DJ Swami has been on the music scene since the age of 18, but it was his most recent album Desi Rock that catapulted him into the eyes of the nation.Ìý
Not only has Desi Rock picked up accolades from the Asian Press, with Eastern Eye voting it best album of 2004, but Swami has successfully crossed into the mainstream. Â鶹Éç Radio 1 voted 'Desi Rock' as one of the DJ tracks of the 2004, alongside the likes of Franz Ferdinand.
Swami has been playing the guitar since the age of 8 and started off playing in bands as a teenager in Handsworth. He later formed a band called The Movement with his brother Simon. The success from this first band earned him enough money to build his own studio. It was in this studio that Swami started recording with his cousin Steve (AKA Apache Indian).
For over a decade the brothers have written, produced, remixed and performed for artists in both eastern and western music industries including Shania Twain, Erasure, Maxi Priest, Apache Indian, Aretha Daye, Dillinger, The Beat, Boyzone, China Black, Stereo Nation, Janet Kaye Swami, Martine Girault Sly and Robbie, Stan Campbell Raise, Anne Saunderson (Inner City), Malkit Singh, Gurdass Mann and Hans Raj Hans.
As pioneers of the Asian Fusion sound Simon & Diamond, together with their first cousin Steven Kapur (a.k.a Apache Indian) were responsible for the huge international success of Apache Indian and achieved sales in excess of 3 million copies.
To date Simon & Diamond have sold overÌýfive million albums worldwide. They've hadÌýfive UK Top 40 Hits, plusÌýthe Number One hit single 'No More (making Love)' performed by Aretha Daye (1991).Ìý
Their music has concentrated on breaking down cultural barriers and removing stereotyping. There are no rules, no agendas, just desi, hip hop, breakin' urban vibes. Swami has also worked with Taz and Kam Bura to purposely blur the lines between the rival Bhangra and Asian underground scenes.
Swami's debut album Desi Nu Skool Beatz was launched on an unsuspecting public in early 1999. Desi Rock picks up where the debut left off. Featuring a new line-up including MC Sarpanch, Rapper S-Endz and live Punjabi vocalist Jagz (D.S.I), the Desi Rock sound continues to evolve.
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