Asa Singh Mastana - One of Indian Music's lovable artists

Asa Singh Mastana, who was born in 1926 and passed in 1999, is and always will be one of Indian Music's all time lovable artists. His sweet voice was one of the best voices ever lent to the Punjabi culture and Indian Music. Asa Singh Mastana is well known around the world and for lending his voice to the classical Heer song in the bollywood film Heer. To sing Heer is a blessing and one that has God given talents can do this, and Asa was one of the first ever artists to attempt to sing Heer. He was very successful in his attempt and Heer is co-related to his name in this day in age. He is also one of the first artists to duet with the opposite sex (female) as he had done with Surinder Kaur and Prakash Kaur. They sang plenty of folk songs which are listened more than ever these days. His well known Punjabi songs are Jugni, Kali Meri Gut, Doli Chardhian Marian. With Asa Singh Mastana's lead in Indian Music, he has lent his name and given birth to a variety of the new age artists that attempt folk music. He is one of the innovators of Punjabi Indian Music folk music.

One word sums up Asa Singh Mastana = Classic!

Is Miss Pooja The Queen Of Duets in Indian Music?

Miss Pooja (stagename), originally named Gurinder Kainth, is a very popular female artist/singer in the Indian Music industry. She is from India, from the District of Patiala, the same area/region as Pammi Bhai. Miss Pooja hit it big in the year 2007, and she has not looked back. Although she has revived the duet songs field in Indian Music, I had the opportunity to meet and greet her and see her live performance last year with my Uncle. My Uncle WAS the biggest Miss Pooja fan alive. Guaranteed! That is until she performed live on stage. She is one of the weakest live stage singers in the Indian Music era. However, since she is featured in every 3rd album that releases in the Indian Music industry, she is very big and well known. She does not do any stage performances in India, since she is busy recording in the studio and shooting her videos with many other artists. She only does live stage shows in the rest of the world. She is demanding 3 lakhs rupees per album (equivalent to $7500). This album will feature her minimally in one song, or up to 3-4, depending on the artist she chooses to work with (which hs her working with everyone these days). And those are not full tracks, they are the female duet portions. People are doling out the cash to Miss Pooja due to the fact that she has the biggest fan base in the world and in the Indian Music industry. She has now released over 100+ albums in a span of less than 2 years! This is huge, and is huge in her pockets financially wise. Her lyrics are from Karamjit Puri, who is infamous for duet tracks/lyrics. Her track with fellow artist Geeta Zaildar, Seeti, has been an instant hit and is still a hit worldwide! It plays everytime on the party floor whether it be a function, birthday, reception or anything else. Petrol has been another smashing success.

However, with her performing with every artist and featuring in every album to date that is being released, her fame will only last a little while and will be known as 'whoring' the Indian Music industry!

Miss Pooja - The Queen of Indian Music? I don't think so, and time will tell this!

Indian Music Albums now featuring more tracks than ever before

The trend these days has been that Indian Music albums are now featuring more abundant songs/tracks on each album compared to about 2 years back and beyond. I guess piracy and illegal mp3 downloads has had big effect on music that instead of the usual 6 track EP, the albums are now at least 8 tracks in length and as high as 14-15 tracks per album. I honestly think this is the trend we need to go on, since the normal buyer, who doles out around $10 or 10 pounds UK for an album, does want his/her money's worth of course. With 6 tracks, its not really worth the fan or the buyer paying for the album. With at least an 8 tracker album, it is sure as hell worth it. The Indian Music industry has learned from its mistakes, as the record labels were ripping off the buyers and telling them that piracy and illegal downloads are the wrong choice to get your music. What was the average buyer going to do, of course they were going to download?! That is why the sales reduced, however, are starting to pick up to par these days. Having a variety of abundant tracks/songs makes it worthwhile to make the music and listen to it.

Heera Group - The Band of the Ages in Indian Music

Heera Group, one of the pioneers of Indian Music Bands, was formed in the year 1980 by the lead singer, Palvinder Dhami who teamed up with Kumar and 8 other musicians. Heera Group was formed in the U.K., as this was the setup base camp for bands thereafter Heera Group. Heera performed at weddings and birthdays and then the break came. In 1981, with the help of Charanjit Ahuja as the music producer, they released their first album Bhabi Te Nanaan Nachdi. This success then led to another album in 1984 being produced by Kuljit Bhamra. Then in 1986, album titled Diamond From Heera produced by Deepak Khazanchi broke all barriers in Indian Music and was the first ever Punjabi Pop album and was a smashing hit worlwide. This made Heer Group into the ultimate bands of all time. Simply put, the best band Indian Music has seen to date.

Diamonds From Heera album went Platinum disc.

The lead of Heera Palvinder Dhami has now gone solo and releases his albums, but lacks the success of the Heera Group days in the 1980's and 1990's. His son, Hartinder or H Dhami has just released a Punjabi Pop album as well this year.

Challa by Gurdas Mann - The Best Song Ever in Indian Music history

The Living Legend, Gurdas Mann, has recorded the best song ever in the Indian Music industry. The song is titled Challa and is from a film in the early 1980's Long Da Lishkara which was a blockbuster fulm as well and this song is a folklore that the lyrics are over 200 years old! This is no joke! Indian Music is proud to have such an artist and such a track deepened in its culture. The song is truly a masterpiece and even if heard 1 million times, it will never bore your ears, however, will make you appreciate it even further. I am writing the lyrics below to this beloved legend song that will live forever...

Gurdas Maan - Challa

Ho jaavo ni koi mor liyavo,
ni mere naal gaya ajj lad ke,
Oh allah kare jeh aa jaave sohna,
Devan jaan kadma vich dhar ke.
Ho Challa beri oye buhe,
Ve vatan mahi da door e,
Ve jaana pehle poor e,
Ve gall sun challeya chora,
Ve kahda laya ee jhora.
Ho challa khooh te dhariye,
Challa khooh te dhariyeve gallan mooh te kariye,
Ve sacche rabb ton dariye,
Ve gall sun challeya dhola,
Ve rabb ton kahda ee ohla.
Ho challa kaaliyan mirchan,
Ve mohra pee ke marsaan,
Ve sire tere chdsan,
Ve gall sun challeya dhola,
Ve saad ke keeta ee kola.
Ho challa nau nau theve,
Ve puttar mithde meve,
Ve allah sabh nu deve,
Ve gall sun challeya kanvaan,
Ve manvaan thandiyan chaanvan.
Ho challa kann diyan dandian,
Ve saare pind vich bhandian,
Ve gallan chajj paa chandian,
Ve gall sun challeya dhola,
Ve saad ke keeta ee kola.
Ho challa gal di ve gani,
Ve tur gaye dilan de jani ve meri dukhan di kahani,
Ve aa ke sunja dhola ve tetton khada ee ohla
Ho challa paya ee gehne,
Oye sajan veli na rehne oye dukh zindri de sehne,
Ve gal sun chalia dhola ve kahda pana ee raula.

Ghost Production is killing the Indian Music industry

Ghost production is when the so called producer or executive producer of the album pays someone else to produce the music for an album without giving credits to the producer. This is very big nowadays in the Indian music industry. I beleive Dr. Zeus has started the ghost production by paying the likes of Kam Frantic. Actually, Kam Frantic is one of the biggest ghost production artists used in the Indian music industry. Every 2nd or 3rd album is ghost produced by Kam Frantic in the Indian music industry. Other ghost producers are: Aman Hayer, B21 - Bhota & Bally Jagpal, RDB.

In my personal opinion, ghost production is all right when the actual producer deserves the credits for producing the tracks/songs! However, when an artist, who just simply pays the other producers and uses it for himself and says that he produces it, this is wrong.

B21 - One of the greatest bands in Indian Music history?

B21, now consisting of brothers Bhota and Bally Jagpal from the UK, can be debated as one of the greatest bands in Indian Music industry. B21 also did consist of Jassi Sidhu, who had a sour depart from the band.

B21 is a well known, hard working band that brought major hits worldwide. Their current project, has taken quite some time to be released, but knowing B21, it will be a major blockbuster album.

B21 are the pioneers of ghost production and it is them who started ghost production in the Indian Music industry. RDB and the infamous Kam Frantic have followed B21's tracks, however, B21 have their own unique style of sound.

B21's new unnamed album should released later in 2008, although this may be delayed due to record label politics, but it will for sure be a smash success. The albums contains the following artists: Shazia Manzoor and Sardool Sikander

2008 is the year of B21!!!

KS Makhan - Vancouver's Other Forgotten Indian Music artist 2

KS Makhan is Vancouver city's other forgotten Indian Music artist. It's been a long time coming for KS Makhan, and he has learned to give and take in the Indian Music industry. KS Makhan is from my Pind, (hometown) in Punjab, India, as he hails from Shankar in Nakodar, Jallandhar.

KS Makhan used to sing on small stages and then in the year 2002, he blew up big time with his international debut album, First Play, musically produced by the one and only Aman Hayer. This came onto be one of the biggest hits of that year. Then KS Makhan delivered hit after hit, track after track such as Mitran Di Motor Te, Billo, Gabroo Top Da, and his blockbuster track - Hoopeh - produced by the music man, Sukshinder Shinda!

KS Makhan has just released his newest album - Yaar Mastaane, and features Aman Hayer once again on the production with a new flavour to Indian Music.

Debi Makhsoospuri - Vancouver's forgotten Indian Music artist 1

Debi Makhsoospuri is Indian Music's forgotten Indian Music artist hailing from Vancouver as my previous posts concentrated on the other artists hailing from Vancouver.

Debi Makhsoospuri is known as one of the best and prime lyricists in the Indian Music industry. He is also knows as a singer as well. Debi got his first break and the young age of only 20 years old as a lyricist as he wrote a song for the Legendary Kuldip Manak. From this point on, he came famous and known for his deadly lyrics and majority of the artists in the Indian Music industry used Debi Makhsoospuri as a lyricist. Debi then made his debut in 1994 as a singer with his first album titled, Jad Maa Nehi Rehndi. Since then, he has not looked back recording over 10 albums as a singer, penning the hit bhangra dance tune of all time - Captain Bhangre De for Daljit Mattu in Fojee album and doing several live stage shows Debi Live!

Calgary - What a blast with Indian Music

I have been away from my blog for a few days due to my cousin's wedding in Calgary this past weekend. Boy, did we dance, party, and drink to the Indian Music! The weather did us good as well, as it was in the mid twenties.

A few of my cousin's best mates, and my mates as well, did an unbeleivable dance number to a variety of mixed Indian Music songs, and they tore the dance floor up into pieces! This dance number was one of the best I have ever seen! From that point on, there was no stopping. Actually, in fact, the reception party ended at 2am in the morning. The dance number that got us rocked, smashed, and dancing was of course, Jazzy B.'s Rambo track. Kuriyaan ne naam tera rakheya...Rambo Rambo!

Calgary is much as an Indian Music dance craze as Vancouver is. I witnessed it this past weekend in front of my eyes.

Anyways, the reason I went to Calgary was for my cousin's wedding, so big shout out to Sonu & Jas! Congratulations once again!!!

Rambo Rambo!

Surinder Kaur - Indian Music's Respected Female Artist

Surinder Kaur, one of the most revered and respected artists in the Indian Music industry was and is referred to as Punjab's Nightingale. Surinder Kaur has recorded more than 2,000 songs in her singing career and majority of them were folk Punjabi, however some were Hindi songs. She, along with her sister, Prakash Kaur started singing in 1943 at the ripe age of only 12 for the infamous HMV Label. She not only sang Punjabi folk songs, however recorded as a playback for various Hindi and Punjabi films/movies. She has sang alongside the legends as Asa Singh Mastana, Harcharan Grewal, Rangila Jatt, and Didar Sandhu. One of the most remembered and important projects ever in Indian Music history, infact, in all of music genres around the world is the 1995 recording LP - The Three Generations. Surinder Kaur sang duets with her daughter Dolly Guleria, and her granddaughter, Sunaina.

Surinder Kaur has won many awards and many hearts and fans in the Indian Music industry and will always be remembered forever!

Lal Chand Yamla Jatt - Innovator of the Tumbi

Ustad Lal Chand Yamla Jatt, the pioneer artist of the Indian Music industry is regarded as the most respected artists in Indian Music history. Yamla Jatt is simply a folklore in itself, classic and amazing! He only sang folk songs and boy did he ever go in depth with his unique sound and voice. During Ustad Lal Chand Yamla Jatt's singing career, the Tumbi was not regarded as an instrument. A tumbi is made of wood stick mounted with a wooden resonator covered with skin. A thin, metallic string is passed on a resonator over a bridge/wedge, and tied to the turning key at the end of the stick. The string is struck with the continuous flick and retraction of the forefinger of either hand.

Lal Chand went against the naysayers and proved many people wrong by adopting the Tumbi in every song he sang. This is the only piece of music he sang with, and went onto pioneer the Tumbi as an essential instrument in the Indian Music industry. His songs and voice are unique and today's gernation in Indian Music industry pay homage to the great legend Yamla Jatt.

Vancouver - Indian Music Artist Capital - Part 2

Part 2 continues with Vancouver being the Indian Music artist capital of the world!

Sarabjit Cheema has tasted success out of Vancouver as well. In 1994, Sarabjit's first album hit the roadways around the world with the folk anthem Rangla Punjab. Sarabjit has not looked back since, and just recently released a folk album titled ONLY FOLK. This albums is strictly folk music, and has to be Sarabjit Cheema's most innovative and best album byfar.

Harbhajan Mann has been the longest resident of Vancouver and he started singing in 19771978 as an amateur as he was still in high school in the Vancouver area. He, alongside with brother Gursewak started being known more and more and were performing at functions around the city. Harbhajan released his first album in 1988 - Ishq De Mamle. This did not do that well as an album, however he did start to build a small, yet excited fan base. Harbhajan Mann got his first break in 1992 with the release of his album, Chithiye Ni Chithiye. The title track and the album blew the Indian Music fans around the world apart and thus the start of Harbhajan Mann as an artist with god gifted talens was recognized and born. Now he stars in at least one Indian film a year and releases at least one Indian Music audio album a year, usually 1 Punjabi and 1 Hindi/Punjabi mixed!

Vancouver - Indian Music Artist Capital - Part 1

Vancouver has and will always be the capital of Indian Music of the world. I can say this with my foot down for sure. Vancouver is well known for breeding and bringing up artists that give it their all in the Indian Music industry. The west coast bornes the artists that Indian Music needs and has always loathed.

Of the most famous one of these artists is Jazzy Bains (Jazzy B.) His first album was released in 1993 titled Ghugian Da Jhora. This was an instant chart topper and paved the way for Jazzy's amazingly successful career. The music man, Sukshinder Shinda has produced all of his albums to date thus far. His last album, Romeo set sales records worldwide and the recently titled album Rambo will do the same. Jazzy Bains now lives worldwide, literally... He is a citizen of Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. Kuriyan Ne Naa Tera Rakheya...Rambo...Rambo!!!

Another famous artist hailing from Vancouver is Manmohan Waris. His first album was released in 1993 as well, titled Gairaan Naal Peengha Jhootdiye. Manmohan Waris and his younger brother, Kamal Heer, along with their eldest brother Sangtar Heer are a team wreckoned with. All music and vocal tracks etc is done all in house in their own family. Manmohan Waris is also known as Punjab's Son (Respect!)

The Dhol - Indian Music's most sought after instrument

The Dhol, a double sided barrel drum, is the most sought after and used instrument in the Indian Music industry. The Dhol actually dates back to the 15th century, that's how old it really is! In was used in the Punjab region of India to keep the farmers going to work. The sound of the Dhol, if you ever hear it, is just insane! It is one of the best sounds ever in the music industry not to mention the Indian Music industry!

The sticks that strike the Dhol are made of wood - bamboo wood and cane wood. All Indian Music songs/tracks consist of the dhol as part of their music madness when assembling the track. One of the most revered Dhol Players is the Music Man himself, Sukshinder Shinda. In each of Shinda's produced tracks/songs, you can hear the unique sounds of the Dhol that Shinda plays. Truly amazing!

The dhol varies in size and is usually quite large with a strap that will strap around the shoulder.

Dholis, or dhol players are now gaining fame and is being recognized worldwide.

Keep the Dhol banging!

Panjabi Hit Squad - First Indian Music Artists signed to a major record label

Panjabi Hit Squad also known as PHS were the first artists in the Indian Music industry to get signed to a major record label, the U.K. branch of Def Jam! PHS had fused Bhangra/Indian Music with Street music.

In 2001, Panjabi Hit Squad released their first album featuring Surinder Shinda, Dildar Preet & Kuldip Paras. The group consisted of 4 members - Markie Mark, Amo, Rav & Dee. In the later years, Markie Mark & Amo ventured off into their careers, and the two suriving members Rav & Dee continue to promote PHS.

2002, the second album, The Streets was released featuring Ranjit Mani, Satwinder Bitti & Manak E. This was a fab album, and the Ranjit Mani track was my personal favorite.

Panjabi Hit Squad have worked with various artists such as Mariah Carey, Beenie Man, Ashanti & Jay-Z. Way to see Panjabi Hit Squad representing to the max for Indian Music.

Jazzy Bains RAMBO released on July 3rd in North America

I had the pleasure of taking a stroll down Fraser Street right down my neighborhood with the delight to see that yesterday, Indian Music's Crown Prince Of Bhangra, Jazzy B.'s album Rambo had been released. I picked up the album and off I went to my laptop to listen to it.

One word that will sum this album up is: BRILLIANT. I mean, both Jazzy B. (the singer) and Sukshinder Shinda (the music producer) have done an out of the world amazing job on this album. In my opinion the following tracks/songs on the album deserve praise in the Indian Music industry and stand out on the album -- I Love You -- Wow! What a track! Glassy is a full tilt buddy buddy drinking track to dance to. Jatt is also a dance anthem track. Jawani, now this is the dance anthem I was looking for and it smashed it. By the way, I Love You features Vancouver's local talent and rapper, D'Luscious.

The track listing is as follows and this album is a sure buy. Your money will be instantly go towards supporting the Indian Music industry.

1. Suited & Booted Intro
2. I Love You
3. Glassy
4. Jatt
5. Dilla Nu
6. Gaddi
7. Jawani
8. Dilbar Jani
9. Rambo
10. Jadu
11. Ashiq

Sampling without permission in the Indian Music industry

Sampling, beleive it or not, is one of the biggest hurdles/barricades in the Indian Music industry. Majority of the sampling is based off of raw hip hop r&b beats from the western mainstream music genre. However, majority of the sampling by artists in the Indian Music industry is without permission, thus, the term is used as infringing on copyrights. Loads of artists are doing this, however, as I have mentioned in one of my previous posts, when western mainstream artists do this, they get sued for ridiculous amounts, and when Indian Music artists do this, they get released worldwide. One major artist of such that has ALWAYS infringed on copyrights from the western music industry is North America's DJ Sanj, although he now lives in the U.K. He has released beats with Dr. Dre sample that made it onto one of his albums which was released by Music Waves in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The album was titled Master Of Destiny. Music Waves, regards itself as the main premier label that is fair and refuses the business of piracy and in their own sense, is the 'right' record label. How can you condone a release with a Dr. Dre sample all over it, and pass it on as an original recording? Not fair is it? Nope, not at all. However, Dr. Dre does not have time to look out for these chump change artists like this, however, he should go directly for Music Waves and sue them for everything they have got. Just an idea to promote sampling not only in the Indian Music industry, but in all music genres around the world.

Music Videos Too Racy For Indian Music

One thing that has changed over the past few years in Indian Music is the music video(s) that is shot and marketed to the masses around the globe. I beleive in traditional Indian Music and that means making music videos in the traditional sense and not the softcore pornography music videos that are shot and shows on the music channels. I beleive people have lost the imagination of how to keep a music video clean. I do agree to an extent that having half naked ladies and chicks standing around in thongs and g strings does appeal some of the generation, however, what does this have to do with the song/track itself? Nothing!!! I beleive the producers and directors have lost their touch and imagination. There are loads of artists in the Indian Music industry that are of top notch marketable material without the softcore pornography music videos. Keep the traditional touch alive and use the imagination as far as can be to come up with new and innovative ways and ideas to promote Indian Music to all generations and not just to the pre-teen era.

I must agree with the business sense of these music videos that I do not beleive it, and YES, SEX does sell, however, majority of these music videos are not family oriented at all. Keep the desiness alive and jam to the Bhangra with more appropriate music video material.

I am looking forward to the future of Indian Music and the music videos that are used to market this. Hopefully, a producer or director or two will somehow read behind the text in this blog, and things will change for the good...

Piracy hurting Indian Music sales worldwide

Piracy has been the biggest barricade in Indian Music since the year 2000. This piracy includes illegal mp3 downloads on the internet via the world wide web. What happened to the good old days when everyone including myself used to buy their music. With the ever changing technology and the internet, people are now getting their music for free and have no respect for artists and labels in this industry. I do agree that Indian Music has lagged behind other music genres in regards to budgets on albums and music videos, however, it is our responsibility as fans to support the artists in their achievements and hard work. Music production is no simple matter, it is a hobby due to the fact that although it can become a career, piracy does not allow this to happen.

I can speak for myself, although the internet and the world wide web is a pro in itself as it can act as a pre-teaser for music fans in Indian Music or any other genre of music. I can say this as I download the albums, and listen to each and every track carefully, and then go out to the local store and buy the album on CD. I use the downloads to test my taste of preference of music, and then support the artist and the label. If we do not support the artist or we do not purchase our music, then the music producer will not get the budget from the recording label to make a decent release. Thus it is essential to purchase the music we like and enjoy listening to.

Hopefully fans in the Indian Music industry realise this and start supporting the artists. Now is the time to support the industry since it is on a very high level of appreciation worldwide.