Talvin Singh was born in London in the early 1970s; as a young boy he was inspired to play tabla on his grandmother’s knees upon hearing the great masters on the TV or early recordings. His upbringing in a vibrant and multi cultural city and the sacred heritage of Indian classical & folk music provided an inspiring background. His tastes ranged from Ravi Shankar and Alla Rakha Khan to local bands like the Jam. It was this diverse appreciation for music that inspired the young boy to seriously consider training in tabla.
At 15, after convincing his parents and teachers to allow him to take early examinations Talvin was initiated to become a disciple of the great academic and musician Lachman Singh Seen of Punjab. After initially spending 3 years learning, the young man returned to London with a life long effort in mastering his instrument and upholding the traditions of the famous Punjab Gharana (school).
At 18, Singh continued his formal education in Art History. In demand for studio sessions, the young musician was becoming a sought after programmer producer and tabla artist in the late 1980s underground scene. This was an exciting period. Acid House was emerging as well as a fledgling UK dance scene. Still only 18, Singh embarked on a tour with renowned saxophonist Courtney Pine to Russia and Eastern Europe. An estimated 25 Pop albums of that time had the melodic tabla rhythms or frenetic programming of the ambitious tabla artist and producer. He worked with seminal artists Sun Ra and Massive Attack.
Talvin Singh closely collaborated with Bjork on her Debut (1995) album and her subsequent World Tour. Madonna asked him to do remixes for both her Ray of Light (1997) and Music (2001) albums. As a producer and cutting edge artist his studio sense is unique.
At the age of 23 he created his own record label Omni and released the concept album Calcutta Cyber Cafe as a limited release.
Singh toured the United States with the seminal record breaking Lollapalooza Tour playing to sold out mega stadiums in North America.
The early 90s urban club and music scene was rapidly progressing. Jungle and Drum & Bass was being born in clubs like the Blue Note in Hoxton Square, east London. His club night hosted early experiments with the self-invented Tabla-tronics instrument. New acts such as The Asian Dub Foundation, Joi and The State of Bengal were presented, as well as the music of A.R Rahman were introduced to a western audience for the first time. He conceived and licensed a compilation album Anokha Soundz of Asian underground (Island 1996) on his Omni label. One evening the electronica wizard Square Pusher (Warp) Bjork and India’s great Hari Haran jammed on the same stage. It was to celebrate Talvin’s 25th birthday.
Anokha was received to instant acclaim and his weekly Mondays became the stomping ground for tastemakers clubbers and recotrd label A&R reps. The highly evolved melody and complex rhythmic intensity of Indian Classical music meeting the technology and gritty electronica in Jungle began a music sub-genre a sound of Asian underground. Having created the environment & marketplace for the burgeoning movement he went to New York for a meeting with Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. Blackwell had introduced Bob Marley and U2 to the world. Island Records offered Talvin a world-wide recording deal andthe company was rewarded for its belief when Singh’s debut solo album OK (Island 1999) won the celebrated Mercury Music Prize for Popular Music and South Bank Prize for Popular music in the same year. OK was recorded over 3 continents and featured many musicians.
Singh presented a single pre-sold live show at the Barbican Centre London. Performing on stage were pianist Ruichi Sakamoto sarangi maestro Sultan Khan vocalist Cleveland Watkiss trumpeter Byron Wallen and other musicians. OK was hailed a rare achievement in modern electronic music its sophistication and depth making it an instant classic.
His relationship with Guruji his musical master is one in the true Guru-Shishya tradition. During his meteoric rise to acclaim the student would visit Jalandhar to be with his musical master time spent refining his musical aesthetic and spiritual focus.
His composition Butterfly (OK 1999) was chosen by choreographer Durshan Singh Bullah to celebrate midnight at the Millenium Dome London (1999); attended by British Prime minister Tony Blair and other dignitaries.
In 2000, the celebrated producer released his second solo album Ha (Island 2). During that Singh artist embarked on his debut Tabla solo World Tour Untouched. A film made titled Drum & Space. Also in 2000 Singh curated a festival at London’s South Bank Centre which included Iranian artist Susan Deyhiem Sultan Khan and DJ Howie B.
In 2001 Singh presented a composition at the Barbican Centre London. The Electronickfestival which included his contemporaries William Orbit Craig Armstrong & Aphex Twin Richard D. James; commemorated the achievements of Karl Heinz Stockhausen a pioneer in post-modern music and theory. He also opened the new wing of the Tate Britain gallery with a solo tabla performance attended by the Queen of England.
In 2002 Singh recorded his first Indian Classical solo tabla.
In 2003 Singh composed a piece for a Choir and Orchestra intended for performance in the cathedral Abbey Church of Saint Denis an 11th century gothic masterpiece in Paris.
Talvin Singh continues to write and produce music for personal projects & teaching as a Music Director, Hollywood & Bollywood icon.
Discography:
Ok (Island Records, 1998)
Ha (Island Records, 2001)
Back to Mine (DMC, 2001)
Vira (Navras, 2002)
Sweet Box (2008)
Songs for the Inner World (Naive, 2007)
Together (World Village, 2011)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
