DJ Dev: Alright Shin, let's get straight into it; the new album ‘Desi Culture Shock.' Tell us about it, and let's hear something different from the press release that's appeared on every other website?
Shin: Desi Culture Shock is an album that has been a labor of love for me. I thought long and hard about the tracks that I recorded and how I recorded them and the packaging of the album has been well thought out too. I think the end result has been an album that sounds different to every thing that is in the market at the moment and an album that 99% of the Bhangra public has given the thumbs up to. It is a massive album and worth every penny that you are going to spend on it.
DJ Dev: Why did you call it Desi Culture Shock? Was it a case of just finding three words that fit in with D.C.S.?
Shin: There are lots of words, names and phrases that DCS could stand for but I won't go in to them here as some people might find some of these offensive. When we came across this name, it was suggested to us by a friend, we jumped at it as it had a great sound to it.
DJ Dev: I'm right in thinking you are the only member of the original group now. Since D and C have left have you ever thought of jus calling yourself as Shin, or maybe even just S?
Shin: Why change a good thing…let it be yaar!! I think solo names sound so lonely and boring.
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DJ Dev: D.C.S. are undoubtedly one of the most legendary bands that the UK bhangra scene has produced. However, our very own desi Gorrah doesn't believe you have that definitive classic album. Why do you think this is?
Shin: 123 Go is about as classic and definitive as they come…mega sales, innovative and ground breaking, definitely a mile stone in British Asian Bhangra.
DJ Dev: If you were asked to give one album, apart from your latest release, that best represents D.C.S. – which album would you suggest?
Shin: Probably “Punjabi Dance Nation” would represent the DCS of late. Staying true to our multicultural inheritance…British Asian and proud of it.
DJ Dev: You've experimented with many different styles and even languages. I mean you've sung in Punjabi, Hindi and even English. Is it a case of D.C.S moving with the time, or do you feel you set the trends? |
Shin: I feel at home singing in English, Hindi and Punjabi. As a child I was exposed to all three languages and was brought up on a staple diet of Mainstream, Bollywood and Bhangra music. I think that I am probably the only UK singer that has the versatility to be able to do this. So it's not a matter of moving with the times or setting trends, it's a matter of credibly and artistically exploiting your own abilities to produce some thing that exhilarates. Think about what I've just said.
DJ Dev: Now onto the new album – Double CD, like you said. Is it 2 CD's of pure quality or is it a case of just filling out another CD and the consumer having to foot the bill? Do you not think you could have taken some material out, make one full CD, and save the buyer some hard-earned pounds?
Shin: This double CD has already been condensed; I had to take some tracks out otherwise it was looking like a triple CD. Musically there is a lot of variety on this album, and there is some thing for everyone. Every song has been well written, well produced and if I may say so well sung too. There is a lot of music here which we have interspersed with some well worked skits, which are in actual fact a magnified look at Punjabi society in the UK . DCS has never done filler tracks; we only record a song if we like it and want others to hear it too. Every song has its place on the album and nothing sounds repeated or half heartedly produced, as is the case with many albums that I hear these days. How many artists out there would have the balls, patients and ability to produce a double CD album of original music today? Not many if any. [Click Here to buy album now].
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DJ Dev: It came as surprise to a lot of people you doing a collabos with Juggy D; how did that come about?
Shin: Over the past few years I've had the opportunity to work with lots of artists and I've enjoyed it tremendously. But as DCS we had never done any collaborations; so this was the time to put that to rights. I wanted to work with a singer that would make an unusual and unexpected pairing with me, and I think it worked. When people found out that Juggy and my self were doing a song together I think a lot of jaws dropped. It's been a great project and it was good fun working with Juggy in the studio and on the stage as we have now done some shows together. He is one of the hardest working artists I know and is a great performer; he deserves to be where he is today. |
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DJ Dev: It looks like you had a whole lot of fun shooting the video with Juggy D; tell us a little about it?
Shin: We did the video in Vancouver and it was directed by Baljit Deo the man behind many hit Bhangra videos. We were there for three days and wanted to do a lot of out door stuff, but sods' law, it rained every day we were there, so most of the shoot was in doors against blue screen. But we had a great time making it; Juggy and my self had a really good vibe going with each other and I think the chemistry between us works very well on screen.
DJ Dev: Going back to collaborations; it's seems rare that two big name artists get together these days; why do you think that is? Do you feel there should be more super collabos as you seem to get in the mainstream industry?
Shin: There should definitely be more collabos in Bhangra as it would do a lot towards spreading harmony amongst artists and showing the public that there is some kind of unity in the industry. I think that record company red tape and artists with big egos are some of the main reasons why you don't see so many more collabos.
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DJ Dev: Do you ever feel threatened by the younger vocalists emerging?
Shin: No I don't. I believe that I have established myself in this industry, my back catalogue and the number of years that DCS has been at the top has given me a quiet confidence along with the hard work that I have put into my singing training over the years. I still have the hunger to want to make and sing a song better that my last one.
DJ Dev: 2006 was a fairly lame year with regard to bhangra generally. This was reflected in the fact that this site did not even bother putting together a top 10 of 2006. What are your hopes for the scene in 2007 (other than your mind-blowing album of course!)
Shin: There are going to be some big releases coming out this year from what I hear so I have my fingers crossed and am hoping that there will be some good stuff going about. You never know you just might get your top 10 this year. |
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DJ Dev: It's been a while since any established artists have brought something out. I mean this is your first full album since ‘98 – why do you think this is? Is it the whole piracy issue again? If so, what is the industry doing to fight this?
Shin: Piracy and Downloading are major issues in the industry right now and if they are not addressed by the record companies, then there will some out of work musicians and company execs signing on at the dole office very soon. Basically it all amounts to stealing and both piracy and downloading are criminal offenses which are punishable by law, but unfortunately there is hardly any enforcement of that law, and if people continue to break the law then the quality of music will begin to deteriorate as it has already begun doing so. But this is not the reason why there have been so few releases from established artists. Speaking for our selves we have been busy with live shows over the years and have not had serious time to sit in a studio working on new songs….and believe me this takes time to do well.
DJ Dev: You've filled the time working with various other producers. Who is your favorite producer to work with? I mean, who do you think your style of singing works best with?
Shin: I have liked working with all the producers that I have sung for, and there are many others that I would like to work with too. But of the ones that I have worked with, Sukshinder Shinda is probably the one that has done justice to my vocals and songs. He is a brutally honest and serious musician as well as a good human being. We are both Gur- Bhai which means we learn from the same teacher (Ustad Ajit Singh Mutlashi Ji) and have performed at classical music events together many times. It's always a pleasure to work with musicians of that caliber.
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DJ Dev: Can we expect you to work with any other producers in the near future?
Shin: Like I said there are producers that I would like to work with such as….Hum let me see…who was that man….Errrrrr!!
DJ Dev: You're renowned for your live performances. Where have you enjoyed performing most?
Shin: DCS has done some great gigs all over the world and played to some crazy crowds. It's difficult to pick one, but I will say that the more you go in an east ward direction of the globe the friendlier and more receptive the crowds become.
DJ Dev: Which crowd would you say has been the hardest to win round?
Shin: I can not remember one gig where DCS have had a problem winning a crowd over, even in places like Iceland where DCS were the first Bhangra band to play, we had the crowd changing light bulbs by the second song. |
DJ Dev: Talking about so called ‘live' performances. Word on the street is DCS have started to do PA's. Now that is a real shame! Can you explain to us why you have done this? Shin: DCS is first and foremost a live band, but have under certain circumstances done the odd PA i.e. for charity events, if the venue is too small and can not accommodate a live band, for TV and some broadcast melas and also when some one offers a stupidly large sum of money…which has yet to happen.
DJ Dev: Another one from the Desi Gora – Where do you get your glasses from?
Shin: I usually buy frames from around the world and just take them to my opticians, but when it comes to sun glasses then I'm a big Oakleys fan.
DJ Dev: Finally, any final words for the Desitunes4u readers?
Shin: Hope you all like the album and can appreciate the hard work that has been put in to it. It's a monster and definitely worth every penny you will spend on it. Support music and always buy original, help us to make better music for you. Love and Respect. Shin.
That concludes the interview,a big thanks to Shin for taking some time out to talk to us. Be sure to check out the band website at www.dcs-band.com.
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