With Mr Exclusive (Masaeb) growing cockier by the day, I thought this year I would try and bring him down to earth, its not only him who can get the big scoops you know! So this year we are going to see who gets the most scoops, and low and behold, just when I think, "what the bloody hell have I got myself into?" possibly the biggest scoop of the year slaps me in the face like a Shoaib Akhtar bouncer. I just happened to walk past his desk while he was away this week, and the phone rang, and I, Irfan, being the ever opportunist, just happened to catch up with the man who has taken the mainstream by storm going to number six in the UK Top 10, I 'm talking about the man that's gonna take the desi scene to the next level, the one and only Raghav! Here's what went down!

Irfan: For most people it's like where the hell has this guy come from! For people that don't know much about ma man 'Raghav' give us an intro!

Raghav: I'm 22 and I've grown up in Canada. I've come over to the UK in the last 3 years. It's not something that has just happened overnight. It's been a journey over many years.

Irfan: The track, So Confused, is now number nine in the charts, having reached as high as no 6 and it's now spent 3 weeks in the top 10! How does that make you feel? Raghav: It's unbelievable man! I can't have had a better start to my career. I'm just taking it one day at a time. There's plenty music that's been made already and more that will be created soon. This is just the start of things to come as I have intentions of making music for a long time. I don't want to be just a flash in the pan.

Raghav with 2Play & MC Jucxi

Irfan: Already we are getting comparisons with Jay Sean because you are both Asian and have sang 'live' on TOTP! How does that make you feel? What would you say to the idea of doing a duet with him?

Raghav: I can understand why people are making such comparisons. I think there is room for many other Asian artists to make the Top 10; I mean there is no reason why us two should be the only two singers to do it. So to be honest with you the comparisons don't really bother me. We are two unique artists with our own styles.

A duet? At the moment both of us are really busy doing our own thing but if the right track were written then I'd go for it. I never rule anything out for the future. Just like any collaboration, no matter who it is with, the track has to be right to make it work.

Irfan: Now we've been asked to ask you this! What does Raghav look for in a girl? I mean what are the qualities required to have any hope of becoming Mrs Raghav?

Raghav: Honest, sincere and have a good heart. She has to be beautiful inside out.

Irfan: Your solo single is due out on February 16th, for those that haven't heard it can you enlighten them on the vibe of the tune?

Raghav: The tune is basically everything that I represent. It's got some bollywood singing, english singing and at the same time it's produced with the hip-hop style in mind. It's a very meaningful song, which was written by me in relation to something that has happened in my life. I'm sure many others will be able to relate to it. Musically it is very definitive of the music that I love and listen to. It was really important for me to sing in Hindi to show that this is where I am.

Irfan: How do you rate the Asian artists in the UK? Any individuals that you have come across whom you think are really talented?

Raghav: They are definitely talented but Mushtaq is one that I have to single out. I may be biased but he's my tip to be producer extraordinaire for 2004.

Irfan: Now your album is due to hit the streets in the summer of 2004! Tell us who's going to be featuring on it and what we should expect from it!

Raghav: I hope people have the highest expectations as I am putting my heart and soul into it. It features production from Sly & Robbie, Incognito, Mushtaq and Iceberg Slim. I don't really want to get ahead of myself but there are many other people in the pipeline but we'll let that happen when it happens.

Irfan: Some artists say no matter how much you love music it is necessary to commercialise some of your music to ensure the public by it! Would you go along with that?

Raghav: I hope that people like the sound that I create. The audience can read through the fakes, I mean the music listening public is not stupid. What music I make is definitely from the soul. I guess what type of music that I am into just happens to be 'in' at the moment, so you could say I'm lucky in that sense.

Irfan: How important is your culture to you? Will Raghav ever forget his roots? Raghav: I definitely won't forget my roots! I was born an Indian and that is what I am. It's like telling someone to forget their head at home; it goes with me wherever I go. Irfan: You are well travelled! What would you consider as 'home'? Raghav: There's something about India that makes it feel like home. When I am there I have so many memories of stuff that my parents talked about.

Raghav

Irfan: Calgary, where you have spent most of your life, is like a modern place. By that I mean it's not like say New York were you get one old building standing beside a brand new one. Being such a new city, what's the scene like out there?

Raghav: Calgary is a very vibrant musical city. It's the home of many talented artists from various genres of music. Canada as a whole has a lot of musical talent.

Irfan: Any final worlds to your fans around the globe?

Raghav: Thank you very much; the amount of love that people have given is unbelievable.

That concludes the interview, firstly a big thanks to Raghav for taking some time out to chat to Irfan.