Ever since those floppy Beatles and hip-wiggling Stones stormed our Atlantic coast, American music mags lurve warbling on about the newest “Brit Invasion!” like retarded canaries in a perfectly oxygenated coal mine. Remember Blur? Pulp? The Verve? Ah, ’twas a Bittersweet Symphony indeed, Richard.
Coldplay is doing its best to launch a one-man (you know it’s true) full-frontal assault…but Mr. Martin sounds too intent on supporting Gwyneth and the Appletini to make anything really fresh these days.
So it’s with much interest that I’ve noticed that Brit-based Bhangra seems to be stealthily making unheralded inroads in the US. “Get ur Freak On” seemed to trigger something cuz soon after we had that Jay-Z rapping on Panjabi MC’s “Mundian to Bach Ke,” and no less than three (3) dancehall tracks with the Diwali Riddim. Sean Paul’s “Get Busy” being the best known.
Now, I’m pretty clueless about the Sardaar-scene, and know I’m a bit out of my depth here, so please refrain from tugging your beards and whipping your karas at me. please? I can’t do any worse than this Popmatters review that describes bhangra as:
dance music with the tabla beat at its base, sounding very much like drum’n’bass, sometimes with rapping but usually with Indian pop as its melodic focus.
Well, I hope.
At any rate, (and thanks Punjabi Boy) the previous post illustrates viral marketing at its finest:
The Xbox game, which is expected to hit the streets in November 2005, will feature two tracks by Achanak…taken from their forthcoming album, Bhangra-ology, which is due for release on 19th September 2005. Tigerstyle will have three tracks…lifted off their forthcoming, yet to be titled album, which is scheduled for a November 2005 release.[link]
May I draw your attention to the timing? Brilliant, I think. Besides, I hear there was a call for more turban-ed hotties…….Way to work it boys 😉
so please refrain from tugging your beards and whipping your karas at me
Tugging beards can be fun if done gently and with a loving hand!!! Now, as for whipping karas…that’s just an outright OUCH.
that review is so off, the expert-sounding tone of it is completely unwarrented
its like doing a review of square dancing and calling it alt country….the region is right but everything else is wrong
i;ve started to become completely mortified by beauty standards (this is personal though and i don’t think sociological)
Why? When I first read that, I figured you had posted a photo of some other cute Sardar. If you’re posting a photo of him, he should be chuffed!
Did you know that chuff means ‘to fart’?
I’ve worked w/ Raj + Pops–the brothers in Tigerstyle– a good amount here in NYC. Always a good time when they’re around; as brothers they’re totally on the opposite ends of the spectrum on everything besides music and religion.
Music–wise, they’re serious producers. I remember hearing their first tape a few years ago, and while it wasn’t necesarrily good, it sonically held up with their peers and lyrically/stylistically showed the nexus of something new. “Virsa” and their mix tapes are really great reacords.
Religion–wise, they are quite serious Sikh’s, and while i’m not about to put the term “militant” into someone’s mouth, the discussion could be had. They are, however, quite pro-Khalistan (“AK-47 wale,” anyone?) and make no bones about it.
I’m glad that nachural finally got their shit together and started playing the game outside of the inbred desi music industry. Since samples will have to be cleared and production will have to be up to the standards of western pop music, I think this will mean good things for the Bhangra industry. I just wonder what the repercussions–if any–will be if the label picks a song based on rhythm alone, not knowing that they lyrics might be a call to arms for a separatist state.
Finally, bhangra doesn’t have its roots in DnB or indo-pop; ignorance is an ugly thing…. and while I differ in opinion on Khalistan from tigerstyle, the boys just live and breathe music. it’s really heartwarming to see 2 20-something munde really get down and play baja, tabla, dhol, dholki, dhol, etc. I mean, we did a show @ SOB’s a few years ago the first song was “Ranjhe di Kalli” by Kuldeep Manak; how many other bhangra artists in this day and age know about punjabi music before the likes of AS Kang, anyway? let alone hitting the stage w/ it.
gotta love video games, right?
Interesting you mention the Khalistan thing Mr Cica. I generally don’t like to bring it up when I talk about Tigerstyle for two reasons – I do try to keep it about the music and sometimes people get pissed with me for marring things with politics. However I was discussing it with some friends who’ve also worked with Tigerstyle and I can’t say I don’t feel umcomfortable about it. AK47 isn’t the only track that I have qualms about…just as well I can’t understand Punjabi!
How important should a musician’s politics be? Your wife (yes yes I know) likes MIA but doesn’t like the Tamil Tigers. The Dixie Chicks’ sales slumped after they opposed the war. Bono is as well known for his campaigning as for his music – and as for Bob Geldof…who even remembers the Boom Town Rats? Tigerstyle represent musicians whose politics I really don’t care for, but whose music I really like. It’s an odd one.
Hey, I remember the BoomTown Rats! I start every workweek with “I Don’t Like Mondays“… but, uh, don’t tell my boss that.
re: Bong Breaker…. hmmmm… my guts tell me to not touch the music/politics question with anything less than a 10′ pole, if that. When I was 16 i really like politically minded hardcore; in hindsight, i think it’s because the ideas were as half-baked as my pent-up, hormonal agression.
I think a musician/artist/whatever’s only test of integrity is to create what feels like art to you. If for Nelly that means swiping a credit card down some girl’s ass in the “Tip Drill” video…. well, good for him, same as for Immortal Technique tells us how bush knocked down the towers in “Bin Laden.” You give what you’ve got; I greatly admire ADF’s ability to make tremendous, soaring music along the likes of “Naxalite” and “Assassin” “fortress europe,” but the truth is that ADF would be incredible w/ any bit of lyrical content. Their art came from them filling the need for a voice along those lines in Asian Britain.
Basically, I sincerely think it’s up to the artist to decide whether politics deserves their passion. If you don’t like an artist’s values, don’t buy, n’ah mean? don’t get me wrong– Ms. Cicatrix’s collection of Toby Keith bootlegs gets me unnerved and makes me go listen to my MIA white label dubplates, but she loves it and considers it “art.” so there ya go.
Neither of us likes the dixie chicks. I don’t like country music, and Ms. C hates blondes.
Plus, “nachena” was tigerstyle’s hit. not AK47, right? in the end, the fun dance song that makes the pretty girls dance will always win. In my mind that’s not necesarrily a bad thing.
I’ll open up a huge can of worms here and am prepared to be wrong
Mr Cicatrix, are you Sikh and Punjabi? If not, do you think you need to qualfying anything you say by stating that?
I know this is a very loaded question.
It may turn out you are Punjabi and then its moot
But if you are not, I will start the process of why it might matter, keeping in mind I may be wrong
if you and others are up for it, I will continue the discussion
if not, all good
Toby Keith bootlegs gets me unnerved and makes me go listen to my MIA white label dubplates, but she loves it and considers it “art.” so there ya go.
ouch. I feel your pain there! I have a toby kieth fan in our family..for us, it’s more of a mix between oldies/classic rock, classical, polkas, and rap (which i detest – i often go put on some bhangras or rabbi or something nice.)
glad you two don’t like the dixie chicks!!!
basically, I’ll start in lieu of flames;
What do you enjoy about bhangra? What connects you to the music?
I wouldn’t say only Punjabi Sikhs can be passionate about that music, just like I love alt country and feel like it speaks to me. Lucinda Williams is at home with me in some way as Malkit Singh, if not more so
But there’s something to be said for the fact the themes in bhangra are very significant for a community, right? One of the reasons bhangra came about was to express something about the Punjabi diaspora. the music is connected to our community in integral ways. to deny that would be to deny its place in Punjabi culture.
bhangra was not that big a deal in Punjab of my grandfather’s time. I could probably count the number of times people of his generation danced bhangra on one hand. They don’t even know how to bhangra really. There may be a lot of bhangra dancing fans generationally, but my family I know for certain, did not bhangra unless there was a wedding, and not even then. They were busy farming. And they’re not unique.
But for the diaspora and now in Punjab, its big. To a non-punjabi it means something different, it must. Or am I wrong?
for us, it’s more of a mix between oldies/classic rock, classical, polkas, and rap (which i detest – i often go put on some bhangras or rabbi or something nice.)
mm…before i stick my foot in my mouth, i’d better clarify – i listen to the former, and put with the latter (the rap). and that should have been or something ELSE nice.
What do you enjoy about bhangra? What connects you to the music?
K, I don’t know hwo this is was aimed at, but…I like the beat, i go crazy for the tumbi sounds, and when i get translations of the lyrics from either family or friends, the lyrics intrigue me. I’m still rather new to this, so I will refrain from considering myself ANY sort of authority, which I am not. 😉 But i also find bhnagra refreshing and energizing, as long as those elements of the whole rap scen e are kept out of it.
Raju – I’m both Punjabi and Sikh, so I’ll take the bait here.
Why must Bhangra mean something different to Punjabis and non-Punjabis? Is it only African-Americans who can relate to rap or the blues? Only Europeans who can relate to “Classical” music? Only White Americans who can relate to Country or Heavy metal?
Essentializing is very dangerous. I appreciate that you’re not trying to do this in an exclusionary way, but I hope that anybody who else comments on this aspect of the discussion can keep it civil.
Why must Bhangra mean something different to Punjabis and non-Punjabis? Is it only African-Americans who can relate to rap or the blues? Only Europeans who can relate to “Classical” music? Only White Americans who can relate to Country or Heavy metal?
I agree. I mean heck, I’m neither Punjabi or Sikh (yet…I am discussing conversion with family), but I took from young on up to love music from all over, and to enjoy as many different types as possible, in whatever way it takes to enjoy those types. And, strangely enough, I can relate more to sufi peotry, ravi shankar ragas and bhangra (and what ever else I come across) more than I can country, rap or even heavy metal. 😉 Peace!
PS- Ennis – I have now added a matching t-shirt along with the poster!
pattie
the kray twinz get a nod in this pitchfork article.
To a non-punjabi it means something different, it must. Or am I wrong?
it doesn’t have to, if the listener is willing to learn about the culture, the history and whatnot behind it…or if they naturally have that inside them. just like for the russians, they’ve their cossaks or the middle europeans, their polkas – for them, that is their bhangra, and if people are willing to learn about it, and find a way to connect with it, it could truly be without any bounds to any certain ‘type’ of person. it’s what’s in the person’s heart and beliefes when they hear it thatn counts, at least that’s what i’ve found. if i’m wrong, i’ll be glad to be corrected.
Raju, I kind of understand where you’re coming from. But don’t think that your ancestors were too busy farming to dance bhangra…after all what IS bhangra? Half the steps come from farming! Just like so many of the songs that inspired black music in America came from the cotton fields.
Bhangra doesn’t have to be different to a Punjabi and a non-Punjabi. But out of all my friends in music here in London – all of the ones who are non-Punjabi Asian aren’t all that fussed about bhangra (a few exceptions) and just about every Punjabi I know likes bhangra. So liking it is definitely linked with your heritage; after all if you can understand the lyrics you’re at an advantage, even if they mean a load of crap.
hmmmm let’s see. back to the beginning. This may be rambling because i actually get paid to lecture about the state + roots of bhangra and how it relates to the punjabi diaspora, and how it’s a model of diasporic entertainment blah blah blah….
I’m at most 1/2 punjabi, and at the least1/4th or so…. depends on where you want to draw geographical and temporal boundaries. I’m also 100% not sikh, except for when i wind up @ the Gurudwara and then we’re all Sikh…. right? (the irony being that i’m writing listening to kirtan) But suffice it to say that I have a fair amount of roots around the Punjab/Himachal border. Go Sutlej! I also think that Siikhism and Bhangra have nothing to do with each other, aside from that hip geographical link.
For me, bhangra skipped a generation– my pops moved away from N. India to study and was so fed up w/ how he felt he’d been held back academically, he was really not into immersing himself in diasporic India. So aside from his old Mukesh and Rafi recordings from 68 and earlier, he had zero interest in keeping that culture alive for him. He missed Sholay!
As a drummer/percussionist, the dhol is one hell of an instrument which i discovered in my teens. The iconography of it speaks volumes about Punjab and Punjabi’s. For me, it’s a connection to music/class/culture/the spaces inbetween those that lies far outside what’s expected in the west– mainly Indian Classical and Filmi stuff. The folk rhythms and musicians of India will quite possibly not last through our generation; to me, it’s important to at least recognize their power to create and signify community. Plus it’s just damn fun to play, and it beats having a real “job.”
My dad was a bit taken aback when i started playing dhol and transcribing bhangra lyrics, but he now waxes poetic and calls me being like “Mr. Cicatrix, have you heard of this Bindrakhia?” So in my “discovery” of bhangra, and my interest in learning what particularly old-school Punjabi songs meant (Mohd. Saddiq, Ranjit Kaur, Yamla jatt, etc), my dad got sucked in as translator and realized that SHIT! he likes this stuff. he misses the songs (particularly the wedding songs). But what you really miss are the situations of those songs, right?
Christ it’s like a desi “say anything” in here. I’m gonna go blast some alaap out of the Cicatrix’s boombox in the general direction of NJ. Metropark, stand uP!
So I think at this stage, what bhangra provides is the requisite nostalgia of the “desh’ for a diaspora of a certain age, and the imagined nostalgia of it for their children. Bhangra also provides a nice 4/4 template for 2nd + 3rd generation desi kids to make relevant music for themselves. i’m not gonna get into a judgement argument about the state of bhangra, but it’s important that it is what it is.
what’s maddening is that there’s no reason for bhangra to grow artistically, and things start to get stale really, really, really fast.
but i digress.
Look the ultimate point of bhangra music is to dance bhangra and CELEBRATE (along acceptable socio-cultural and gender lines, of course. we’re not filthy ferungees!). You dance bhangra when your friend is getting married, or you just got a new job, or… well i guess we don’t really celebrate baisakhi but when the orange tree @ chez cicatrix starts blooming, we start chak-ing the phateh’s and the landlord gets all pissed off.
(put the floor back!)
Oh yeah, and the requisite mention of “tradition.” Bhangra dance and punjabi music have a legitimate tradition. Take that with as much salt as you will.
and go see vivek bald’s film “mutiny.” there’s a great segment on the development of commercial bhangra in the 80s in the UK.
Bravo! And you’re right, the dhol IS one hell of an insrument.
appreciate your response
have some quibbles;
mostly that the way you talk its like you’re proving that you know this and that about bhangra
yeah Lal Chand Yamla Jatt, and Surinder Kaur and AS Kang and Asian Dub Foundation and Bindrakia and Gurdas Mann and all that…..
But at the same time…..thats all a step removed.
Does the song Put Jatte dey marna lagia desh lai
(the sons of Jatts are ready to die for their desh) give you chills?
the rest is academic. thats what got me in the first thing you wrote, it was very academic. very experty. one step removed from the blood, pyar, tears, and joy of bhangra.
I dunno, just my opinion
like I said, I love real country music but if people want to wax poetic about Hank Williams Sr. I’m not going to go down and tell them this that and the other as an expert about it. I’m going to let them do what they want with their music because its enjoyable to me and I feel it, but to them, that may be what connects them to their daddy and grand daddy and I respect that and so I’m not going to talk as an expert.
But seeing as your already an academic on the subject of bhangra, I wonder what you think about the fact that making bhangra into something of an expert field is problematic
raju, who was that aimed at?
ps I have seen Mutiny and to me the most inspiring thing about it was ADF and them standing up
the bhangra parts of that, i honestly don’t remember much probably because they were much less relevent than countless moments spent dancing with loved ones
Pattie it was to Mr Cicatrix
thanks! heheh…kinda figgered, but late night and brain’s not working..peace! and btw, i’m learning alot from all of you. also, raju…have you any particlar bhangra or other suggestion? like groups or songs? thanks!
Raju – he plays the dhol. I don’t think you can play dhol and be unmoved by bhangra. At the same time, you shouldn’t assume that somebody who is impassioned by music can’t (or wont) write about it in a dispassionate way.
dispassion is different than the disempowerment of academia over feeling
if bhangra is taken out into the classroom, and sanitized and put back in…you know who now becomes a bystander?
any old gramps who doesn’t know Lal Chand Yamla Jatt, but knows exactly what he’s talking about
Pattie,
thanks you’re welcome. i wouldn’t know who to suggest just keep your ears out for a group that sounds good. what’s good to you might not be to me
You’re welcome. sound advice there, I like ‘discovering’ anyway. 😉
Ennis,
The blues can mean a whole lot to a lot of people but what it means to black men and women in the delta after reconstruction? nothing else can compare, in my opinion. I think that music is situated in times and places, folk music. and when that community is still around and still listens to that folk music, that is very relevent
How do you take any folk music and remove it from its “folk” and not in some way do some kind of “injustice”? when it was the particular context of that “folk” that created the music?
if you take the blues out of the delta, for example, the power to define what the blues is, what have you done?
Bong Breaker,
I agree with you that it touches punjabis (for the most part) in a almost unique way. my grands actually did not bhangra much at all and yeah, he was mostly farming or busy with something else to dance. the whole harvest dance thing? never a part of it for a lot of people. a lot of that is just backstory in my opinion
I hope this can remain civil and at the end, we all might have different opinions or not, but its just discussion and just opinions that may change
Raju– re: quibbles.
as far as being academic goes, fine. I take it as a compliment and thank you for it. This–music– is what I DO; I’m a player first and foremost, though i have no qualms about educating those outside of the culture about the culture. Playing/writing/recording music is my job, is my religion, my sports game on a saturday afternoon and my friday night out at the club. I’m right there with you against the museumification of folk music…
which leads me to, Does “putt jattan dhe” give me chills? no, it honestly no longer does because the politics surrounding Jatt/non-Jatt issues in all things bhangra are now bullshit and should be considered as such. I’ve seen more than a couple of kids get beaten up because they’re not Jatt but are dating a Jatt girl and I’m fucking sick of it. This ain’t Patiala ca. 1700. I will thoroughly support the history of the Jatt clan in Punjabi history, but the truth is that when a Putt Jattan Dhe song comes on, i’m waiting to watch where the fights break out. It’s more sad than anything else.
If this discussion even comes close to becoming a Jatt/non-Jatt discussion, i’m tuning entirely out. That’s for the 19-year-olds at punjabonline.com.
what does give me the chills– mirza’s/heer-ranjha/jugni’s/chamkila/manak/ and yes, ADF. Tigerstyle. Playing a baisakhi mela in Easton, PA and getting a dozen kids onstage dancing and singing along to jindh mahi. I’ll even give manak a pass on his Jatt songs. Hell, isn’t manak what got us into this discussion inthe 1st place?
Mix this with the comment on “the blood, pyaar, tears, and joy of bhangra”… bro this sounds dangerously close to a call for authenticity based on the intensity you feel towards a song. I’m not sure if this is brilliant or pathetic, but I like it. I do the same, because I’m simply glad that people as least FEEL something.
Personally, i’ve laid my cards entirely on the table of what got me to where I am regarding bhangra; either you get it, or you don’t. If you do, great; if you don’t, I feel no need to defend myself. Clearly, my being Punjabi (figure your own percentage) didn’t render things moot at all.
that’s a good thing.
Pattie Kaur, Lehmber Hussainpuri is the big singer of the moment… his first really big song from a few years ago was “Das Ja.” look for his stuff solo (the Don and Folk Attack), and on records by Soundministry, DJ Sanj, Dr. Zeus, DJ Swami/desirock, Aman Hayer, RDB… he’s everywhere.
you’ve misinterpreted the Jatt line; its got nothing to do with diaspora kiddies playing baddies
its got to do with the tradition among people in punjab to wage struggle for their area, from the 1500’s to Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh, one of whom I’m sure was a communist atheist, and the other a communist and maybe an atheist. the idea that its about jatt this and that and “jatts do it” is totally not what that line is about
The rest, you actually are getting a bit heated.
I’m sure you’re pissed and thats fine with me. lets end it then and you do yours and I do mine. I got some info on how you feel and thats pretty much good enough.
feel free to ask what got me involved in bhangra and why I absolutely feel the authenticity of the feeling is the way to communicate towards bhangra. It is in fact, the link I see between bhangra and Sikhi, however tenous it may be in all other aspects
Thanks muchly..I’ll give a listen…like i say, anything that has no rap influence…i’ve been hooked on ‘TIYAN Tityan Longowal Diyan’ by Surinder Singh Shindha which i think i probably mispelled a few times in earlier postings. I even like the mix of electric sound into some of the bhangra i’ve heard.
This is an interesting discussion which I cant be bothered contributing to.
except that article posted by gimmefiction says the Kray Twinz are from Sheffield – No! They are from COVENTRY!!!
Is mr Cicatrix really sadha cicatrix Sri Lanka di Kuri’s husband?
really?
Are you really her partner?
What a funky dude – what a couple!
Bhangra is special for Sikhs in the diaspora but it shouldnt mean we claim it exclusively! In England at a bhangra dance you see all types of desis and even goray and black dudes so just free up the music and feel it!
Music is the only thing that knows no boundaries!!
Free up the music!!
It loves everyone and is for everyones love!!
Plus it means that Punjabi guys are seen as sexy by Pakistani girls and others!! I’m being serious!! Because we have the superstars!!
And one of the top DJ/producers is Markie who is a white man who grew up in Southall and speaks better Punjabi than most Punjabis in the UK!!
Bhangra is for everyone!!!!!!!
I am being serious – I know what Raju is talking about – bhangra means so much to the Punjabi/Sikhs in the diaspora – I feel the same emotion – it is tied up with our history – especially to the UK Punjabis – totally agree with him….
but…..
Bhangra is about music and love and dance and bringing people together and it should be for all people to come together in a spirit of love and music and dance – especially desis of whatever back ground!!
Mr Cicatrix I really enjoyed reading dem posts you wrote man – I’m feeling your love for the music man.
Bhangra’s had a unifying effect to some extent on 2nd-Generation British South Asians (or at least Indians) here in the UK over the last 10-15 years or so — it’s not just something Punjabis have really been into, although of course they are the core source and audience. It’s fun, funky music that is great to listen to and of course to dance to, which all British Indians (the majority of whom in the UK are from the northern half of India) can to some extent identify with and relate too, because it’s specifically Indian in origin, and therefore “ours”.
Bhangra music and indeed bhangra nights at various clubs had a huge influence in bringing everyone together when I was at college about a decade ago, and also played a significant hand in the evolution of 2nd-Generation Brit Indian identity/subculture. Which is no bad thing.
yeah but
Raju – the funny thing is that you’re doing what the museum / anthropologist types do – which is setting boundaries around music and defining it. You might not like their definition, but you’re saying that it’s not Bhangra unless it’s performed in Punjab or by the diaspora.
Honestly, to me second-generation Bhangra has relatively little to do with traditional folk Bhangra, so I don’t follow your argument. And once you’ve taken it out of the fields to Southall and NYC, then it’s a fairly small step towards making it an accessible pan-SouthAsian music.
Musics evolve – Classical music doesn’t stay in Europe. In another few generation, people will probably associate it more with East Asians than Western Europeans. “What – you mean Berlioz wasn’t Chinese?”
Similarly, the blues doesn’t stay in the delta, it moves around. Is Chicago blues in authentic? What about the blues once it returns to Africa?
Is Jazz only a black musical tradition or is it one of fusion? What do we do with all the seminal Jewish jazz artists?
Sure, we laugh at Vanilla Ice, but are Algerian rappers fake? How about Giddi Giddi Maji Maji, the Luo rapping duo from Kenya?
Musical forms constantly evolve, and I think that essentializing music, tying it down to a place and a people does as much to mummify it as having the music writers come through and define it.
— E
p.s. I’m surprised that you can enjoy the tribal aspects of Bhangra and also tie it to Sikhism, even thought tribalism and Sikhism don’t go together.
p.p.s. I’m afraid I’m with Mr.C on this one – when “Putt Jattan Dhe” comes on, I start watching out for fights. I’m not as young as I used to be – back then I tried to break up fights once or twice, now I’ll just leave. To you that might not be the “real” meaning of the song, but if that’s how most of the listeners react, who are we to tell them that they’re wrong or inauthentic?
Sorry about the number of typos above. Sheesh.
PB – yes, Mr.C is actually with Ms.C, and not some random person using the handle. They’re one of those desi hipster couples 😉
Oh wow! How exciting! I want to be a desi hipster couple!
They are so cool!
I wish I was their friend and go to art shows and stuff with them.
We could stare at modern art together and pretend to understand it.
Are there any other desi hispter couples about?
Who wants to form a hipster couple with me? No brown breads and cabbage types please – only hipster girls need apply.
hey, hey..who’re you calling hipster!? The day I wear A ‘von dutch’ logo and a trucker hat…pls shoot me. Wait..does this make a HIP AUNTY though?! How exciting!! I’ll listen to how much you love your gora girlfriend, and sneak booze to the teenagers, and lend you my smokes 😉
I’d love to go to art shows with you Punjabi Boy. But I only go for the cheap wine and cheeses, you know. I’m constantly half-starving, so free food is a huge draw. I’ve even been known to tip a tray or two into my purse.
Mr.C isn’t allowed to come with cuz I’m afraid he’ll close one nostril and hawk a booger out the other (he’s old school) straight at the art.
Mr. C, you sound very tapped into the music scene.. are you a full-time producer/musician by any chance? Just curious — I am a producer myself, though my knowledge of bhangra is pretty minimal so this discussion has been enlightening.
PB, you should look up Salman and Padma, they might fit the ‘desi hipster couple’ bill for you, and they could whip up a nice dinner for you with no cabbage or brown bread. 🙂
hear! hear! i don’t know/understand bhangra myself, and i’ve been learning tons from this convo.
i too want to give massive props to mr.c. the two of you truly have excellent taste in each other. big up!
peace
They do sound like a desi hipster couple indeedy. Now in response to your plea PB, I’d like to put myself and the missus forward as a desi hipster couple. We’re so hip we can’t see over our pelvises. Nah who am I kidding, she’s the cool one, I’m a geek! But a COOL geek.
PB you are of course very welcome to come along on any of our east London gallery jaunts, drum and bass squat parties or cheesy C-list Asian celeb soirées, but I don’t actually know what part of the country you’re from. You know what’s funny, I literally just got an email from a poet/rapper friend who said he’s tired of the same old liggers – I know what that means now thanks to you!
Cica:
You’re not a hip aunty, you’re a thieving aunty! Ah I think you’d be a cool aunty in all honesty. Now gi’ssa ciggie.
timepass, tell me more about aishanimusic, I can’t find all that much from your site(s), but you seem like you’re up my street. Where are you? What stuff do you do?
BB (part time crappy producer)