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Coming up for air

His compositions are often dubbed ambient, but the pioneer of Asian Underground music, Talvin Singh prefers to call it mood-evoking

Pioneer of new brand Talvin Singh

He is a DJ spinning electronic dance music records at nightclubs in London on the one hand and a Hindustani traditionalist playing the tabla on the other. He is the pioneer of a new brand of fusion that is famously known as Asian Underground — an innovative-derivative outcome of his two primary interests.

Talvin Singh believes that his music has a universal appeal. “The ingredients of my music may be territorial but the music itself isn’t,” he says. Talvin’s magnum opus Anokha - Soundz of the Asian Underground (1997) is still seen as a landmark release. His ‘tabla-tronics’ that drew exciting parallels between ‘drum-n-bass’ and Indian percussion, was not just a staple at desi clubs in the UK and US, but also a wild craze in the South Pacific regions, especially Australia and New Zealand. “When you live outside the country, somehow you feel more passionate about the country’s culture and do not take things for granted,” says Talvin who was born and brought up in Leytonstone, East London, but had a strong and traditional Indian lineage. His passion for Indian music was so profound that even after having been exposed to the London music scene in the 70s and early 80s, Talvin, at the age of 15, took his exams early so he could leave school for India to learn the tabla under Pandit Laxman Singh.

But on returning to the UK there was another problem. “There have been times in my life when I just wanted to play Indian classical music but that’s where my identity crisis kicked in,” says Talvin. “I didn’t feel it was really me.” “London, in the late 80s, was celebrating its diversity and was witness to an integration of musical cultures. There was an open air for music and art all through. So, I of course had to be a part of it.” It was thus that Talvin ventured into fusion.

Various artists soon began using Asian instrumentation to liven up their music. But it was Talvin’s efforts at the now-legendary Anokha club night, East London’s Blue Note 1996-97 that took his music to the world and ensured his global recognition. His solo album Ok also went on to win the Mercury Music Prize in 1999. Talvin also believes there is a similar problem haunting Indian Classical music. Having been closely associated with the Punjab gharana and other Hindusta ni traditions for many years now, he says that there is definitely more talent within than what is seen outside. As for his progressive fusion music that many still label as “ambient”, Talvin is certain it is more subjective than anything and does not like his music to be pigeonholed.

BHARADWAJ M.V.

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