JOIN USUK-based band swears by Bhangra, regional beats
Famed for its track Desi Rock featured in the Bollywood film Corporate, Swami, a pop electronic music band from the UK is of the opinion that Indian regional genres can blend well with electronic dance music (EDM).
“I think there are many exciting regional sounds and genres all over India that can blend well with EDM and electronic music,” says DJ Swami, who heads the band.
After the success of their previous album, the UK-based band have launched their song titled Do It Again in India which features in their new album Upgrade.
“It is launching at the same time in the UK. It is a futuristic electro-pop mix of EDM, Bhangra and Bollywood. The reaction we have got so far from our promo video online has been amazing. So many people from all over the world are loving the new Swami sound,” says DJ Swami.
This four member group comprising S-Endz, DJ Swami, Liana and Sur have been featured in the music scene overseas in television shows and football matches such as New York Minute, EA Games FIFA Soccer 2006, Raspberry Magic, Mischief Night, Made in Birmingham: Reggae Punk Bhangra and Corporate.
“Mixing EDM and Bhangra has always been a defining trademark of the Swami sound. Bhangra has a very strong rhythmic energy to it which carries well with the pulsating beats of EDM. They both make you want to move your body,” S-Endz says.
Pointing out that Indian audiences are ready for EDM Swami says the group intends to go on a music tour in the country over the coming months including Delhi, Punjab and Mumbai to start with.
“I think the timing is right now for us as Swami to bring our electropop hybrid sound to India. The audience in India is so progressive and has changed so much in the past five years. Once we have completed mixes for the release of our new single and video Do It Again and our album Upgrade we will be super-hyped to be out performing live," says Swami, told PTI.
Encouraging young artistes in the country to try out various regional genres with EDM, the band says it feels that good songs need to be made for good dance music to emerge in the country.
“I have always been excited by Gujarati dandiya rhythms for instance. I also like the energy of Tamil Nadu music. There are no rules to what can be experimented with in music. My one advice to any Indian artiste would be to focus on making great songs not beats,” says Swami.
Working on music for a new Bollywood biopic, the four member band had spent some time with Bollywood actor Salman Khan in Mumbai playing to him the new album and the song.
“From all the new festivals appearing like NH7, to the new era of Bollywood movies with directors like Farhan Akhtar there is room to absorb all these exciting new electronic and pop sounds into our diverse and rich culture. There is an upcoming biopic that we also involved in for Bollywood but I can't tell you who it is about. Or do you want to guess?,” says the DJ.
“Well all I can say is we spent some time with Salman Khan when in Mumbai recently playing him the new Swami release and he was really liking it. We are getting approached all the time as we have a unique sound that blends cinematically,” says Sur.