Naya Beat Records

10/25/2024

Hello friends! The release of ‘Naya Beat Volume 2: South Asian Dance And Electronic Music 1988-1994’ is a week away! To celebrate the occasion, Naya Beat founders Turbotito and Ragz are hosting a free listening party on Bandcamp Live on October 30. Laptops at the ready (potentially from this very picnic table!), they will answer any and all of your questions as you get an exclusive preview of this overlooked slice of late 80s and early 90s South Asian house, street soul, and downtempo. RSVP link in our bio!

10/18/2024

OUT NOW! Turbotito & Ragz rescue The Jets Orkhestra’s house anthem ‘X-290’ from obscurity and ready this lost classic for the modern dance floor. This is the third and last single from ‘Naya Beat Volume 2’ uncovering future classics from an overlooked era of South Asian house, street soul, and downtempo released between 1988 and 1994.

The Jets Orkhestra were a pioneering dance music project from Harrow, London. The brainchild of British Asian producer Pankaj “Jets” Jethwa, they released three EPs between 1990-92, now all highly sought after by selectors. A true visionary and innovator of the British Asian underground, Pankaj Jethwa was one of the first South Asian DJs in the UK and an early adopter of electronic music production. He built his own fully fledged home recording studio, Garage Groove Studios, which became a home for many of the early British Asian electronic music innovators. The Jets Orkhestra was built around the production work of Jethwa, rapper Val Dubois (aka M.C.V) and two female vocalists – Bindu Sri who sang on the EP ‘Aaja Re Aaja’ (1990) and Bharti, who sang on the EP ‘Tum Mera Pyar Ho’ (1992). The group’s first release, a cover of Giorgio Moroder’s Chase, did so well that Jethwa used the royalties to bankroll his label Garage Groove Recording Corporation – a decision he made after getting turned down by the UK’s biggest bhangra labels who couldn’t figure out how to market a Black rapper performing with an Asian female vocalist. The B-side from their first EP, the underground classic ‘Aaja Re Aaja’, ‘X-290’ is a lost house anthem featuring soaring vamps, jazzy keyboard lines, and rousing computer vocals (inspired by the menacing supercomputer from the movie ‘WarGames’). Filip Nikolic (aka Turbotito) & Raghav Mani (aka Ragz) sprinkle a bit of magic on the original, working in cosmic-tinged arpeggiated synths, unreleased instrumentals, and beefed up drums to arm this classic with some extra oomph. 🤖⚡️

Massive thanks to Apple Music for already featuring ‘X-290’ on its editorial playlist and to Juno Download for the support on its homepage and Disco/Nu Disco/Re-Edits page!

‘X-290 – Turbotito & Ragz Remix’ is out on all digital platforms. 🔗

10/15/2024

Thank you Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy!

09/27/2024

OUT NOW! Naya Beat label heads Turbotito & Ragz spice up Sharlene Boodram’s sought after chutney ragga banger ‘Chamkay ‘D’ Chutney’. This is the second single from ‘Naya Beat Volume 2’ uncovering future classics from an overlooked era of South Asian house, street soul, and downtempo released between 1988 and 1994.

Trinidad & Tobago’s proclaimed Princess of Soca, Sharlene Boodram released her first EP when she was just 10 years old. Born to an Indian family but very much a product of Trinidad & Tobago’s diverse cultural melting pot, Boodram was exposed to calypso, soca, reggae, dub, Indian classical, chutney, and the Caribbean’s many musical variations in between. Not from a musical family but excelling at music from a young age, Boodram’s father, Frankie, went about building her career as a recording artist. Father and daughter would develop a special writing partnership, releasing a number of singles and EPs on their label, Parrot Records. A child star both in her home country and the broader international Caribbean touring circuit, Boodram would perform regularly at Carnivals around the world. She would later achieve international success with her 1997 cover of ‘Joe Le Taxi’. The B-side from her much sought after ‘’94 Summer’ EP, ‘Chamkay ‘D’ Chutney’ (‘stir up the chutney’) is a ragga-inspired chutney soca heater. Filip Nikolic (aka Turbotito) & Raghav Mani (aka Ragz) spice up the original with a dirty dubbed out take ripe with sitar samples, lasers and dancehall elements.

Big shout Juno Download and Beatport for supporting the remix on their reggae, dancehall and Bass NR pages!

‘Chamkay ‘D’ Chutney – Turbotito & Ragz Remix’ is out on all digital platforms. 🔗

09/25/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT! Featuring future classics from an overlooked era of South Asian house, street soul, and downtempo originally released between 1988 and 1994, we are incredibly proud to announce ‘Naya Beat Volume 2: South Asian Dance And Electronic Music 1988-1994’! Available for preorder and out on vinyl and digital on November 1, 2024.

It takes a lot of work to do something like this twice. Over three years ago we put out the critically acclaimed ‘Naya Beat Volume 1’, our first release and the birth of our label. It has taken us all that time and countless records, obscure cassettes, and unreleased studio tapes later to put together a worthy follow up!

While Volume 1 explored early 80s Balearic, synth pop, and disco, Volume 2 uncovers lost classics from later in the decade, a unique era when cross-cultural collaboration abounded in diasporic communities in cities like London and New York and when South Asian music was infused with acid house, New Beat, and dub. Often “too Asian for mainstream success in the West, and too Western for success in Asia,” the pioneering music from this time was frequently released to short-lived success or relative anonymity.

From the Hindi house of Lady M’s arpeggiated wonder ‘Kali Raat’ to the downtempo splendour of the Asha Bhosle fronted West India Company to The Jets Orkhestra’s organ-fuelled house romp ‘X-290’ and the MJ-inspired pop of Johnny Zee, this double album finally brings this music to light. It is a treasure of never-before-reissued and previously impossible-to-find holy grails. Pre-orders encouraged! 🔗

A heartfelt thank you to the artists for their trust and to our dream team for making it happen ❤

mastering Turbotito
vinyl cutting The Carvery Studio
artwork Roohan Segel
layout and design Radha Vishnubhotla
physical distribution The Pusher Distribution
digital distribution Above Board Distribution
promo Dispersion PR

09/24/2024

09/13/2024

OUT NOW. Filip Nikolic (aka Turbotito) & Raghav Mani (aka Ragz) pay tribute to the magical Sangeeta Kaur with a remix of her ’93 track ‘Calling’. Sangeeta passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. It came as a shock to her fans and all that followed her career. Our label exists to provide a platform for artists like Sangeeta, pioneers who are brave enough to be different and break the mold. Sangeeta was just that 🕊 ❤️

A welcome breath of fresh air in a traditionally male-dominated bhangra industry, Sangeeta singer came to prominence in 1991 with her second studio album ‘Flower In The Wind’. Produced and arranged by the pioneering Kuljit Bhamra and released on his imprint Keda Records, the album broke all conventions in the world of bhangra – a female-led album that was sung in Hindi instead of bhangra’s traditional language of Punjabi. The album would set sales records in the UK, reaching the number one position in both the Bhangra and Hindi charts simultaneously, and net Sangeeta a Gold Disc. Born in Luton, England, singing was perhaps written in Sangeeta’s future (her name means ‘music’ in Hindi). At the age of 12 she was presented with an award by Indian playback singing legend Lata Mangeshkar at the 1979 BBC Radio Asian Song Contest. Bhamra described her as someone who “had a unique star quality and who sang beautifully, be it in Urdu, Hindi, or Punjabi”. Released on a now hard to find EP, Turbotito & Ragz transform ‘Calling’ into a soaring anthem replete with atmospheric synths and big chords that provide a backdrop for Sangeeta’s swirling angelic vocals.

‘Calling – Turbotito & Ragz Remix’ is out on all digital platforms. 🔗

08/24/2024

Hard at work with . Naya Beat Volume 2. Coming soon ❤️‍🔥

06/25/2024

It’s been two months since ‘Bhangra House Xtc’ featuring , and was released. In addition to Bandcamp our tribute to that pioneering era of late 80s bhangra acid house and dub is available at a number of amazing record shops around the world (swipe left). Show your love, support your local record shop and get yourself a copy!

05/31/2024

In a few short hours our beloved disco mystic and Queen will embark on her first show of her first tour in 44 years. Make no mistake, this is history in the making. Kicking things off with a sold out show tonight at , Asha will be bringing her incredible legacy to life backed by one of tightest bands we have ever seen. She’ll be playing Glastonbury, We Out Here, Jazz Café and New Morning this summer to name a few followed by more dates later in the year.

When we first spoke to Asha almost three years to interview her about her track ‘Chipko Chipko’ (on our Naya Beat Volume 1 release), we hadn’t the faintest idea it would be lead us on this incredible journey with her. What a journey it has been. We’ve been working with Asha every step of the way to provide a platform for her legacy and music to receive the recognition it deserves. Embarking on a tour at the age of 79 is no small undertaking. We’ve been blown away by Asha’s strength, sense of humour and perseverance. One day we hope the story of the many challenges this incredible human has had and continues to overcome will be told and will inspire you just like it does us.

While there are too many people to thank we’d like to express our sincere gratitude to Asha’s stellar band – made up of musical director Shawn Lee (also on drums), Carl Hudson on keys, Terry Lewis on guitar, and Ernie McKone on bass – for bringing the goods. We’ve had the pleasure of being cooked up in rehearsals for three days and it has been off the hook. You are in for a treat! GO ASHA!

05/10/2024

Where Bhangra meets house Mr Scruff (pictured) and Turbotito & Ragz have been discussing their contributions to the 'Bhangra House XTC' EP, a four track 12 on Naya Beat. The EP take

04/24/2024

‘Bhangra House Xtc’ is out now on Naya Beat Records! Featuring remixes by myself and tracks by Turbotito & Raghav Mani, it’s a celebration of the late great bhangra vocalist Manjeet Kondal and his classic 1986 album ‘Holle Holle’ – produced and arranged by longtime associate Deepak Khazanchi and released on his label Arishma.

Why celebrate this album and who was Manjeet Kondal? Kondal made his start in bhangra in 1980 as the founding member and dholak player with the legendary band Alaap, an early pioneer of UK bhangra whose first three albums Khazanchi produced. In the mid-80s Kondal decided to go solo as a vocalist and approached Khazanchi to produce the music. The result? ‘Holle Holle’, a groundbreaking album that would become a household hit. The title track won best song of the year at the UK Asian Pop Awards and the album garnered mainstream support by the likes of BBC Radio 1 visionary John Peel (a fan of bhangra who would often play the music on his show).

‘Holle Holle’ represents a turning point. A transition of sorts between the more traditional rock/pop bhangra band of the early 80s and the house, dub and electronic bhangra scene of the late 80s. The production techniques on the album were influenced heavily by electronic music and cut and paste production, pioneering in bhangra at the time. Beyond Kondal’s powerful vocals, the album is a testament to the maverick work of producer-arranger Khazanchi and studio engineer Pete Ware. Khazanchi cut his teeth by working with giants such as Trevor Horn and was involved in many pioneering early 80s East-West crossover projects, from synth-pop act Blancmange to the Sheila Chandra-fronted Monsoon and Nazia and Zoheb’s iconic album ‘Young Tarang’. It is perhaps this openness to cross-cultural collaboration as well as Khazanchi’s familiarity and enthusiasm for electronic instruments and production that made ‘Holle Holle’ so pioneering.

Massive thanks to Naya Beat for inviting me to remix this absolute classic.. It was such a pleasure to work on. Also a big shout & thank you to Ruby Swallow, Rina Ladybeige, Sway Of The Verses , Ruf Dug, Aroop Roy, Dipak Mistry, Nainash Chevli, Rohan Rakhit, Zar, Raheel Khan, Phat Phil Cooper, Peggy Gou, Nick Record, David Holmes, Deb Grant on BBC Radio 6, Novena Carmel on KCRW, Resident Advisor, Mixmag, Juno Download (Single of the week!) & everyone else supporting the release.

This EP is dedicated to the memory of Manjeet Singh Kondal, 1950-2023.

Click here to listen and purchase - https://orcd.co/naya006

04/19/2024

OUT NOW! Mr. Scruff and Turbotito & Ragz are delighted to announce that ‘Bhangra House Xtc’ is out today! Our tribute to a forgotten era of late 80s UK Bhangra is now available on vinyl and all good digital platforms. The record is already on its way to shops and Bandcamp orders start shipping on Monday. We’ve had amazing support from the likes of Peggy Gou, Perel, David Holmes, Nick The Record, Deb Grant on BBC Radio 6, Novena Carmel on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, Resident Advisor, Mixmag Asia and others! Copies are going fast so we encourage you to order yours fast! 🔗

Featuring remixes by and tracks by & , the EP is a celebration of late Bhangra vocalist Manjeet Kondal and producer Deepak Khazanchi and their 1986 classic ‘Holle Holle’. The album was released at a pivotal moment of cultural and collaborative exchange between Punjabi and Caribbean diasporic communities and electronic and dance music pioneers in the UK. ‘Holle Holle’ would set the stage for a magical time in the late 80s/early 90s when house, dub, dancehall and hip-hop would profoundly impact Bhangra and in many ways shape the sound of British Asian music today. To quote journalist , “it remind(s) us that the current wave of South Asian DJs, producers, rappers and experimental artists stands on the shoulders of forgotten giants.” Ultimately the album and the era serves as a testament to the strength and perseverance of diaspora communities in the UK to forge their own unique identity.

This EP is dedicated to the memory of Manjeet Singh Kondal, 1950-2023. ❤️

mastering
vinyl cutting
artwork and design
logo
physical distribution
digital distribution
promo

04/16/2024

‘Bhangra House Xtc’ is out this Friday! Featuring remixes by and tracks by & , it’s a celebration of the late great bhangra vocalist Manjeet Kondal and his classic 1986 album ‘Holle Holle’ – produced and arranged by longtime associate Deepak Khazanchi and released on his label Arishma. Why celebrate this album and who was Manjeet Kondal? Kondal made his start in bhangra in 1980 as the founding member and dholak player with the legendary band Alaap, an early pioneer of UK bhangra whose first three albums Khazanchi produced. In the mid-80s Kondal decided to go solo as a vocalist and approached Khazanchi to produce the music. The result? ‘Holle Holle’, a groundbreaking album that would become a household hit. The title track won best song of the year at the UK Asian Pop Awards and the album garnered mainstream support by the likes of BBC Radio 1 visionary John Peel (a fan of bhangra who would often play the music on his show).

‘Holle Holle’ represents a turning point. A transition of sorts between the more traditional rock/pop bhangra band of the early 80s and the house, dub and electronic bhangra scene of the late 80s. The production techniques on the album were influenced heavily by electronic music and cut and paste production, pioneering in bhangra at the time. Beyond Kondal’s powerful vocals, the album is a testament to the maverick work of producer-arranger Khazanchi and studio engineer Pete Ware. Khazanchi cut his teeth by working with giants such as Trevor Horn and was involved in many pioneering early 80s East-West crossover projects, from synth-pop act Blancmange to the Sheila Chandra-fronted Monsoon and Nazia and Zoheb’s iconic album ‘Young Tarang’. It is perhaps this openness to cross-cultural collaboration as well as Khazanchi’s familiarity and enthusiasm for electronic instruments and production that made ‘Holle Holle’ so pioneering.

Kondal and Khazanchi would release two more albums together, ‘Wicked And Wild’ (1987) and ‘Let’s Party’ (1993) (1991’s ‘Special Brew’ was Kondal’s only album without Khazanchi). Manjeet Singh Kondal passed away last November at the age of 73. May he RIP 🕊️

03/25/2024

This week's Unfold show with label head Robert Luis is here. 📻 Listen now on Mixcloud or SoundCloud 🔊 New music from Tara Lily and Ganavya. Deep House from Nutty Nys and a classic from Mr Fingers. Hip Hop from Ice Cube remixed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Backwood Sweetie and PATEN LOCKE. Deep beats from Skwirl and DJ Counselling. A great track from the excellent Naya Beat Records. A club rocker from yourboykiran. Joy Anonymous remixes Ezra Collective feat Sampa The Great. Broken Beat from EVM128, Bruk Rogers and XL Regular. Plus plenty more music treats.

03/23/2024

Naya Beat label heads Turbotito & Ragz deliver an original track ‘Pyaar’ (Punjabi for love). A blissed out 90s dub inspired chugger featuring the vocals of t...

03/06/2024

SOLD OUT! The second pressing of the limited edition of ‘Disco Mystic: Select Remixes Volume 1’ is officially sold out! If you somehow missed out on the die cut and gold embossed sleeve, don’t worry! Our third pressing is similarly otherworldly with beautiful artwork on a standard outer sleeve. Fresh off the pressing plant, it’s currently making its way to Naya Beat HQ and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. We cannot be more grateful for the continued response to this release. Scroll left for the recent words of wonderful journalist on Disco Mystic and published in India’s biggest weekend newspaper . Our love to , , , , , and for making this magic happen. We’ve got more exciting news coming from the orbit of the Disco Mystic. Stay tuned! ✨🚀