Asian Lite News Archive

Category: MUSIC

  • Tale Of Left Hand Repertoire

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    French classical pianist Maxime Zecchini, who is among the handful of musicians all over the globe to practise the ‘left-hand repertoire’ and play works with just five fingers, as opposed to both the hands, says that it is a delight to share this music with his audience. “I had discovered this repertoire 20 years ago…

  • Indians Rekindle Love For Music

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    Stay-at-home mandates have had people filling their extra time with hobbies, interests and learning. With music being a popular go-to, across all age groups, Indians seemed to rekindle their love for learning and playing music, especially musical instruments. As consumers stayed indoors maintaining social distancing and focused on meeting their essential needs, e-commerce site Flipkart…

  • How Ravi Shankar turned Brazilian into sitarist

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       It was her parents’ love for sitar exponent Pandit Ravi Shankar that introduced Paola Carraro to Indian art and music far away in Brazil Writes Debaprio D Choudhury in Asian Lite, Britains leading Asian Newspaper. Carraro, who started learning sitar from Ravi Shankar’s disciple Alberto Marsicano, says India was the biggest inspiration in her…

  • Glastonbury 2015 to open on June 28

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    Stage is set for the UK’s biggest week in the music festival calendar where thousands and thousands of people turn up at Worthy Farm in Somerset…reports Asian Lite. The 2015 edition of the Glastonbury Festival starts on Wednesday June 24 and runs through until Sunday 28 June with some of the biggest stars in the world performing,…

  • Pt Ajoy Chakrabarty enthrals Mancunians

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    Padmasree Pandit Ajay Chakraborty one of the greatest male Indian classical voices of the 20- 21st Century regaled his audience at a soirée at the FUSE Roc Centre recently held in  Manchester ….reports Asian Lite News. The concert was organised by Nrityakunj, a dance & art organisation from Manchester, who once again produced a thoroughly…

  • Pankaj Udhas returns to rock UK

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    Singer and song writer Pankaj Udhas will perform in UK in a series of concerts to be held in September…reports Asian Lite popular newspaper among British Asians. Gazhal maestro Udhas will perform in Leicester on September 17, followed by London concert on September 18 and concludes his tour on Manchester on September 19. The organisers…

  • Leicester to host Bands in the Parks 2015

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    MUSIC will fill the air at Leicester city parks this Summer, beginning Sunday June 14 as part of a popular annual event… reports Asian Lite,  popular newspaper among British Asians. Bands in the Parks, which is now in it’s 19th year, sees local brass bands take turns to perform traditional music along with some modern…

  • Carnatic Choir to unite communities

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    The British Carnatic Choir, a unique concept based on classical Indian music, is aimed at uniting diverse communities through music, will be officially launched on Friday (June 12)…reports Asian Lite News The concept is the brainchild of Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan, Artistic Director of Shruthi UK, a not-for-profit Midlands-based arts & culture organisation. The launch event, which will take…

  • ‘ I Bow To You Waheguru’

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    Multi-talented singer-songwriter Manika Kaur returns with her second album – I Bow to You Waheguru. The album features contributions from  Talvin Singh as well as several notable Western and Indian classical performers including Rakesh Chaurasia on bansuri/flute, Jyotsna Srikanth’s sinuous violin and Bernhard Schimpelsberger’s percussion…reports Asian Lite News Multi-talented singer-songwriter Manika Kaur returns with her second…

  • Summer Solstice festival returns to Leeds

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    South Asian Arts-uk (SAA-uk) will host an unique Indian dance event at the fourth annual, SAA-uk Summer Solstice festival, which will be returning to Leeds on Saturday 20th June, reports Asian Lite , leading newspaper in UK among British Asians.    The all night long performance will bring together critically acclaimed Indian artists in a…

  • After ‘I lied,’ ‘I want to Dream’: Serena

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      A lawyer turned singer-songwriter Serena Kern who is of Swiss-Indian descent who is currently an associate at Slaughter and May in London will be releasing her new EP ‘Dream’ at the end of the month. This brand new EP is set to follow last year’s three track treat ‘I Lied.’ The 4 track EP…

  • British acts account 13.7% albums sold worldwide

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    One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay helped UK artists account for more than one in seven of the albums sold globally during 2014, the BPI has said. With 13.7% of worldwide sales, it’s the highest British share since the BPI began recording those figures in 2000. Sales of albums by British artists rose in Canada,…

  • Sam Smith equals The Beatles’ record

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    English singer Sam Smith has achieved a chart feat only previously managed by rock legends The Beatles. According to Official Charts Company, the 23-year-old singer’s debut record “In The Lonely Hour” became the only album after The Beatles’ groundbreaking debut “Please Please Me” to log an astonishing 50 weeks in the top five. “Seeing this…

  • Taylor Swift house hunting in Britain

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    Singer Taylor Swift reportedly wants to buy a nine million pounds home in Berkshire, south-east England. The 25-year-old is said to be keen to snap up a property in the rural area and has her eye on one “stunning” property featuring a gym, spa, music room and cinema, 35 miles west of London, reports mirror.co.uk.…

  • B.B. King was poisoned, daughters claim

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    Legendary blues guitarist B.B. King, who died aged 89, was poisoned, according to two of the music great’s heirs. King’s daughters, Patty King and Karen Williams, made the accusations in separate, but identically worded affidavits filed over the weekend, reports CNN. “I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances to…

  • Loveleena to sing today at Nehru Centre   

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    Renowned vocalist Loveleena Kumar who will be accompanied by Ustad Kiranpal on santoor and Hanif Khan on tabla and  Rakesh on Harmonium will enthral the audience today evening at 6.30 pm at the Nehru Centre in London. Loveleena Kumar is a student of late Ustad Munawar Ali Khan sahib of Patiala Gharana. She studied pure…

  • Shreya to enthral fans in MCR

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    Shreya Ghoshal fans will be thrilled to hear their favourite singer LIVE in concert on May 24. The concert takes place at the O2 Apollo Manchester on Sunday from 7:30p.m. (Doors Open 6:45pm) Brought up in a quaint little town called Rawatbhata in Rajasthan where her scientist father was posted, Shreya Ghoshal started learning music at…

  • GALLERY: Billboard Music Awards, US

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    Stars in the music word descend on earth to attend the Billboard Music Awards 2015 at  MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Some images

  • INTERVIEW: Markus Schulz

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    By Siddharth Jha   To many, it seems the electronic dance music (EDM) scene in India is emerging only now, but German-American music producer Markus Schulz, who has always found “inspiration” from this part of the world, says the country has not been far behind in the globally-trending musical genre. Having crafted progressive, trance and house…

  • Gav Sadhra, Shreya unveil Judai

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    RISING STAR GAV SADHRA TEAMS UP WITH BOLLYWOOD SINGING SENSATION SHREYA GHOSHAL! May 14th see’s the release date of JUDAI, The new single by UK newcomer Gav Sadhra which features the Bollywood singing sensation Shreya Ghoshal, it’s a tune that will be buzzing around your head for a long while! The song has been produced by one of…

  • British professor revives 18th century Indian music

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    Working with Indian musicians, a British professor has revived, recorded and reinterpreted 18th century compositions, originally performed at nautch or dance parties at mansions of wealthy English merchants and in courts of Indian nawabs. The early musical encounters between the Indian subcontinent and the West are now available in the form of a CD titled…

  • The Beatles didn’t start musical revolution in US: Study

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    Contrary to popular belief, the so-called “British Invasion” of US pop music by groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones did not start rock revolution, researchers have found. The greatest musical revolution in US pop history was also not 1964 but 1991 when hip-hop arrived in the charts, said the team that studied trends…

  • Zayn Malik thankful to bandmates

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    Zayn Malik made his first red carpet appearance since quitting One Direction last month and thanked his “amazing” former bandmates at the Asian Awards 2015. The singer was honoured for his Outstanding Contribution to Music at the awards gala, reports femalefirst.co.uk. The 22-year-old, who quit the chart-topping band last month, was presented with the honour…

  • INTERVIEW:Rahul Ram

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    By Sugandha Rawal   After exploring different realms of music for about 25 years, Indo-rock fusion band Indian Ocean senses a refreshing wave of change with Bollywood embracing alternative music. Rahul Ram, the band’s bass guitarist and lead vocalist, points out that the world of Bollywood may seem to be calm from outside, but deep down,…

  • Zayn Malik has quit One Direction

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    Zayn Malik has quit One Direction, the band have confirmed in a statement. Malik said: “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. “I’d like to apologise to the fans…

  • BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM – THE MUSICAL

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    Gurinder Chadha and the cast of the West End show ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ has revealed the first song ‘UB2’ from the highly anticipated musical. The song is a tribute to Southall (postcode UB2) and features the cast setting the scene for the show. The accompanying video was shot on the streets of Southall before…

  • ‘Indian music is a vast ocean’

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    Listeners often describe her inimitable vocal style as soul-stirring that bring tears of joy and devotion. Deepa Nair Rasiya, a London-based singer and a composer who has worked as a concert performer and session musician in the UK since 1991, says the challenge for her is to make a mark in India where the volume…

  • Punjabi girl Neev makes Kisstory

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    Neev Spencer is to take over the mid-morning show on KISS FM. Already, the most listened to British female in the UK, Neev takes up residency of her new mid-morning KISS show from January 2015 in the coveted mid-morning 9 -12 slot which will include presenting the legendary KISSTORY segment of the show. DJ Neev …

  • ‘Don’t be in search of stardom’

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    Multi platinum selling artist Kamaljit Singh Jhooti aka Jay Sean, tells Asha Singh of Asian Lite, about his journey into the music world. The British singer-songwriter and rapper is the first Asian R&B artist in the world; he’s back in the UK to reconnect with his fans.  AL:  You’re currently taking part in a number of master class…

  • ‘Don’t be in search of stardom’

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    Multi platinum selling artist Kamaljit Singh Jhooti better known by his stage name Jay Sean, tells Asha Singh of Asian Lite, about his journey into the music world. The British singer-songwriter and rapper is the first Asian R&B artist in the world; he’s back in the UK to reconnect with his fans. AL:  You’re currently taking part…

  • DJ Neev gets ‘Station of the Year’ award

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    Daytime radio presenter DJ Neev of Kiss FM picked up “The Station Of The Year” award at this year’s Urban Music Awards, the British Asian woman who is the most listened to Asian woman on commercial radio in the UK and Europe says about winning:  “Kiss FM UK are so proud to be awarded Best Radio…

  • ‘Bend It like Beckham’ musical

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    By Asian Lite News Gurinder Chadha’s iconic feisty film on female football “Bend It Like Beckham” is ready to hit the British stage with loads of Bollywood styled songs and dances. The British film director of Sikh origin is truly upbeat and says ‘desis’ everywhere would be proud. Though the play opens in London May…

  • Slovenian tribute to Ustad Alla Rakha

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     Globally renowned guitarist John Mclaughlin and the Fourth Dimension band, comprising drummer Ranjit Barot, guitarist Etienne Mbappe and Gary Haussman on keyboards, played his composition “Abba-ji” in a tribute to Ustad Alla Rakha at a concert in the Slovenia capital to an enthusiastic audience Tuesday evening. Returning to Ljubljana precisely one year after “Remembering Shakti”…

  • An Unique band with a difference

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    By Natalia Ningthoujam  Lahore-based musician Mekaal Hasan has done something unique by adding Indian artistes to his band last year. Now out with a new album “Andholan”, aptly named, he says it’s more adventurous in its writing style and believes that the “unique band” has best talent from his homeland and India. Popular for Sufi…

  • M J named 2014’s top earning dead celebrity

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    Late King of Pop Michael Jackson has been named the world’s top earning dead celebrity of 2014 with his estate minting $140 million, according to Forbes magazine. Jackson’s estate is said to have made almost three times as much as perennial list topper Presley, who made $55 million over the same 12-month period. reports dailymail.co.uk.…

  • Cowell to launch regional talent show?

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    TV celebrity Simon Cowell is contemplating several new projects, including a regional talent show. During an interaction at TV entertainment market Mipcom here, Cowell, the man behind shows like “The X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent”, spoke of his future plans, reports variety.com. Asked whether he sees some potential in a pan-regional entertainment format, he…

  • This musician sees through third eye

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    Internationally acclaimed naturalist turned photographer and Indian classical musician par excellence, Saleel Tambe an engineer, and a management post graduate in a candid conversation with Rahul Laud, reveals his ‘’wild’’ journey from a small town Indore in India to England London-based IT professional Saleel Tambe who currently works as an Enterprise Architect in the IT…

  • Estelle’s date with Delhi

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    Grammy award winner singer-songwriter Estelle is set to perform in India for the first time. It will mark American fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger’s 10th anniversary in the country. The 34-year-old singer’s private gig, scheduled for Sep 27 here, will be one of the highlights of the fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger’s three-day tour to the country.…

  • Century old Durga Puja songs to be digitised

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    By Sahana Ghosh   Breaking away from the trend of Bollywood numbers and rock hits playing during the festive season, enthusiasts here are trying to preserve age-old devotional songs reminiscent of occasions like Durga Puja by digitising century-old recordings, a process spanning next three to four months. Sharadiya songs (songs of autumn), a tradition in West…

  • OBIT: Mandolin Srinivas

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     Uppalappu Srinivas, who was known for playing rare ragas on mandolin at his concerts, never played a false note in his illustrious career. His death Friday morning at the young age of 45 came as a jarring note and shocked the Carnatic music world, music lovers, his fans and others.Popularly known as Mandolin Srinivas, he…

  • U. Srinivas 1969-2014

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    Well-known mandolin player Uppalapu Srinivas died Friday here at a private hospital. He was 45. According to a source at Apollo hospital, where he was admitted following brief illness, Srinivas “passed away due to liver-related problems this morning at 9.30”. Born Feb 28, 1969 in Palakolu, Andhra Pradesh, Srinivas was a child prodigy. He picked…

  • ‘the sarod project’

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    Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Ayaan and Amaan, will undertake a concert tour of the US through October. The concert and Khan’s teaching stint at Stanford is part of what he calls ‘the sarod project’, an attempt to make more Americans aware of the sarod, a musical instrument, which has so…

  • Musicologist Mohan Nadkarni dies

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    Mohan Nadkarni, a renowned Indian musicologist, died in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday following a brief illness, his son Dev said. He was 91. “He (Mohan Nadkarni) suffered from a chest infection a fortnight back from which he did not recover. Past couple of years he was suffering from age-related problems which hampered his movements, otherwise…

  • Music in Britain amazing: Pharrell Williams

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    “Happy” hitmaker Pharrell Williams loves to experience rainy season in Britain because he believes that it helps create “special” music.   Pharrell Williams The 41-year-old, who appeared at the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clefs Awards, says rain plays its part in the country’s rich history of art, reports contactmusic.com. Speaking before accepting the Raymond Weil…

  • The day the music didn’t die

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    Karishma Saurabh Kalita writes on the day the music didn’t die to mark World Music Day “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” This homily from the late psychedelic rock star Jimi Hendrix resonated on the 32nd World Music Day on June 21.…

  • Summer Solstice in Leeds

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    South Asian Arts-uk hosts concert to celebrate the longest day on at 8.30pm on Saturday 21st June People from all over the UK are invited to celebrate the break of dawn on the longest day of the year at this year’s South Asian Arts-uk, Summer Solstice festival in Leeds on 21st June. Brimming with mystical, musical…

  • MUSIC REVIEW – Ramanajun

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    Music director Ramesh Vinayakam, widely known for his melodies, has composed the music for upcoming Tamil-English bilingual biopic “Ramanujan”. He says his music represents the hope and despair of maths wizard Srinivasa Ramanujan, on whose life the movie is based upon. “It’s an honior to have composed music for the film ‘Ramanujan’, which is about…