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`As Rishi Rich Project we come together solid'
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Rishi Rich and Veronica chat up on the new wave of Asian music in the West
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MUSICAL MUSINGS Veronica and Rishi Rich check out their act Photo: K. Ramesh Babu
He is the Harrow-based producer who has been elementary in bringing Asian `flava' to the UK hip-hop and R`n'B circuit. Today he is better known for his Rishi Rich Project. Remember the peppy title track of Hum Tum? Well. He's the guy behind it. Rishi Rich has come a long way since he released his debut album Bombay Jungle. Udit Narayan and Kavita Krishnamurti, Bally Sagoo, Mary J Blige, Ricky Martin, Fallacy and Mis-teeq are some of the artistes he has worked in this part of the world, as also UK's numero uno underground hip hop artistes. The street talk is that Rishi Rich has just started.
She is the voice of the UK Urban Underground with her brand of east and West fusion. Her debut single Show me love rocked clubs in 2001 apart from reaching pole position in almost every chart--Smash Hits, Blues and Soul apart from bagging Best R `n' B record ever by an artiste of Asian origin. The diva also has MTV's The Lick and The Vibe on BBC Asian Network and covers of lifestyle and hip hop glossies to her credit. A lead vocalist for the band Sister India, Veronica is the other artist to feature on Rishi Rich's Hum Tum number and also the Rishi Rich Project, VR1 and other collaborations with the producer.
In town for the Brit Masala, the team takes a day off before the gig on the breezy lawns and pool side at Taj Residency and the idea of a chat seems just swell. Rishi Rich decides to get on to the hot seat. While Veronica takes her `interviewer' job sportingly and begins with a few warm up questions before she quizzes him on his music, influences and the Hyderabadi experience. Syeda Farida records the chirpy conversation.
Veronica: Hello.
Rishi Rich: Ya (in a typically street style).
Veronica: How are you.
Rishi: Fine.
Veronica: What did you have for breakfast?
Rishi: Nothing.
Veronica: If you were to eat what would you eat?
Rishi: Someone (very straight faced).
Veronica: (laughs) What are you doing here?
Rishi: Performing. On my keyboard. With you, Juggy, Bombay Rockers and Jay Sean.
Veronica: Are you nervous?
Rishi: Not feeling well.
Veronica: What happened?
Rishi: It's the brandy really (laughs).
Veronica: I heard they have a curfew here. That you cannot play after 10 p.m.? How do you feel about that?
Rishi: That's good. I think between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. is when you get good listening crowd. After 12 it gets too late.
Veronica: Are you planning to see Hyderabad after that?
Rishi: Ya.
Veronica: What is on the top of your list?
Rishi: Sleep.
Veronica: (laughs) Why?
Rishi: I am tired. I have been working on Jay Sean's album and on my own album as well. I generally use my time to rest and catch up on my reading when touring.
Veronica: Does travelling give inspiration for your music? If so. In what way?
Rishi: Every culture and location has an influence on the music you make.
Veronica: Actually you are right. It holds so true for us who are born and raised in the UK. As we make music that is a mix of east and West.
Rishi: Yup. Mixing western music scores with bhangra and now adding the Bollywood flavour to it.
Veronica: I think that's how we got together. How did we meet really?
Rishi: We met up when we were working with Kumar Sanu in 1994.
Veronica: Nope 1996
Rishi: Yeah... 1996
Veronica: And we have been together since then. It's been ten years. We have worked on soundtrack Hum Tum, U & I, the number that was produced by you and then the Rishi Rich Project.
Rishi: That's the best part about it. You, Juggy D, Jay Sean and Bombay Rockers. All of us have our individual work and the same time we come together solid as Rishi Rich Project.
Veronica: Talking about the Rishi Rich Project, how did you meet Juggy D?
Rishi: I was doing my album Simply Rich. I came to know him through a friend. He came in for Nahin jeenah that went on to rule UK Top Ten. I started to work on remixes of Britney Spears and Craig David. I got Juggy to do the bhangra part.
Veronica: And how did you come across Jay Sean?
Rishi: I was working on my Rishi Rich Project debut. I got Juggy and Jay Sean together. Dance with me was a runaway hit. And I think starting the VR1 with you has been amazing.
Veronica: Oh yeah the R`n'B project has got rave reviews and a major influence on Asian music culture. The albums that were sold out and the gigs not forgetting collaborations with artistes like Apache Indian. It's going to be the same vibe at the gig here.
Rishi: Yup. A lot of energy. I am looking forward to it. (looking tired and sipping coffee to beat an onset of cold).
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