Gurdeep Samra
Encyclopedia
Gurdeep Samra is a British Asian
music producer and DJ hailing from Bicester
, England, UK. As a producer, he has a notable presence within the world music
community. He is often labelled as a producer of bhangra music.
, England, UK and is of Jatt descent. He grew up in the nearby town of Bicester
and attended The Cooper Secondary School and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
respectively. He earned a publishing degree at Oxford Brookes University
.
and bhangra music but it was the unique fusion of both genres by DJ/producer Panjabi MC
that inspired Gurdeep to begin experimenting himself and to study music theory from a young age.
In 2002, Gurdeep released a collaboration with Panjabi folk singer, Surinder Shinda
. The song, Jatt Panjab became a minor radio favorite with specialist Asian music stations in the UK. The track caught the attention of Markie Mark
who licenced the song for the compilation album Desi Beats Vol 1. This album went on to be released by the UK imprint of the music label Def Jam. Since this debut, Gurdeep has released a steady string of underground recordings and remixes (see discography below).
Gurdeep champions the method of digital delivery in the retail of his music. Having released an MP3 single (Sharabbia) on his own web-site in 2004 and then again on iTunes in 2006, he claims to be one of the first UK Asian artists to have independently achieved this. His subsequent releases after The First Cut EP have all been for digital retail only.
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
music producer and DJ hailing from Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
, England, UK. As a producer, he has a notable presence within the world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
community. He is often labelled as a producer of bhangra music.
Biography
Gurdeep was born in OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England, UK and is of Jatt descent. He grew up in the nearby town of Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
and attended The Cooper Secondary School and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
Oxford & Cherwell Valley College is a multi-campus college in Oxfordshire, England. It was created in 2003 as "Oxford & Cherwell College" - a result of the merger between Oxford College of Further Education, North Oxfordshire College in Banbury and Rycotewood College in Thame...
respectively. He earned a publishing degree at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
.
Career in Music
Gurdeep was influenced by both hip-hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and bhangra music but it was the unique fusion of both genres by DJ/producer Panjabi MC
Panjabi MC
Rajinder Singh Rai , better known by his stage name Panjabi MC is a British Indian musician.-Career:...
that inspired Gurdeep to begin experimenting himself and to study music theory from a young age.
In 2002, Gurdeep released a collaboration with Panjabi folk singer, Surinder Shinda
Surinder Shinda
Surinder Shinda is an Indian singer of bhangra music with traditional Punjabi roots, who is considered a "grandfather of modern Punjabi music", and has been described as "legendary". He has had numerous hit songs including Putt Jattan De, Truck Billiya, Balbiro Bhabhi, Kaher Singh Di Mout and...
. The song, Jatt Panjab became a minor radio favorite with specialist Asian music stations in the UK. The track caught the attention of Markie Mark
Markie Mark
Markie Mark is the Head of Music at the BBC Asian Network from January 2006. Markie Mark was born in Hounslow in 1974 and is a DJ with the Panjabi Hit Squad.In 2003 he won the "Commitment to the Scene" award at the UK Asian Music Awards,...
who licenced the song for the compilation album Desi Beats Vol 1. This album went on to be released by the UK imprint of the music label Def Jam. Since this debut, Gurdeep has released a steady string of underground recordings and remixes (see discography below).
Gurdeep champions the method of digital delivery in the retail of his music. Having released an MP3 single (Sharabbia) on his own web-site in 2004 and then again on iTunes in 2006, he claims to be one of the first UK Asian artists to have independently achieved this. His subsequent releases after The First Cut EP have all been for digital retail only.
Full Discography
- 2003 - Panjabi Hit Squad’s Desi Beats Vol 1 - Def Jam UK (Various Artists Comp - Contributor)
- 2005 - The First Cut EP - Gsamra.com
- 2005 - Ashlene Nand presents BHOOD - Bollyhood Records (Various Artists Comp - Contributor)
- 2005 - Jade Foxx's LAWHT Mixtape 2 - Full Impact (Compilation/Contributor)
- 2005 - Future World Funk’s On The Run - Ether Music (Various Artists Comp - Contributor)
- 2006 - Beginners Guide to Asian Lounge - Nascente Music (Various Artists Comp - Contributor)
- 2007 - Back for the Second EP - Gsamra.com
- 2007 - Project 3 EP - Gsamra.com
- 2009 - The First Cut EP (Remastered Edition) - Gsamra.com
- 2009 - Just the Beats: Vol 1 - Gsamra.com (Instrumental Compilation)
- 2009 - Ready & Reloaded EP - Gsamra.com
- 2009 - Undercover Funk EP - Creative Independent
- 2011 - Untitled Project EP - Creative Independent (Release Date TBC)
- 2011 - Just the Beats: Vol 2 - Creative Independent (Release Date TBC)