Contributing WriterTurbotito and Ragz have curated the 13-track compilation with a focus on an overlooked era of house and electronic music released between ’88 and ’94
Following critically acclaimed releases with the likes of disco-jazz legend Asha Puthli and Manchester’s Mr. Scruff, Naya Beat Records is back with a lovingly curated selection from a forgotten era of South Asian house, street soul and downtempo. Daytime disco pioneer, remixer and Poolside founding member Filip Nikolic, aka Turbotito, and acclaimed DJ and record collector Raghav Mani, aka Ragz, are behind the series, a reference release for contemporary collectors, tastemakers and bold selectors looking for fresh sounds. Research for it has been ongoing for the last four years as part of a passionate mission to uncover and champion overlooked but pioneering artists from the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora to bring them to the fore.
No stone has been left unturned to ensure this is an authoritative and authentic selection taken from endless hunts through dusty records, obscure cassettes and unreleased studio tapes. While Volume 1 explored early 80s Balearic, synth pop, and disco, Volume 2 uncovers lost or forgotten future dance classics. They come from a time when fertile cross-cultural collaboration abounded in diasporic communities in cities like London and New York when acid house, New Beat, and dub were infused with South Asian sounds.
Often “too Asian for mainstream success in the West, and too Western for success in Asia,” the pioneering music from this time was frequently released to short-lived success or relative obscurity. But now, these unsung heroes get their deserving moment in the spotlight. There is a true wealth of sounds here, from the house meets Eurodance club banger ‘Bass Fire (On And On)’ featuring Asha Puthli to the 90s Balearic anthem ‘Calling’ by the late Sangeeta, which, remixed by Turbotito and Ragz was the lead single for the album. Bappi Lahiri lends some street soul, the organ-fuelled house romp by The Jets Orkhestra is pure joy, and Mantra’s eponymously titled cut is a hypnotic gem. This double album is truly a treasure trove of never-before-reissued and previously impossible-to-find holy grails.
As dance music now comes full circle with daytime Asian raves back in vogue and South Asian DJs a part of the mainstream and underground circuits, there has never been a better time to pay tribute to the pioneers and with such an authoritative compilation.
Naya Beat Records is focused on uncovering foundational dance and electronic sounds from the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora through reissues, remixes and compilations. Success came immediately with Naya Beat Volume 1, which was named Vinyl Factory’s number 1 reissue of 2021, and has been followed up with more fascinating releases such as a reissue of Pinky Ann Rihal’s 1985 Hindi New Wave album, the superb Bollywood compilation Awaaz Series 1, and a two-part remix project with disco-jazz legend Asha Puthli.
‘Naya Beat Volume 2: South Asian Dance And Electronic Music 1988-1994’ comes on Naya Beat Records both digitally and on vinyl on November 1st 2024.
Tracklist
A1. West India Company – My Shooting Star
A2. Bappi Lahiri – Rama Rama
A3. Sharlene Boodram – Chamkay & Chutney (Turbotito & Ragz Remix)
B1. Kuljit Bhamra – Dholdrums
B2. Mantra – Mantra
B3. Heera – Beat The Rhythm (Check It Out)
C1. Lady M – Kali Raat (Edit)
C2. Johnny Zee – Billo To Meri Aan
C3. Turbotito & Ragz ft Manjeet Kondal – Pyaar (Edit)
C4. Sangeeta – Calling (Turbotito & Ragz Remix)
D1. The Jets Orkhestra – X-290 (Turbotito & Ragz Remix)
D2. Fantasy Nite Club – O My Baby
D3. Deepak Khazanchi ft. Asha Puthli – Bass Fire (On And On) (Turbotito & Ragz Remix)
