Shaanti returns to Cargo: Sat 12 June

2009-09-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY AT CARGO, LONDON?

Shaanti launches “Champion Sounds,” Artists Showcase at Cargo, London.

The award wining Shaanti has created Champion Sound's, and artists showcase celebrating eastern, Asian and western electronic music. Champion Sound's is a heavier and more serious outlook to music and we’re inviting artists to showcase at the most important music gathering celebrating multi-cultural UK sounds.

The aim of Champion Sound's, artists showcase is to foster and develop, support and champion a vibrant, dynamic music industry and to provide a world-wide showcase for the amazing talent in the Asian and Western electronic music scene.

The award winning Shaanti has been bringing performances to the music arena for over 10 years. With respect to our growing, local, artistic community, Champion Sound's offers this open performance forum the opportunity for both newly-established artists, and those that were outside the musical style of the fusion or electronic music industry.

The concept of Champion Sound's is too sound-clash many creative musical forms and genres into one showcase night. It’s about promoting new music on a mainstream level; it also a chance to showcase and promote exclusive DJ and live performances from artists from the Eastern breaks, drum and bass, Bhangra, dub-step, Asian fusion community together with an eclectic, intimate backdrop of raw undiluted live talent.

Champion Sound's artists showcase is all about the music first; it’s also a place where artists and new talent can network, showcase and jam with like-minded people who love music. In many ways it what Shaanti used to be like when it first launched back in 1999.

To put it in a nutshell the night is about Championing future New Sounds of the new electronic Asian generation.

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Shaanti presents Champion Sound's, Artists Showcase, Cargo, London as part of Shaanti's 11th Years Celebration in the Music Industry. Date to be Announced.

GET INVOLVED! LONDON & BIRMINGHAM APPLICANTS:
We are currently accepting applications for bands, solo performers and dance groups for consideration for Shaanti presents Champion Sounds, Artists Showcase Night.

Performers will range in diverse musical styles from Hip Hop to R&B, to Break-Beat, Drum and Bass, Bhangra, Classical, Dub-Step and Eastern and Western breaks. We are also accepting applications from DJs, dance groups and spoken word artists.

To be considered as a performer please email sharnita@shaanti .co.uk along with a links to any music or video, performances a photo, a bio. For further information contact 07968 366878 or 07968 260276.

DEADLINE: APRIL 18TH.

SHAANTI LAUNCHES 'SHAANTI 11'

2009-06-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

After many years of successful events with the likes of Nitin Sawhney, Talvin Singh, Asian Dub Foundation and many more, Shaanti shall be launching 'Shaanti 10' a small arts movement that shall continue the ethos, musical message and visual communication it was always respected for. In addition to the large warehouse parties it ran for several years, in comes some smaller, intimate and a more personal message to the advant musical listener. Shaanti shall produce small live intimate shows with local and established artists, not from a commercial point of view, but more for a socially conscious and mature audience that will revel in the cross genre defying sounds it was always known for. Welcome to Shaanti 11

SHAANTI AT BIG CHILL FESTIVAL

2009-06-22T14:25:00.001-07:00

Shaanti will be playing the mighty 'Big Chill Festival' second time running. This years headliners will be Orbital, Bassment Jaxx & Loads more. www.bigchill.net

2009-06-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

Shaanti 10

2009-05-27T13:21:00.001-07:00

The Story So Far - Shaanti 1999

2009-05-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Shaanti is a small underground movement that represents a Club, Record Label, Radio Show, Arts Company and music consultancy.

In February 1999, in the backstreets of Birmingham, a club night exploded and SHAANTI was born. Spearheaded by Manga, Shaanti has developed from a small underground movement to a mainstream commotion and has grown into an innovative brand.

Within the last few years Shaanti has expanded and managed with significant success to rise above musical and cultural obstruction and most importantly of all, represented and championed the toughest sounds across the globe. This crew are for real! Whist other collectives have faded into oblivion with short lived success Shaanti have remained constantly strong. Their diary is forever busy as ever securing dates at top clubs such as; Cargo, Fabric, The Factory, 333 Club, Bridge and Tunnel, The Social, The Que Club, 52 Degrees North, Bonds Nightclub and many more.

Having been at the forefront of this club-explosion Shaanti have created and pioneered an unique culture: defying convention for hybrid Sounds. The biggest and best names in the business have played there, their award-winning musical policy has launched many careers and all those who haven’t played in any of Shaanti two rooms would do so at the drop of a 12”.

Past guests at Shaanti have included; Nitin Sawhney, Wiley, Asian Dub Foundation, Talvin Singh, Boy Better Know, Panjabi MC, State of Bengal, Joi Sound System, Rishi Rich Project, DJ Cameo, Badmarsh and Shri, UK Apache, Indian Rope Man, Bobby Friction, Nation Records, Magikstar, TJ Rehmi, Adam Regan - Leftfoot, Jay Stuart - Acid Jazz, Outcaste All Stars, Ben Ayres - Cornershop, Transglobal Underground, DMC Champaign -DJ Nasha, Medival Punditz, The Outernationists, Bhangra Knights, Future World Funk, Pressure Drop, Martin Morales from Outcaste Records, Afrika Bambaataa, Nightmares On Wax to name just a few.

In November 2001, Shaanti was approached by Radio 1 for a full live club broadcast. The collective rocked it at the legendary Que Club for ‘One Live in Birmingham.’

Having firmly locked down the club scene in the UK, in 2002 the crew travelled to Poland to set up the first monthly Asian breaks club-night in Eastern Europe. Every month Shaanti would host a 3-day club tour in Warsaw, Sopot and Liblin.

In 2003, Shaanti were approached again to host ‘One Live in Nottingham.’ Shaanti set the standard for not compromising Asian Underground sounds as they presented Fusion Breaks and Eastern Drum and Bass loud and direct across the airwaves first on Radio 1.

Following on from the success of the live broadcast, Manga was again approached by the station to help to put together an Asian show. He was asked to present a pilot for the network, which promoted and celebrated Asian Music. For added strength Manga convinced Radio 1 that a double-act would work, so he asked in his long-time friend and resident Shaanti DJ, Bobby Friction to join him.

The pilot had potential and Radio 1 verbally agreed that they were the new faces of Radio 1 that was until the last hour, as new presenter came on board. Sadly the team was spilt and Friction went on to secure the show alongside Nihal. Thanks to Manga and his introduction to Ian Parkinson, Friction’s career has since flourished from strength-to-strength. Manga however was asked to be involved as a guest presenter reporting on events and music news across the UK, to which he kindly declined.

In May 2003, in conjunction with dance label Ministry of Sound Manga released their first album ‘Urban Underground’. The album blasted it out to stir their creative juices whist experimenting and redefining their club sound. Urban Underground oozed Desi Urban cool and yet at the same time had a huge dance floor impact. As two dance leaders from both sides of the spectrum united as one saw the creation of one of the hottest albums of the year.

In October 2003, Shaanti won ‘Best Asian Underground/Fusion Act’ and Manga was also nominated for ‘Commitment to the Scene’ Award at the first UK Asian Music Awards and other awards in the past have included; Best Club Night at the Asian Pop Awards 2001, Best Alternative Club Night by Muzik Magazine 2001 and Best Club Night by the readers of Snoop Magazine 1999.

As time went on, so did the clubs nights and Manga felt the need to branch out and create a whole new vibe. In November 2003, he and fellow partner Sharnita K Athwal launched an exclusive new night called Funkshaan - a second night to join the club collective. The night was designed for true music enthusiasts who require a stylish ‘up for it’ clubbing experience with the highest quality of music from the biggest names in the business.

November also saw Manga join the weekend line-up on Galaxy when the show Urban Fusion was first launched. He presented the show every fortnight back to back with RDB but from October 2004, he went weekly with his very own show. With the rise of Asian music into mainstream arena, it’s just another wicked step to witness stations like the Galaxy Network who programmed a slot to the award winning collective.

Manga said: “We’re thrilled to be the first Asian club night to be given our very own show in radio history. Shaanti have always been at the forefront of championing new ideas and sounds. We’re relentless in our pursuit to present the finest talent, an eclectic mix of sounds as well as presenting the baddest names from the universal underground desi dance scene every week to clubbers on their way home. For those who have yet to buy our beats or attended our club nights, this new show will let them see just what they’ve been missing out on!” The show ended in April 2008.

If that wasn’t enough the collective introduced another night to the scene dedicated to all things Bollywood and House. In September 2004, the first Desi-House night was launch and Disco Divas was formed!

Other nominations include: Best Underground Act at the UK Asian Music Awards 2005, and Best Asian Underground Act and Best Radio Show (Manga on Galaxy) at 2006, UK Asian Music Awards.

After running the club-night Shaanti and Funkshaan for a number of years and the recently launched Indo-Funk and Bindi-Beat Box, Manga and Co-Founder Sharnita K Athwal decided that they wanted a separate outlet for their alternative taste, and with their obsession and vision of dance music, gave them motivation to start a label in which to release the finest Asian and global music from around the world.

Launching the label with their first release, a compilation titled ‘Fused Rocking Beats Vol.1’ which concentrates on today’s thriving dance genre. Released on October 31st 2005 with 14 exclusive and unreleased tracks from a multitude of artists and producers. The album is intended to be a first part of a series which brings together a collection of the finest drum-n-bass, Eastern breaks, R&B, Hip-Hop, fusion house, Asian electro, fused-up bhangra and experimental global dance music.

In August 2006 – Shaanti Play Records announced a new partnership with Absolute via Universal Records.

Absolute will handle sales, marketing and distribution support for physical and digital releases on a global basis for Shaanti Play Records distributed via Universal. As part of the deal, the companies will take on board new compilations, new artists signed by the label and the existing Shaanti Play catalogue. Absolute clients past and present have included: Editors, Imogen Heap, All Around The World Records, Dannii Minogue, Hall & Oates, Heather Small, Paul Carrack, Marillion, Herbie Hancock, Raphael Saadiq, Polyphonic Spree, (distributed via Universal).

What Sharnita K Athwal and Manga has done with Shaanti Play Records is fuse culture, music and current trends into one innovative diverse-produced, exciting album,” said Mark Dowling, Label Manager of Absolute. “Absolute and Universal is going to help further develop the Shaanti brand by providing a powerful outlet for bringing their music to popular attention, around the world,” he said.

Prior to partnering with Absolute/Universal, Shaanti Play Records was distributed via various partners in physical formats regional and online via their website www.shaanti.co.uk. This deal will bring the label’s sales, marketing and distribution support for physical and digital releases, foreign licensing, compilation licensing, liaison with all industry bodies, E-commerce (downloads, ring-tones, mobile phones), under Absolute/Universal’s global roof, centralising these efforts around the world.

Sharnita K Athwal, Co-Founder of Shaanti Play Records says: “We can't think of a more natural partnership than this one with Absolute and Universal. “We are thrilled to be working with them. The deal represents yet another way to grow our audience by tapping into Absolute and Universal’s global network. It also enable us to scale our operations to match the anticipated growth of our label,” she said.

To launch the new partnership, Absolute will globally market and distribute a range of physical and digital Shaanti Play Records titles via Universal. Among the first release will be ‘Disco Warrior’ their first single followed by ‘Mighty Asian Beats.’ Manga, Co–Founder of Shaanti Play Records explains what to expect: ‘Disco Warrior’ and ‘Mighty Asian Beats ’ is our first single and compilation to be released internationally from Shaanti Play Records via Absolute and Universal. For Absolute, Universal and Shaanti Play Records ‘Mighty Asian Beats’ will document productions that will stand the test of time,” he adds.

The response was amazing, especially in the mainstream media. DJ Magazine: gave it 4/5 and said ‘this is the most exciting and vital cultural crossover since The Clash discovered reggae,’ while Songlines said ‘this is a trawl through the sounds of urban britain at night, and it is a mix of the sublime and brutal'. While other magazines like Hip Hop Connection said: '’the sounds of the continent aren't all bollywood cheddar, a theory proved by the Shaanti compilation. Its an interesting cross section of a broad scene deserving much more outside attention'. Plus Annie Nightingale the queen of breaks was the first person to play the track Disco Warrior on Radio 1.

In February 2008, Shaanti smashes it again and win’s another award at the UK Asian Music Awards. Held at the The Royal Festival Hall and hosted by West End star Priya Kalidas alongside B4U Music VJ Salil, attendees to the event were treated by performances by some of the UK’s finest Asian musical talent and also a few international artists.

Performances on the night included RnB sensation Jay Sean, Singer-songwriter Karen David, Lehmber Hussainpuri, Punjabi Hit Squad featuring Alyssia, girl VJ Salilgroup Serese, Sona Family, Bollywood producers Trickbaby, Jay Sean, Rishi Rich, Veronica, Mumzy, H Dhami and a very special desi drum and bass performance Shaanti as they presented The Kalyan, Spek from Invasion, Rock-iD on drums and our very own dancer Nano who flew in from Switzerland exclusively for the show.

Furthermore to his broadcasting skills Manga is also a sought after writer and is a regular contributor to a number of magazines that include; Notion Magazine, Klub Knowledge as well as regular TV appearances on lifestyle show that included BBC’s Award Winning Lifestyle Show Desi DNA. Manga was also the Musical Director for Anim8 (Music Mania), a music youth initiative designed by Sampad and Birmingham City Council and he also works with Apna Arts in Nottingham, Birmingham’s City Council, Midlands Art Centre, Boost Workshops, Gigbeth, Mega Mela at the NEC on music-based workshops and panel debates. While Sharnita continues to write for Night Times, past articles have been also featured in What’s On, Eastern Eye …and she was the Editor for the UKAMA’S magazine and Music Editor for Clickwalla.com.

Further adventures for Shaanti over the summer of 2008, will saw them host the Big Chill Festival on Sunday 3 August, featuring Nitin Sawhney, Asian Dub Foundation, and Manga. They rocked the first ever Club Tent by an Asian Club to over 7800 People!.

Shaanti will be celebrating 10 Years in 2009, there will many parties, showcases, exhibitions and events to coincide with this memorable occasion.