We managed to track down Truskoool to talk about his new album 'Raw As Folk.' He talks to Irfan.

Irfan: For those of us not in the know and don't know; who is Truskool?

Truskool: Im part of production due Specialist n Truskool who has released WIB, Repazent and now with the new, exciting record label ‘Bazaar Records,' which I have provided the music for. All of the three albums that I have mentioned have all been big personal success for myself and number 1 albums so there !!!

Irfan: In a pretty short space of time you've now released your third album [first two co-produced by Specialist]. Three albums and three labels; hop, skip…jump! Why have you switched labels on each release [Word Is Born on Easylife Records, Repazent on VIP Records and now Raw as Folk On Bazaar Records]; explain all!

Truskool: Well Easylife Records ceased trading due to problems within the company, VIP Records we decided to leave as our good friend ‘Dippa Somal' set up Bazaar Records which gave us the freedom to produce tracks we want to produce and more interesting material to work with.

Irfan: This is your first solo project [minus Specialist]; has this given you more freedom to make the music that you want to make on the album ‘Raw Is Folk'?

Truskool: This ain't a solo album of mine so I haven't totally expressed myself how I would as a solo artist. I did have fun on producing the tracks like ‘Choot Diya', ‘Tere Nakhrey Ne' and ‘Gubru Haan Da' which is my fav. The other tracks were particular aimed at the desi market the Punjabi ‘folk' audience along with tracks having the commercial edge to them.

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Irfan: Define in your own words what people are getting when they buy the new album, Raw As Folk! Truskool: They are getting an album which has Punjabi folk, hip hop, real hip hop 90's NYC vibe, jazz, soul and ‘raw' Bhangra so it has a variety on there. Irfan: When producing ‘Raw As Folk' how much of the album was made exactly how you wanted it and how much was influenced by making it a commercially viable product? Please give me a percentage (i.e. Way You Want It 70%: 30% Commercial) and at the same time go into detail on this issue!

Raw As Folk

Truskool: I would say 50/50. Choot Diya, Tere Nakhrey and Gubru Haan Da and Mukhra Gullab where all made to how I wanted them to be made with the rest for the masses.

Irfan: On the same topic, do you feel that the majority of Asians do not understand fresh new evolving sounds? What I am trying to say is would you say ‘that they are happy to listen to something within their comfort zone i.e. same dhol, same tumbi; guaranteed to be understood formula' and ‘are scared to listen to and/or unwilling to understand something which sounds too different'?

Truskool: Well I don't know because I don't know them!!! All I know is what I want to produce and that is what you will get most of the times.

Irfan: Some people have been critical of your new album saying your sound hasn't evolved from the previous two albums. What would you have to say to such criticism?

Truskool: I would say to those people that they really don't know what they are on about.

Irfan: You've used four vocalists on one track (Raw As Folk Bolian similar to the way Panjabi MC did back in the day (on the track Jind Mahi). When you created the track where you to trying to emulate what he did or what was your thinking behind putting four vocalists together?

Truskool: Well with this w e have 4 vocalist that we work with and me and ‘Dippa Somal' thought we should do track with all of them to showcase Bazaar Records weather ‘Jind Mahi' existed or not.

Irfan: An even surprise to me and pretty much everyone else was hearing your vocal debut on the track ‘ Chad Khairrha Baanieh Dha.' Have you been singing a long time? Many people reckon have compared the style of singing to Chamkila; what do you have to say to such comments? Also, some people have been very critical of your vocal attempt with comments such as ‘he can't sing' being aired. What's your take on such criticism?

Truskool: It can be anybody critasing, I personally have had a very good response, 95% positive from people in the media and well respected people. But everyone is entitled to a opinion. I have been singing from a young youth, never a pro, but a bathroom singer you can call it. But being a musician added to the final result. Ps I have never said that I sound like Chamkilla people have compared me to him which is a great honour.

Irfan: I seriously respect you a lot for the amount of credit you give the vocalists. They are always well publicised in the inlay of album and they always feature in your videos. Is that something you aim to do consciously? What do you think about other producers who forget to mention a vocalist on a CD inlay and mime to the tracks in their music videos?

Truskool: What other producer do is there business but the way I see it we personally know the vocalist and we respect the vocalist and that's why we get them in the video where it is possible and give them maximum credit. So it's our way of respect which is mutual.

Irfan: I was surprised to find out that you play many instruments; these include Tabla, Dholaki, Dhol, Drums, Harmonium, Keyboards, Tumbi and Algoze. How important to you is it being able to play instruments?

Truskool: Well I'm in a field that is called ‘the music industry' so that's how simple it is. You got to learn an instrument the way I see it.

Truskool

Irfan: These days less and less proper Punjabi bhangra is being shown on the Asian TV channels in the UK yet more and more Bollywood and watered down material is being aired more. What is your feeling on this issue? Truskool: Well I think they are prejudice and discriminate bhangra and Punjabi people in some ways. Videos do need to get better but I think with some of the channels they are very corrupt on whose video gets played and whose doesn't. Irfan: Out of all the current active artists [who've released something say in the last year] which ones do you rate the most and why? Truskool: Only tracks from India have caught my attention, but apart from it has been quite a miserable run by the UK market.

Irfan: What else can we expect from Tru skool in the near future that we should know about?

Truskool: I'm quite busy working on various projects with Bazaar. I am doing music for Mr Kaka Bhaniawala album along with the Specialist, Aman Hayer, Notorious Jatt and many more…..its shaping up to be a big album

Irfan: Do you have any final words for the desitunes4u readers worldwide?

Truskool: I'm just getting warmed up people haven't seen nothing from myself. I have allot of material that will be showcased.

Big thanks to desitunes4u and all the people who have supported me. Much love Truskool.