He has remixed songs by Blondie, Madonna, Bjork, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Sarah McLachlan. In 1995 he opened his own London nightclub, Anokha. His first release,"OK" in 1998 earned him a Mercury Music Prize and delighted fans. He has worked with Karsh Kale and Tabla Beat Science. His latest release is on Island Records, "OM".