| For
those that don't know - sum up the importance of Birmingham
on the Bhangra scene and the explosion you caused..
|
 |
| Bally
Sagoo |
Birmingham
is central point for me. Growing up here
with a strong multicultural background got me the different styles
of music which I know about today.
Brum has also been the place where many of the best UK talent has
come from. Music from here is, and has been dominating the world.
| You've
come a long way from your 'Currywood Studios' - what inspired
you to create music? |
 |
| Bally
Sagoo |
Growing
up in school I always wanted to be a DJ. My inspirations of motown,
reggae and disco soon made me wanna make music.
My
bedroom was a studio - Currywood Studio! My mates used to hang out
in my room while I would show off my new mixes. Got better and better.
| Who's
the artist you've most enjoyed working with? |
Probably
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. But working with Amitabh Bachchan will be
something worth topping!
| As
the 'Godfather of Bhangra' where do you see the future of UK
Bhangra and asian beats in the UK charts? |
 |
| Bally
Sagoo |
It's
fab. Nice we are in mainstream again. I was there in '96 twice in
the UK top 40. Now it looks like we are getting more people into
our music.
The
mainstream will not take too much apna language so you may get more
stuff coming through with asian hooks like Truth Hurts but as for
full on songs...na!
| How's
the future looking for Bally Sagoo - what are you up to at the
moment? |
We
are busy on some new releases. We have an album 'Play the Game'
out in November and another 'Born to Nach' in December.
My
own album will be out in Feb which is hip hop/rnb. At the moment
I am still promoting my latest album Hanji' .....all over the world!
| Can
we expect to see your work in the UK charts again - are we gonna
see a desi track get to No1 in the UK charts? |
 |
| Bally
Sagoo |
Are
we gonna see a desi track at No1?.....Na I don't think, but who
knows. I am working on some exciting new projects and will let loose
the news soon as the product is done...hold tight!
Now
that I have been in the chart before it does not worry me too much.
My main goal is to push Ishq Records and the great artists I look
out for.
| Birmingham
was a bhangra hotbed - where's the new talent and who should
we be looking out for? |
 |
| Bally
Sagoo |
Birmingham
will always be a focal point for new stuff. Lots of new things are
happening.
I think
that our artist Rishi Rich is someone who has had the publicity
and limelight he so deserves as he is one of the finer producers
in the UK.
We
need more artists like him than the wanna bees the scene now is
so full of!
| Is
Birmingham still important to you musically - and are you proud
of your city? |
I
think by now anyone can tell, yeah Brum is important and we are
proud of....people from all over come here to record..must be something
here apart from the Balti houses!
| October
is Black History Month - how important are your roots to you? |
My
roots are everything to me. I think we now are more inspired than
ever before thanks to a lot of the younger people getting places.
Be
proud of where you are from but never forget where your own kind/culture
come from!
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