A six-piece band, Achanak have gained a fearsome reputation as the 'best live' act in the music market. They have been recipients of numerous awards including best band (2003), best live act (2002) and best album (1997) as well as achieving platinum sales with all of their albums. Although it's been over 5 years since they released their last album they have never really gone away as they've been touring Europe and the rest of the world extensively. They are now all set to release their 11th album studio album 'Bhangra-ology.' Vijay [lead singer] and Ninder Johal [tabla player] of the band recently caught up with Irfan and Sukhy to talk about Achanak representing in 2005.

The comments of each of them have been colour co-ordinated to help you distinguish who is saying what. The following key can be used as a guide to help you with this as well.

Sukhy: For the younger reader who is not familiar with the legendary Achanak: introduce yourself!

Vijay: Achanak is a fusion of traditional Bhangra and western sounds, which creates higher energy dance music coupled with Achanak's unforgettable live performances.

Ninder Johal: The band performed largely in the 90's within the bhangra market in the UK. But in 2000 it took the decision to take the music to a wider audience - to territories where bhangra had not been heard. So whilst some younger readers may not have seen the band locally - the band has been performing albeit in Europe.

Sukhy: How have you re-branded your self's to appeal to a younger audience.

Vijay: To take the production and performance of Achanak to another level so our appeal is more global and to audiences across all spectrums.

Ninder Johal: Indeed we played last week in Cologne for the International Youth Festival. All the attendees were from the age bracket 18 - 21. Good music will appeal to all not just a particular niche.

Sukhy: Achanak made it big in the early nineties following such groups as Alaap and Apna Sangeet. Why have live bands died out and how have Achanak changed to adapt to this?

Bhangra-ology

Vijay: The question 'why have live bands died out' should really be addressed to the general public. We thrive on live performance and therefore in order to maintain this we explored other markets beyond the shores of UK and hence have been touring extensively abroad ever since. Ninder Johal: All industries go through peaks and troughs and we were fortunate that whilst the UK market went into a dip from a live perspective - Achanak were already performing live in overseas territories. Do not forget that the mainstream live circuit is only beginning to revive after a lull for the last few years.

Sukhy: What is Kam Frantic's current role in Achanak?

Vijay: He plays bass guitar.

Sukhy: Kam Frantic is a well-known ghost producer in the bhangra industry. What view do you have on this and is it damaging to the bhangra industry?

Vijay: I do not have any views on this matter and certainly I have never experienced the phenomenon 'ghost producer.'

Sukhy: Can Achanak compete in a market, which expects a lot of western influence?

Vijay: If the market expects a lot of western influence then they should book a western band. We are a 'Bhangra Band' and believe it or not they crave for the BHANGRA sound, which we provide.

Ninder Johal: How do you define 'western'? How far do you dilute your music and still retain its ethnicity? In Europe where we have toured extensively there is a fever about bhangra music in its rawest form and let us not forget that the largest sales of Panjabi MC's single were in Europe and not in the UK. Irfan: The old skool bhangra fanatic who feel that the use of MC'ing is totally unnecessary and spoils bhangra. Do you agree with these people or do you feel it's important to evolve to remain fresh in 2005?

Achanak performing in Milan (2003)

Vijay: Bhangra music has undergone many fads or amalgamation of different vibes in the quest to stay fresh but I believe doing a track is like painting a picture on a blank canvass, if it's good, the listening public will like it and vice-a-versa. However, the core 'Bhangra' will always live on.

Sukhy: What is your view on sampling and with the recent investigations by the BPI how will it affect producers in the future?

Vijay: Get permission through the right channels if you are going to use samples. I believe it is very difficult to imagine that a sample can make or break a track. The track should be able to stand on its own.

Ninder Johal: The BPI action will lead to cogent producers and bands being successful in the long term and of course all composers should be remunerated whenever their material is being sampled.

Irfan: In recent times you have toured Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Sweden and many more countries in Europe. Has it surprised you that you've been able to perform at such venues?

Vijay: It has been a wonderful experience in both meeting different people and performing Bhangra to a world community.

Ninder Johal: It has not been a surprise at all. The music is infectious and we live in a global marketplace where music is a universal language. We have been performing in Europe since the year 2000 and we were the first to predict that a crossover hit would occur - PMC single was of no surprise to us. People all over the world buy music in which they are unable to understand the lyrics - in Japan the top acts all sing in English yet few of the indigenous population can speak English - why should Punjabi be any different? People from all walks of life irrespective of country love the tumbi and dhol…our CD's sales reflect this!!

Achanak in Berlin, Germany in 2002 - Spot the desi's in the crowd?

Irfan: The typical desi mentality is to say worldwide release, which usually consists of the UK, USA, Canada and India - managing to forget the rest of the world. Based on your success in Europe do you feel the desi's should be doing more to promote their music in the whole world?

Vijay: I believe before you even hit a single note your hearts and minds need to change and I believe that music is a world language by which you can unite people from all nations. My answer to doing more to promote bhangra music is YES it should be done but easily you could end up causing more damage and harm through by bad organisation, wrong mentality, tunnel vision by record companies and so on.

Ninder Johal: This is a question that requires a change in mindset! The industry has to change its short-term view to one of long term investment and innovation - these are concepts that do not come easily to the current incumbents.

Irfan: Music = Politics. Add 'desi' into that equation and you can multiply the so-called politics by tenfold. Do you feel that the almost childish politics in the music industry is preventing us from moving forward? If so, what can be done to improve the situation?

Vijay: Achanak is here to perform and enjoy music; perhaps childish politics should be left to the children. As for moving forward what 'music industry'? Need education.

Ninder Johal: The industry is very fragmented and cottage like in its operations. Every organisation or industry that has a human element will involve politics and the bhangra industry is no different.

Irfan: Some people have suggested that the structure of the desi music scene is very poor, almost non-existent. Do you agree?

Vijay: Like I said before: what music industry?

Ninder Johal: I agree with Vijay - this question would take an extremely long time to answer and this may not be the place to answer it - maybe next time otherwise I fear we will end up discussing micro organisational economics - trust me - you do not want to go down this path.

Irfan: Bhangra claims to shift so many units yet out sales continue to be not counted in the mainstream. Why do you think desi's shopkeepers are so reluctant to make the numbers count? Do you feel this should change?

Vijay: We need to take a consensus on all the shopkeepers before I can conclude my answer.

Ninder Johal: I agree with Vijay!

Irfan: Tell us more about your new album! Which artists are featuring on it?

Vijay: It is a carefully crafted product and Achanak have worked with various producers such as Tigerstyle, Manj (RDB) and Ranjit Jassall. There are 11 tracks in total. Two songs from the album are to feature in the new X-Box game by Microsoft. Ninder Johal: Yeah - we are proud to announce that for the first time, bhangra tracks will feature on an XBox game. The game is called Gotham 3 and will be released in November. We are currently discussing with Microsoft on the

Bhangra-ology on XBox

promotional plans for the release. Earlier in the interview you asked about youth and Achanak - I can categorically state that by the time this X Box game is out, most youngsters who play games will have heard of Achanak in a world wide context. We as Asians should be proud of the progress that bhangra is making in the global music arena. We are truly in an exciting time for Asian music!

Irfan: What else can we expect from Achanak in the near future?

Vijay: Bhangra Music!

Ninder Johal: The launch of the album will mean a busy 12 months for Achanak. Clearly we will continue to tour Europe to support the album launch with marketing plans for countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany and Holland. Nachural are currently negotiating with other territories such as Turkey, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Japan - this album will certainly be released on a world wide basis and not restricted to the Asian territories.

Irfan: Do you have any final words for the desitunes4u reader's worldwide?

Vijay: A very big Hi/Kiddha to ALL the readers worldwide. Check out the New Achanak album 'BHANGRA-OLOGY, hope you like and hope to meet you soon on gigs. TAKE CARE.

Ninder Johal: Support the Asian music industry but legitimately please!

That concludes the interview, a big thanks to Vijay and Ninder of Achanak for taking some time out to chat to us. The brand new album 'Bhangra-ology' will be released on the 19th of September so make sure you buy it as it promises to be a top album.