Global IndianstoryMeet Atif Afzal, the Indian musician who composed for Marvel’s Loki

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Meet Atif Afzal, the Indian musician who composed for Marvel’s Loki

Written by: Global Indian

(September 25, 2021) If you are a Marvel fan, you couldn’t have possibly missed the climax of the much-anticipated series Loki. And what made the ending worthwhile was the music piece that heightened the anticipation. None of this could have been possible without Indian musician Atif Afzal’s keynotes that hit the right chord with the audience across the globe. The 36-year-old music composer made a smashing Hollywood debut with his track Adhaan Maghbiri in Loki, declaring his arrival with élan. Afzal, who is popular by the moniker Al-Zal, left his lucrative job to pursue his dream of making music.

Zal, who made his way from Bollywood to Hollywood, is an inspiring Global Indian.

Quit lucrative job to follow his dream

Born in Mumbai, Zal’s love for music began early in life. It was something that made him happy at every step of life, so at 11, he started learning to play the mouth organ and later on moved to other instruments like the piano and guitar. While Zal excelled in studies and even completed a degree in Engineering from KJ Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology, his childhood hobby of composing music evolved into a concrete passion by the time he hit the corporate world with a lucrative IT job in KPMG. After working for a few years, Zal quit his job to chase his dream of making music. “Everything was working out fine, however, deep within my heart, I knew that I was born to do music,” he told The Hype Magazine in an interview.

However, charting into a territory he had no godfather in, Zal had to figure out everything on his own. But he was prepared as he trained himself to play almost every instrument and every genre possible from across the world. This talent of his caught the fancy of a Bollywood producer and Zal was ready to compose for a Salman Khan film. However, his dreams of a big Bollywood break were shattered when the film was shelved. But Zal picked him up and continued making music that could get him a power-packed entry into filmdom. And this happened in 2013 when he composed the soundtrack of Prague, a Hindi thriller. The film went onto represent India at the Cannes Film Festival, and this was a turning point in Zal’s life. Seeing his work being recognized at the biggest film festival pushed him to dream on and work harder. His first break got him films like Pune 52 and Horn Please.

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Scouting for opportunities in the West

While Bollywood gave him the perfect landing for his musical dreams, Zal had his eyes on Hollywood. Each year he would visit the US twice to explore the overseas music market. On one such visit, Zal got the opportunity of a lifetime to have an interview with Hollywood’s renowned film composer Hans Zimmer. “I interviewed to assist Zimmer, though I couldn’t make it as I didn’t have a work permit at that time. That’s when the grind started which eventually led to me getting a permanent residency in the United States based on an extraordinary ability visa,” he added.

That zeal of working with Zimmer in the future made Zal network more in the US during his trips. From attending AFI Festival to making an appearance at Golden Globes screenings, Zal pulled every string to get in touch with the right people. It was in 2018 that Zal moved to the US and enrolled himself in New York University to study music. During the course, he didn’t leave any stone unturned to liaison with film creatives, producers and television networks. His efforts soon translated into fruitful results when America’s leading TV network CBS reached out to him for composing some music pieces for its action series NCIS: Los Angeles.

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The beginning of international inning

His first big break in American TV turned out to be a perfect opportunity in cementing his position as a composer to look out for. But the journey wasn’t without its share of struggles. “Leaving your country and people to chase your dream can never be easy. Every time I faced a challenge, I had to be innovative. In my early days, Hollywood studios wouldn’t even listen to any of my music, so I had to figure out ways to get them to hear my music, which gave me the confidence in my work that I offered variety and uniqueness to work on their films,” he told Zee Zest. NCIS: Los Angeles opened doors for this 36-year-old composer as he grabbed a chance to compose for yet another popular show The Twilight Zone.

The Marvel moment

But the jaw-dropping moment came when Marvel Studio approached him to prepare a music piece for Loki Series. Keeping in with the confidentiality of the project, Marvel only divulged a synopsis of the scene and Zal had to compose from this limited information. But Zal proved his mettle with the track Adhaan Maghbiri that took the climax to a crescendo. “To be a part of such a coveted studio and its project is a big feather in my cap and it does give a feeling of achievement in a rather surreal way. It is a part of my dream come true!” he told National Herald. Not many know but the stage for his big Hollywood debut was set back when he was studying in NYU where he met the creatives of Marvel for the first time to discuss about a collaboration. While the original project is still in the pipeline, Loki released in the meantime.

Now after making the world go crazy over his masterpiece, Zal has bagged his first Hollywood film with Netflix USA as he composed a soundtrack for Alicia Keys’ production Resort to Love. From IT job to Bollywood to Hollywood, Zal has come a long way and is making South Asians proud with each music piece.

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Published on 25, Sep 2021

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A Singaporean symphony: Alvin’s classical repertoire on a high tempo

(May 3, 2022) Growing up in Singapore, Alvin Seville Arumugam had to find a way to make it into the world of western classical music. Coming from a financially weak background, this Indian Tamilian had a lot to prove. The eminent Indian conductor in Singapore and the rare Indian to be selected for conducting at the Royal School of Music in London, Alvin is busy smashing the glass ceiling. “This speaks volumes about representation. The space is mostly filled with white men. Breaking the glass ceiling is tough. In western classical music, other popular Indian conductors are Zubin Mehta and Alpesh Chauhan. So as an artist, it's imperative to break through," Alvin tells Global Indian in an interview. [caption id="attachment_23947" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Alvin Seville Arumugam[/caption] Passion to career The Singapore-born and raised Tamilian has his roots in India. His grandfather moved from Tamil Nadu to Jaffna in Sri Lanka, but later shifted to Singapore to escape the civil war. Growing up, Alvin was surrounded by pop music of the 70s, 80s, and 90s during his childhood, courtesy, his mother. But it wasn't until his teens that he felt a connection with western classical music. “I was 12 when I

m Tamil Nadu to Jaffna in Sri Lanka, but later shifted to Singapore to escape the civil war. Growing up, Alvin was surrounded by pop music of the 70s, 80s, and 90s during his childhood, courtesy, his mother. But it wasn't until his teens that he felt a connection with western classical music. “I was 12 when I found that my school band was recruiting, and I decided to give it a try," reveals Alvin who started as a percussionist, and later excelled in wind and string instruments. While the love for music kept blossoming, Alvin knew that getting a stable job after graduation was his goal. “Coming from a broken family, I never saw my dad, he was estranged. My mom was always working. For Asian parents, doing well academically was everything. For my mom, it was either law or medicine,” adds Alvin who later joined Catholic Junior College where he formed the symphony band. “By then I had already performed with the Singapore Wind Symphony at the Sydney Opera House,” says the conductor who went on to join the Singapore Armed Forces Band as its concertmaster.

Though Alvin had his eyes on a law course at the National University Singapore, the sudden death of his mother kept him anchored to his passion. “Before she died, she let me off the hook and told me to follow my dreams. That’s how I continued playing with the armed forces band. They paid me a salary and also funded my diploma in music,” says Alvin. At just 21, he began conducting and getting offers from many schools. His bands were not only head-turners in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival but also clinched two gold with honours in the Junior College category in 2009.

Conductor | Alvin Seville Arumugam

Making western classical music accessible

In 2016, he shifted gears when he did his master's from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, NUS in orchestral conducting. "I'm truly indebted to my conductor lesson teachers Darrel Ang and Douglas Boseoek. They played a pivotal role in my journey," says Alvin who, the same year, formed the Musicians' Initiative, with like-minded musicians, that plugs the gap in the industry by giving opportunities to professionals and pre-professionals. “With bigger players like Singapore Symphony Orchestra, musicians who are not in the orchestra get to perform only three-four times a year. There is not much exposure. That’s where we come in and provide opportunities and provide mentorship,” adds the music director who reveals that MI has now become a non-profit.

"Classical music is quite traditional and rigid. The youth of today have no idea about it because it's not readily available and is seen as a high-society concept. But we need to make it accessible to the young,” says Alvin who believes there is a misconception that you need a certain social standing to appreciate it. "Since this form of art is dislodged from the public, through Musicians' Initiative, we want to bring it out to the public," adds Alvin who found his initiative ahead of the curve even during the pandemic. When the lockdown paralysed the world of art, they found ways to perform. "Innovation is at the core of Musicians Initiative. We believe in the bold representation of classical music," adds the conductor who performed at former diplomat Nirupama Rao’s South Asian Symphony Orchestra in 2019. “It’s an experiment to show that 80 people from across South Asia, who don't know each other, can create something beautiful in the name of peace,” says Alvin who calls Rao his life mentor. “Merely talking to her is an education in itself,” says the conductor who left his life in Singapore to pursue an international career.

Conductor | Alvin Seville Arumugam

Breaking the stereotypes

Currently in London to pursue his second master's in orchestral conducting at the Royal College of Music, he is one of the two students selected for a two-year course, and one of the the rare Indians in the college's history. But making a mid-life career change is “risky” especially since Alvin left the comfort of his Singaporean life. "I was doing exceptionally well. But I wanted to explore the music scene internationally, and I knew if I didn't do it now, I'd become a bitter musician who would always be thinking about what if I had taken that chance. Growth is paramount in any art,” says Alvin who calls the expenses of studying classical music one of the biggest challenges. "Coming from a middle-class Tamilian family in Singapore, it's not easy to pay for such expenses," he adds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340KjZkIzgU

His biggest advice is to “release self-doubt – it’s your biggest enemy. Instead, take a leap of faith,” adding “there will be highs and lows. Keep ploughing through. Don’t ever look behind.” The conductor loves cycling and hiking as nature “heals” him. In 2019, he visited India for the first time and completely “loved the chaos.” Set to return this July for another concert with the South Asian Symphony Orchestra in Chennai, he will enthrall all, for sure. "It's this passion and love for music that keeps me going," concludes the conductor.

Follow Alvin Seville Arumugam on Linkedin

Reading Time: 6 min

Ricky Kej, the musician with an activist heart

(November 17, 2021) From the Grammy-winning album Winds of Samsara to My Earth Songs and most recently Divine Tides, composer, musician and humanitarian conservationist Ricky Kej has the propensity to dig deep into ragas and their effervescence. Composing strains that not just stand the tests of time, but also alleviate the angst that humans wreak on nature, Ricky is an activist at heart. If he defines his life on two cornerstones - music and conservation, it is because many of his signature albums have an intrinsic bond with nature. The dentist who turned inwards conjuring up soulful music from ordinary notes has been on a journey of awakenings, be it with music, or through it, to raise environmental consciousness. A degree in dental surgery lies gathering dust, yet Ricky feels that his career was never a transition. "I have always been a musician. From a young age, I wanted music as my hobby, profession, career, bread and butter. I did a degree in dental surgery only because of my parents. I had made a deal with my father that once I completed a dental degree, my life was my own. The minute I got my degree, I handed it over

ee, I handed it over to my parents and became a full-time musician. I did not practice dentistry even for a day,” smiles the idealist believer who might just inspire a world of somewhat clueless folk who want to follow their hearts.

[caption id="attachment_15927" align="aligncenter" width="739"] Ricky Kej[/caption]

His recent album Divine Tides saw Kej associate with Stewart Copeland, founder and drummer of the Police fame. Now, he is working on a follow-up to his 2015 Grammy-winning Winds of Samsara (for which he worked with South African Wouter Kellerman). Back then, both Kej and Kellerman were huge fans of each other, and wanted to work together. A tryst of destiny brought them together.

"It was around 2012 when I met flute player Wouter Kellerman. We met in Los Angeles, and I mentioned that I had just composed a piece of music based on the ideals of peace by Mahatma Gandhi, my father of the nation. It was a huge coincidence that Wouter was working on a piece of music inspired by Nelson Mandela, his father of the nation. Through our discussions, we realised that there was a lot of cross-pollination - Mahatma Gandhi spent his formative years in South Africa, so had a South African-ness while Mandela was heavily inspired by Gandhi so had an Indian-ness. Wouter started to add South African-ness to my music, I started to add Indian-ness to his music. We became the best of friends, travelled the globe and in two-and-a-half years, we had Winds of Samsara (my 16th album!), and it went to the top of the US Billboard charts, and we won the Grammy Award for it," Ricky recalls. For the musician who has won over 100 music awards across 20 countries, the Grammy Award is most cherished as awards are for a greater good, not just for mere vanity, he says.

[caption id="attachment_15928" align="aligncenter" width="518"] Ricky Kej with his Grammy Award[/caption]

The pandemic was the perfect opportunity to kick back in his studio and kickstart Divine Tides with Copeland. "I was thrilled when he said yes. I have always relied on technology for my recordings, and Stewart too is high on technology, and has one of the most amazing home studios. That helped us record seamlessly. We did our portions individually, and it all came together superbly. We are thrilled to have created an album that celebrates life, creates a wave of much-needed positivity,” adds the Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_15925" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Divine Tides by Ricky Kej and Stewart Copeland[/caption]

For a star who idolised Copeland, working with him was like attending "the best masterclass imaginable!" Kej says, "Stewart is not just the founder and drummer of one of the biggest selling bands in history 'The Police', he also regularly composes for operas, orchestras, and for over 50 Hollywood movies. He is constantly evolving and learning by exploring new sounds, traditional instruments, and rhythms," which formed an intrinsic bond with Ricky, as his pattern is similar. The songs imbue strong Indian roots with a fusion of the west as the album celebrates the magnificence of the natural world, and the resilience of our species.

It's easy to picture the wavy-haired lad with dark soulful eyes mesmerised by all forms of music as a child. Listening was more important than seeing, thus Ricky was hooked to his music system. “I would dissect songs, try and figure out instruments used, the musicians, and learn about different cultures and people," Kej reminisces. Music helped him fall in love with nature, and become its custodian. This deep connection can be felt in the gentle stirrings on Winds of Samsara or the unique sounds of Divine Tides.

[caption id="attachment_15929" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Ricky Kej performing at a live concert.[/caption]

Kej's music features in the 2019 documentary Wild Karnataka narrated by Sir David Attenborough which won two awards at the 67th National Film Awards 2021. The US-born, Bangalore-raised Ricky identifies with Karnataka, and Bangalore which became home at age eight when he left North Carolina. Scoring music showcasing the state's ecological diversity with Sir Attenborough's impeccable narration was of course, "an absolute no-brainer" for Kej.

"Music and conservation are the two pillars that define my life. Wild Karnataka brings out the inner child as you watch every stunning frame with awe and wonder. It forces you to realise how amazing Mother Nature is. She has always been the primary source of inspiration for my music," adds Ricky who was honoured to share credits with Sir Attenborough. "Winning the awards furthered the cause of protecting and preserving Mother Nature," he says.

A humanitarian, Kej has always attempted to bridge the widening chasm between human foibles and nature's resilience. As ambassador for the United Nations' UNICEF, UNCCD, UNESCO -MGIEP, Kej works closely with WHO, Earth Day Network, etc. The deeply mindful composer gains an impetus to dedicate his life to conservation. "My music has addressed different aspects of environmental and social issues - climate action, human-animal conflict, sustainable farming, the refugee crisis, etc. I believe that only when people start to acknowledge an issue, start a dialogue to solve it, can a solution appear. I want to inspire this dialogue through music. Music has the power to retain a message deep in the consciousness of a listener,” says the United Nations Global Humanitarian Artist award winner who missed performing during Covid 19 but believes in the "top-down approach" where he performs to inform audiences to create stronger policies to tackle environmental and health issues with a "ground-up approach."

[caption id="attachment_15931" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Ricky Kej addressing the UN General Assembly in 2016.[/caption]

Climate change is the biggest existential crisis humans face, and he urges, "It is up to artists, especially musicians, to advocate for climate action." What concerns him greatly is how the pandemic has hit the entertainment industry. "Performing artists, production companies, event management companies, sound engineers, recording studios and everyone else involved is stuck in limbo in India. It is all about adapting to the times and surroundings as no matter what pandemic hits us, music will never leave our lives," says the Bengalurean who is among the 100 Real Leaders, who has performed multiple virtual concerts during Covid 19 (the last three were watched by an estimated 200 million viewers).

For Ricky's new project, he worked with author and close buddy Vikram Sampath - Women Of The Record which celebrates the brave women in the early 1900s who first adopted recording technology, and became superstars, but were forgotten in history.

[caption id="attachment_15932" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Ricky Kej performing for UNICEF India.[/caption]

Not many know that Kej's grandfather Janaki Das, who he was extremely close to, was an actor, Olympic cyclist, and freedom fighter. "Many remember him as the buffoonish villainous character actor always essaying evil roles. You will remember him as Seth Ghanshyam in the Rishi Kapoor-starrer Khel Khel Mein, or Seth Janki Lal in Karishma Kudrat Kaa or the ticket collector in the Burning Train. He was the only Indian participant in the International Olympic Squad from British Imperial Empire in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and in 1934 and 1942, he broke the world record for cycling. In 1942, he broke yet another world record but on finishing the race, he unfurled the Mother India flag which was gifted to him by Mahatma Gandhi (we were still ruled by the British). For this audacious act, he was disqualified. This was the first time an Indian flag was unfurled on foreign soil. He called it quits as a matter of protest for freedom from the British. He was the pioneer who formed the Indian Cycling Federation," Kej enthuses.

His grandfather died at the age of 93 in Mumbai in 2003. Ricky's wife Varsha is also a musician who has been a part of a few compositions and is a core part of his musicology.

[caption id="attachment_15933" align="aligncenter" width="830"] Ricky Kej[/caption]

Advice from the music maestro? "Talent may not always be under your control, but you can be the most hardworking person, like I am! Never use creativity as an excuse for laziness. Never make awards the end goal, be grateful when you earn them, and use them as a platform for doing bigger and better things," says the Bishop Cottons Boy’s High School student who never lacks inspiration as his muse is planet Earth.

Follow Ricky Kej on Instagram and Twitter

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Punjabi-Reggae Revolution: How a search for identity led to the birth of ‘British Bhangra’

(June 18, 2023) In the vibrant tapestry of British cultural history, an extraordinary phenomenon took root in the 1980s, spreading its melodious tendrils and captivating the hearts of British-South Asians grappling with the intricate web of identity in their newfound homeland. A harmonious fusion emerged as if to weave together the threads of their ancestral heritage and the pulsating rhythms of their adopted abode. Punjabi-Reggae Music, an enchanting symphony born from the union of two distinct worlds, emerged as a resplendent symbol of cultural representation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WjK9m_8gCU Bringing Bhangra to the UK As the children of the pioneers who ventured to the shores of the United Kingdom in the 1960s in search of work in London or Birmingham's metal foundries, Punjabis carried with them an intangible gift, a precious consolation in the face of uprooted lives. This gift was none other than their indigenous music, a beacon of solace and celebration that reminded them of their agricultural lands in Punjab, a place that came to life during the harvest festival of Baisakhi, with men performing Bhangra to the beats of the dhol. The migration of rustic music to the West was not just a way to reminisce the life back home

s not just a way to reminisce the life back home but also a symbol of cultural representation for the young South Asians trying to find their identity in a new land.

Around the same time, a surge in migration of Black African immigrants from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa gave way to the mingling of South Asians with them. The influence of Afro music - especially hip hop and reggae - on young South Asians gave birth to a new genre - Punjabi Reggae, thus forging an exhilarating path towards artistic redefinition. In the resounding fusion of Bhangra and the captivating cadences of reggae, an alchemical transformation occurred, breathing life into a cultural narrative long yearning to be heard.

Preserving Desi culture

The 1980s and 90s saw the arrival of Bhangra music in the UK, thanks to artists like Alaap, Heera, and Apache Indian who were fusing Punjabi folk music with hip hop. Bhangra music bands started spurting in the corners of the UK to preserve desi culture in Britain, and among them a Southall band Alaap was the forerunner of this new genre. Singer Channi Singh's voice mixed Western beats and Punjabi lyrics made for a deadly combination, resulting in Alaap's huge success in the 80s.

[caption id="attachment_40162" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Bhangra band Alaap[/caption]

The emergence of Daytime Discos

But with conservative parents at home, going to nightclubs and discos wasn't an option for the young British Indians. This void gave birth to the concept of Daytime Discos, a cultural phenomenon that was a hit among the youth as they enjoyed dancing to music and made it home in time for evening tea. Hundreds of teenagers skipped schools and colleges to hear their favourite bands and DJs play at Daydiscos, and Bradford became the epicentre of the underground scene. Rani Kaur, who was popular as DJ Radical Sista in those days, told BBC, "At the time there was very little in terms of Asian cultural stuff in the mainstream, we would get the odd programme on TV but it was more geared to the older generation. There was a gap and there was a thirst for something to fill it, so daytimers just rocketed. It was about creating a new identity for Asians in the UK that had not existed before."

[caption id="attachment_40158" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Punjabi British Bhangra | Global Indian DJ Radical Sista played at many Daytime discos in Bradford in the 80s. (Photo: Tim Smith)[/caption]

While one could still get hold of the Bollywood records but finding a Bhangra record was a tough cookie to crack. So South Asians across Bradford came together to celebrate their culture and identity in the UK. Despite its success, the phenomenon was short-lived and lasted for about five-six years.

An identity shift

In the early 1990s, a group of young British Indians grappling with their identity confronted a unique solution within the confines of their garages: blending music. Caught between their British upbringing and their Indian heritage, these individuals pioneered a new sound known as British Bhangra music, which served as a bridge connecting both cultures. This musical fusion not only became a creative outlet but also played a pivotal role in shaping a bicultural identity. One man in the middle of this new phenomenon was Baljit Singh Sagoo aka Bally Sagoo, whose 1991 compilation Star Crazy put bhangra on the global music map. Fusing traditional Punjabi folk songs with reggae music is what made Laung Gwacha an instant hit. "This particular track (Laung Gwacha, feat. Rama & Cheshire Cat) was a Punjabi reggae song, it was an experiment, where the Asian kids went crazy and everybody thought we need some stuff like this.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgLI7ginjPM&list=PLgOfaFz80L2ZdQYEyQ1ZIm-FhyfElgKCt&index=5

Growing up in Birmingham, Sagoo was heavily influenced by the vibrant black music scene that surrounded him, encompassing genres such as hip-hop, soul, and reggae. This diverse musical environment left an indelible mark on his compositions. During this time, young British Indians discovered a newfound sense of identity through the emergence of Punjabi reggae music. Another notable figure making waves in the music industry with his fusion of Punjabi reggae was songwriter-singer and DJ Steven Kapoor, known as Apache Indian. Songs like Chock There and Boom Shack A Lak became anthems for the MTV generation, blending reggae with bhangra. "When I first went into the studio, I didn’t want it to be just reggae, so we put a bit of the Punjabi rhythm in there - the first-time bhangra was being fused musically, just like our lifestyles," Apache told the Guardian.

[caption id="attachment_40160" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Apache Indian | Global Indian Steven Kapur aka Apache Indian[/caption]

The popularity of the genre gave way to new singers and artists who not only became popular in the UK but created a stir back in India too. As the British-Asian population expanded and diversified around the mid-90s, it was Bhangra that kept the communities together. "The eighties London sound was a bit more innovative, open to Hindi and other Asian music, whereas Birmingham was desi because the community was solid, Punjabi and Sikh. It had an authentic rawness whereas London’s was more poppy popular. Today, a lot more kids in London are sampling grime and hip hop and doing remixes of bhangra classics than in the Midlands," Bobby Friction told the daily.

British Bhangra music embarked on a remarkable journey that began in the 1970s when it first arrived on the shores of Britain. Initially, it catered primarily to the South Asian diaspora, but its infectious rhythms and captivating melodies soon resonated with a wider audience. By the 1980s and 1990s, British Bhangra had reached its pinnacle when it took the form of Punjabi Reggae, captivating both British and global music enthusiasts.

Bhangra Music | Global Indian

This unique genre not only provided a soundtrack for celebration and cultural expression but also became a lifeline for young British Indians searching for a sense of identity. It bridged the gap between their British upbringing and their Indian heritage, offering a harmonious blend of sounds that reflected their bicultural experiences. Its influence reverberated throughout the music industry, permeating genres and captivating listeners worldwide well into the 2000s. Its legacy continues to inspire and enrich the musical landscape, a testament to the power of cultural fusion and the universal language of music.

Reading Time: 5 min

Jay Sean: The British-Indian artiste completes 20 years in hip-hop music world

(April 16, 2024) Who can forget the peppy song Dance With You from the early 2000s? Then a 22-year-old, Jay Sean was among the few South Asian artistes who exploded on the music scene with a chartbuster that was set to change the course of his life. The song made the British-Indian artiste an overnight star, and as they say, the rest is history. Despite the changing time, he has kept himself relevant and the proof of it is that this year he completes 20 years in the music industry. "To be able to have 20 years in the music industry and have songs that have stuck as classics now, to me is always a blessing. The challenge is really just understanding how to evolve," he said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_50752" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Jay Sean[/caption] In the last two decades, the poster boy of the UK's Asian underground music scene has truly put Indian music and hip-hop on the global map. He was among the first few Indian artistes who opened the doors of South Asian music to the world, and is continuing to bring joy to music lovers across the world with his work. His latest song Heartless,

bal map. He was among the first few Indian artistes who opened the doors of South Asian music to the world, and is continuing to bring joy to music lovers across the world with his work.

His latest song Heartless, which was released a week ago, has already grabbed the attention of music lovers, and he knows his music works because he is being true to himself. "I understand what I have to offer to the industry, that if I write and deliver a song, it will always be a Jay Sean song. Regardless of how the production is changing, or even the melodies of the times are changing, it will still have my signature stamp on it," he added.

Growing up with music

Born as Kamaljit Singh Jhooti in London to Indian immigrant parents in a Punjabi Sikh family, Jay was raised in the Asian community of South Hall. From a young age, he was drawn to music, leading him to form a hip-hop band Compulsive Disorder with his cousin at the age of 11. A young Jay attended Latymer Upper School in the morning and wrote songs in the evening. "I remember watching Yo! MTV Raps from a young age. And that put me into writing because I just wanted to write raps. I used to go and find instrumentals when I was around 13, and I would write my own rhymes and record my own mixtapes. Me and my crew were making mixtapes, writing original lyrics over other people's beats, and that's what really got me into writing," he had said.

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But for his parents, music wasn't a traditional occupation and they encouraged him to focus on his studies. Someone who excelled in academics, he won himself a scholarship at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry to train as a doctor only to drop out in 2003 to pursue a career in singing. To kick start his career in music, he chose Jay Sean as his stage name. "Jay comes from my last name Jhooti and my grandmother used to call me ‘Shaan’ which is where Sean comes from," he revealed.

The poster boy of the UK's Asian underground scene

Life took a beautiful turn when one of his tracks One Minute fell into the hands of producer Rishi Rich, thus giving birth to the Rishi Rich project in 2003 that had Sean, Juggy D and Rich as its prime members. The trio exploded on the UK's Asian Underground scene with Dance With You, a chartbuster that made it to Top 20 hit. Such was the mania that even Virgin Records couldn't miss the chance of signing a £1 million deal with this rising star. Under Relentless Records, Jay belted out his first solo outing Eyes On You. The peppy beats and his velvety voice cast its spell on music lovers across the globe, making the song a Top 10 hit among all the Indian artists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uztB31eUw

Global hip-hop icon

2004 came with the promise of Jay Sean being the next big thing. Each of his singles made the right noise in the music circle and soon he was hailed as the Asian sensation. His experimental and creative fusion of contemporary R&B and Indian music hit the right chord with music lovers across the globe. But his fallout with Virgin Records gave him time to self-reflect and use it to write songs. After a hiatus of almost two years, Sean returned with a bang with his second album My Own Way, which debuted at number six in the UK with its hit song Ride It smashing records. He soon found himself nominated at MOBO Award for Best UK Male and Best R&B/Soul among music heavyweights like Chris Brown, Estelle and Ne-Yo, which spoke volumes about him gaining popularity as a household sensation.

Champion of diversity

In 2008, Jay scripted history when he bagged a deal with Cash Money Records becoming the first South Asian singer and among few Indian artists to achieve the feat. The accomplishment opened an opportunity for the world to witness South Asian culture from close quarters. The deal bagged Jay his first collaboration with Lil Wayne, and the single became an instant hit zooming its way up the Billboard. This made him the first Asian British artiste to top the Hot 100 since Freddie Mercury of Queen in 1980.

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"Me getting to this point provides me the opportunity to show people what our culture is all about. Our community is just as or even more so musically inclined and now is our time to show the world that we are just like everybody else. The fact that my grandfather and my father had to hide their identity to assimilate into culture was unjust. They did not think that such barriers could be broken in their lifetime. I take it very seriously that I have one shot to make it – not just for myself, but my community," he said in an interview.

Smashing stereotypes

After winning three awards including Best Male, Best Urban Act and Best Album at the 2009 UK Asian Music Awards, he performed with Akon at the Grammy same year. Such was the craze around this British Asian sensation that he found himself on Number 35 in Billboard's Hot 100 Artists of the year. The year came to a stunning end for the artiste as he became the first South Asian to perform at the Madison Square Garden in New York. For the next few years, he belted out hits after hits with The Mistress, Do You Remember and All or Nothing. It was in 2015 that he reunited with Rishi Rich and Juggy D to restart the Rishi Rich project with their new single Freak.

In 2020, Jay resurfaced with a bang with Eyes on You 2 which reached No 1 on BBC Asian Chart. While his journey has had its shares of ups and downs, like any Asian, he too felt stereotyped in the initial years of his career. "I have experienced stereotypes and lack of equal opportunities. The reason being that certain people don’t look at you as an artist but take the whole package into mind and put you in a box. I experienced it a lot but I also took it upon myself to show people very early on in my career that there was no stopping me. When they would label me as a specific type of artiste, I would break out of that box and do something completely different every single time. It’s something I really love doing. Hopping onto different genres and expanding on what I can do as an artiste," he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idMkbS6LWA8

And now he is back with yet again foot tapping number Heartless, which coincides with his 20th year in the music industry. "I feel so blessed when I think about completing 20 years in this music industry. That is such a blessing because now everything is so disposable," he said.

Giving back

When he is not busy making music, he lends support to organisations and causes that resonate with him. For someone who was training to be a doctor in his graduation, medical field is closer to his heart. In 2004 and 2009, he supported the Aga Khan Foundation in the charity event Partnership Walk and Run by performing in Regent's Park. Around the same time, he performed at Justin Timberlake's charity concert to raise funds for the Shriners Hospital for Children, thus raising more than $9 million along with artistes like Taylor Swift and Alicia Key. In 2012, he joined Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, and recorded a song Here's Hope to create awareness.

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Operatic Oz-mosis: Indian-origin tenor Shanul Sharma’s aria mesmerises the world

(April 19, 2022) On the sets of Carmen at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Shanul Sharma gave his first audition for an opera. For someone with a decade-long experience in heavy metal and rock n roll, it was unusual to see him take the centre stage. But everything stopped the moment he stepped on stage. “I loved the spectacle. In no time, I forgot everything and sang like there was no tomorrow. That was a turning point for me,” Shanul says in an interview with Global Indian. In years to follow, he performed across Australia, Europe, and Russia, becoming one of the few Indian-origin tenor soloists to achieve the feat. Yet Bolshoi (Russia) holds pride of place. The winner of the 2017 Canto Lirico discipline and the Rossini International Award, Shanul is the first Indian-born Australian to perform as a principal artist in an Australian opera. [caption id="attachment_23456" align="aligncenter" width="506"] Shanul Sharma[/caption] A musical ear Born in Jabalpur to a civil engineer father and a homemaker mother, a young Shanul grew up listening to Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar in the backseat of the family Fiat. “My dad had a huge influence on me. He loved music but he never had

eight="606" /> Shanul Sharma[/caption]

A musical ear

Born in Jabalpur to a civil engineer father and a homemaker mother, a young Shanul grew up listening to Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar in the backseat of the family Fiat. “My dad had a huge influence on me. He loved music but he never had the outlet. I had a musical ear, and learnt everything by just listening. So when he saw my gift, he encouraged me to follow my passion,” says Shanul whose teenage years were dedicated to Michael Jackson. “I idolised him not only for his songs but also loved him as a performer. He was a complete package. I imitated him, and would try to sing as high as I could,” says the tenor for whom music was a way of expression. Slowly, he started taking baby steps into heavy metal and ended up performing at school events. “I was bullied a lot in school due to my high pitch - music became a way to feel normal. The more I sang, the more I was seen and appreciated. It gave me a sense of positive reinforcement,” adds Shanul who started composing music in school.

The Oz experience

It was in 2002 that he bought a one-way ticket to Australia to study IT engineering at Charles Strut University’s Wagga Wagga campus. Outside his class, he was the lead singer of the rock band Sobrusion and performed at various pubs and clubs. “I always wanted to be a singer, and we used to make Metallica covers,” says Shanul who found his biggest support in his dad, adding, “He used to say ‘IT engineers toh bante rahenge, singer bann (Can always become an IT engineer, become a singer first).’” For almost a decade, he played with the band, and transitioned from heavy metal to rock n roll.

India-origin tenor | Shanul Sharma

Everything changed when he came across the song Nessun Dorma by Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti on YouTube and immediately fell in love with opera. “Those two-and-half minutes was nothing but unadulterated vocal music. I had never heard something like this. That was the power of his singing. That’s when I knew I wanted to sing like that,” reveals the tenor who started training in western classical music after his band broke up in 2013. “Since I had a high pitch, I started training with an Italian teacher. It was a seamless transition vocally,” adds the 30-something who calls himself “restless” and loves to experiment. But he had to learn the “stagecraft” as working in opera was very different from heavy metal. “In metal, you write your music but opera is more traditional. You are working with an ensemble of 60-70 musicians. Here you have to fit into the grand scheme of things and make everything believable,” explains Shanul who believes his experience with rock n roll helped him bring something unique to the table.

The next year, he made his debut audition at the Arts Centre Melbourne on the sets of Carmen after an artist pulled out last minute. “I was hesitant initially thinking I wasn’t fully prepared. But then I pulled myself up and went for it. Something took over me onstage, and I forgot everything else,” smiles Sharma who got the role, and took only two days to prepare. “Lyndon Terracini, the artistic director of Opera Australia, was impressed and in two days, I was already on the road performing. I enjoyed every bit of it,” adds the young artist.

Indian-origin tenor | Shanul Sharma

Making moves internationally

A year later, he made his operatic debut with Opera Australia as Don Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola for the Victorian School’s Tour. In 2015, he was accepted into the Wales International Academy of Voice in Cardiff, one of the most prestigious singing academies in the world for his MA in advanced vocal studies. “I raised 53,000 AUD through crowdfunding for the course,” reveals the Indian-origin tenor who soon appeared as Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale for Teatro Martinetti in Italy.

Being an Indian and performing opera in a myriad languages, Shanul had to “look, speak and feel” the part. “Whenever I am performing anywhere, the first thing I do is visit their art museum. It gives me an insight into what they find valuable. It helps me gain a sense of expression,” says the tenor. Having performed across Europe, it’s his performance at the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia in 2019 that he holds closest to his heart. “It’s not just the biggest theatre physically but also acoustically interesting. The sounds are beautiful and at the same time loud,” explains Shanul.

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Shanul found his greatest support system in his parents, both of whom are no more. “My dad never watched any of my performances as he died in 2012. But my mom did watch me perform in Melbourne in 2019, and it was a beautiful moment. During the live performance, I saw my mom waving at me enthusiastically. I tried hard to not get distracted,” laughs Shanul.

The past two years have been trying times for the artiste. “During the lockdown, 15 of my productions were cancelled. We are slowly getting back. However, a lot is still uncertain,” says Shanul who is hopeful of things getting better in 2023. “I am preparing for a handful of productions,” says the tenor who loves watching Bollywood films like Dangal, “I can relate to the life of a sportsperson because it is a lot like that of an artiste,” concludes Shanul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjLzIR5e2Y0

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