Bombay Rockers

Last updated
Bombay Rockers
OriginDenmark
Genres Pop, hip-hop, rock, Bhangra
Years active2002–present
Labels Times Music, Discowax
Members Navtej Singh Rehal
Thomas Sardorf
Janus Barnewitz
Website bombayrockers.com

Bombay Rockers [1] is a Danish-Indian band, popular in India. Their debut album Introducing has gone five times platinum with sales of over 100,000 albums.

Contents

Biography

In 2002, the Indian singer Navtej Singh Rehal [2] (Naf) was introduced to the Scandinavian producer-team WCA (Thomas Sardorf and Janus Barnewitz) and started out mixing a hybrid of R&B, Hip Hop and Bhangra-influenced vocals, reflecting on their varied cultural backgrounds. Naf, 27, delivers the Punjabi vocals. Thomas, also 27, performs with English vocals.

Their first collaboration, "Ari Ari", got massive national airplay in Denmark and became a favourite of left field DJs. In July 2003, Bombay Rockers went on stage with the house duo Filur at Roskilde Festival in front of roughly 25,000 people. [3] A month later they were performing in the "Images of Asia" festival, as well as playing numerous concerts in Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark. In February 2003, they performed with the famous English DJ project Panjabi MC.

“Sexy Mama”, their follow-up, released in late 2003, was the first official single from their album Introducing . This track again received airplay all over the country. The next hit single “Rock tha Party” became a major radio hit. Danish national radio had it on A-rotation, it was on top of the Danish Dance Chart and the Danish Single Chart. It was published on various compilations released in Denmark throughout 2004. While their third single and video for "Wild Rose" (shot in Dubai) and debut album Introducing... was promoted in Denmark. Bombay Rockers' debut album was released in more than 32 countries worldwide in 2005. In Germany "Sexy Mama" was released in mid-2005 and is getting a lot of airplay and buzz.

Also in 2005, they supported some of Irish pop vocal band Westlife's The No 1's concert tour dates

The Rockers are currently enjoying great success in India and Pakistan. Their album has sold more than 100,000 copies and has now gone five times platinum. It was #1 for 15 consecutive weeks on the Indian Album Charts. They were also the supporting act for the popband Westlife at gigs in Dubai and Bahrain.

The album Crash and Burn was released in 2007. "Kushi", one of the singles, has received a lot of play time on Indian and Pakistani music channels as well as in Sri-Lanka.

The new album "Rock and Dhol" was released worldwide on iTunes on March 21 and the CD released in India on March 29, 2011. The album consists of 12 tracks and again puts a lot of influence on the hybrid of R&B and Bhangra. The album is getting really positive reviews and the singles "Lets Dance", "Nava Nava" and "Ishq" are already proving immensely popular with the masses and are getting a great deal of airplay on the Indo-Pak radio circuit. Response in Denmark has also been good. Bombay rockers [4] is currently touring all over the world.

Prior to the release of the album the band had reemerged on the music scene after a two year break with music video release of the single "Lets Dance".

They are working on new tracks and some collaborations across the country. Currently they are working on upcoming Bollywood projects. They sang and gave the music for the song "Rock Tha Party" for the film Rocky Handsome.

Stage shows

Discography

Studio albums

Remix albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhangra (music)</span> Upbeat type of popular music associated with British Punjabi culture

Bhangra is a type of non-traditional music of Punjab originating from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. It is a type of upbeat popular music associated with the Punjabi diaspora. The style has its origins in the folk music of Punjab as well as western pop music of the 1970s and 1980s. Prior to this musical fusion, Bhangra existed only as a dance form in the native Punjab Over the years, Bhangra has evolved and gained popularity not only in South Asia but also around the world. It has become a significant part of the cultural identity of the Punjabi diaspora in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. It is a type of upbeat popular music associated with Punjab. The style has its origins in the folk music of Punjab as well as western pop music of the 1970s and 1980s. Prior to this musical fusion, Bhangra existed only as a dance form in the native Punjab. This Punjabi music was unique in that it was not traditional nor did it seek any authenticity. While the traditional folk music of Punjab has a set of melodies that are used by various singers, Bhangra was a form of strict "band culture" in that new melodies were composed for each song. Therefore, the musicians were as important as the singers. Some New Punjabi Singer's are Raka, Vadda Grewal, Prince Poddar, Jass Manak, Karan Randhawa, Guru Randhawa, Diljit Dosanjh

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panjabi MC</span> British-Indian rapper and producer

Rajinder Singh Rai, better known by his stage name Panjabi MC, is a British-Indian recording artist, rapper, producer and DJ. He is best known for the worldwide 2002 Bhangra hit "Mundian To Bach Ke", which sold 10 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. Among other songs, he gained acclaim with the 2003 release "Jogi". AllMusic has called him "one of the most prominent names in bhangra".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chimta</span> Type of musical instrument

Chimta literally means tongs. Over time it has evolved into a traditional instrument of South Asia by the permanent addition of small brass jingles. This instrument is often used in popular Punjabi folk songs, Bhangra music and the Sikh religious music known as Gurbani Kirtan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uptown Girl</span> 1983 single by Billy Joel

"Uptown Girl" is a song written and performed by American musician Billy Joel from his ninth studio album An Innocent Man (1983), released in September 1983 as the album's second single. The lyrics describe a working-class "downtown man" attempting to woo a wealthy "uptown girl". The 12" EP has the tracks "My Life", "Just the Way You Are" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", whereas some 7" single versions featured "Careless Talk" as a B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexy Dancer</span> 1980 single by Prince

"Sexy Dancer" is a song by Prince, released in the UK as the second single from his self-titled second album. It was the first Prince single released outside the United States that was not released as a single stateside. The disco number has few lyrics but contains prominent bass guitar, grunts and screams. It also has elements of rock and R&B.

Swami is a British Indian electronic music/ bhangra/ world music act from Birmingham, England. "Swami" is also the pseudonym of the DJ producer Diamond Duggal. Swami currently performs as a hybrid electronic DJ act with special world music guests and collaborations including Deep Forest and PunjabTronix.

<i>No Reservations</i> (Apache Indian album) 1993 studio album by Apache Indian

No Reservations is the debut studio album by British-Asian musician Apache Indian, released in January 1993 by Island Records and their subsidiary Mango. The musician and singer recorded the album primarily in Jamaica's Tuff Gong studios with producers including Simon and Diamond, Bobby Digital, Phil Chill and Sly Dunbar. It follows, and includes, Apache Indian's 1990–91 singles – "Move Over India", "Chok There" and "Don Raja" – which saw him pioneer a fusion of Jamaican ragga and Indian bhangra later known as bhangramuffin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny Jain</span> American drummer

Sunny Jain is an Indian American dhol player, drummer, and Indo jazz composer. He is recognized as a leading voice in the burgeoning movement of South Asian-American jazz musicians. His albums have received international acclaim for their "groundbreaking synthesis", as he brings together the ancient sounds of his cultural heritage, jazz and a host of other sounds.

Bikram Singh is an American bhangra music artist. A graduate of Touro Law School, he also works as an attorney in New York City.

<i>Introducing</i> (Bombay Rockers album) 2003 studio album by Bombay Rockers

Introducing is the debut album by Bombay Rockers released in 2003. 100,000 copies of their album have been sold. It also has now gone five times platinum. Introducing was critically acclaimed in Denmark and reached number one on the Album Chart. It was also number one for 15 consecutive weeks on the Indian Album Chart.

Navtej Singh Rehal, popularly known as Naf, is the lead singer of the Indo-Danish music band named Bombay Rockers. His co-partner is Thomas Sardorf. Rehal delivers the Punjabi vocals and plays guitar and keyboards in the band. His debut album Introducing has gone five times platinum with sales of over 100,000 albums. It was No.1 for 15 consecutive weeks on the Indian album charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil Mama</span> American rapper (born 1989)

Niatia Jessica Kirkland, better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is an American rapper and singer. She experienced top 10 Billboard placements at 17 with her debut album VYP (2008), which debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned her four major singles including her staple song and dance anthem "Lip Gloss", earning her two Teen Choice Awards and Monster Single of the Year nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards. Kirkland gained further attention in pop music after a collaboration with Avril Lavigne for the remix of her hit single "Girlfriend".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Mama Don't Dance</span> 1972 single by Loggins and Messina

"Your Mama Don't Dance" is a hit 1972 song by the rock duo Loggins and Messina. Released on their self-titled album Loggins and Messina, it reached number four on the Billboard pop chart and number 19 on the Billboard Easy Listening Chart as a single in early 1973.

<i>Crash and Burn</i> (Bombay Rockers album) 2007 studio album by Bombay Rockers

Crash And Burn is the second album by the Bombay Rockers released on 1 June 2007. It reached number one in India and Denmark.

<i>Rock tha Party</i> 2004 remix album by Bombay Rockers

Rock Tha Party is a remix album by the Bombay Rockers of their hit tracks "Sexy Mama" and "Rock Tha Party". It features eight versions of each song.

Paramjit Singh Sidhu, professionally known as Pami Bai, is an Indian singer, songwriter and Bhangra dancer from Patiala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GoonRock</span> American musician and hip hop producer

David Jamahl Listenbee, better known by his stage name GoonRock, is an American record producer, musician, singer, songwriter and rapper. Raised in Los Angeles, California, early in his career he focused on hip hop and sold beats to artists such as Dr. Dre, Ne-Yo, Kanye West, and Juvenile. He later began incorporating club music. GoonRock co-wrote and co-produced a number of songs on LMFAO's 2011 album Sorry for Party Rocking, including hit singles "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It."

Thomas Sardorf is a popular Danish singer who is part of the popular Danish/Punjabi singing band Bombay Rockers along with co-singer Navtej Singh Rehal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloodywood</span> Indian metal band

Bloodywood is an Indian heavy metal band from New Delhi, formed in 2016. They began as a parody band that uploaded metal covers of pop songs on YouTube and later wrote their own music. They have cited Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, Alter Bridge, and Limp Bizkit as musical influences.

"Ari Ari (Indian Street Metal)" is a single by Indian heavy metal band Bloodywood. The track is their first song to feature rapper Raoul Kerr, who would later become a permanent member of the band.

References

  1. "planetradiocity.com has expired". www.planetradiocity.com.
  2. "Bombay Rockers News: Latest News and Updates on Bombay Rockers at News18". www.news18.com.
  3. Tyagi, Akshay. "Bombay Rockers talk about their past/present/future, and the Desi music scene". The MusicIRIS. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  4. d'Cruz, Caroline. "Bombay Rockers back with a new album! - Times of India". The Times of India.