State of Bengal (artist)
Encyclopedia
Sam Zaman recording as State of Bengal, is a British DJ
and Music producer
associated with the UK and Asian Underground
movement.
descent, he was born in Karachi
and lived in Ankara
, Amman
, and Dhaka
before arriving in London
at the age of eight. Sam Zaman set up the "State of Bengal" group in London
after a visit to Noakhali
, Bangladesh
in 1987, where he interacted with traditional folk musicians and dancers. Original members of the group included his brother Deedar Zaman (later associated with the Asian Dub Foundation
), and MC Mustaq (lead rapper for Fun-Da-Mental
). Outside of the State of Bengal project, Zaman also worked with British Asian
youth groups, setting up music training workshops.
State of Bengal was a DJ at the influential Anokha club in London's East End
during the mid-1990s. His tracks "Flight IC408" and "Chittagong Chill" - written and produced with Matt Mars - were featured on Anokha Soundz of the Asian Underground compilation, and helped him gain prominence. Singer Björk
discovered his work at Anokha; he opened with the homeogenic world tour, and remix her track "Hunter
" after hearing the original "Hunter" by SOB In September 1996, thereby signing to the One Little Indian record label.
After Anokha, State of Bengal took up residency at the Off Centre club nights. He produced his debut album Visual Audio toured solo and at several international festivals, and did extensive remix work.
After the release of Visual Audio, State of Bengal worked on two significant projects with musicians from Bengal
, collaborating with Indian sitar
innovator Ananda Shankar
, a long-time hero, on the 2000 album Walking On, and with Baul
singer Paban Das Baul
on the 2004 album Tana Tani (Push & Pull).
2007 has seen State of Bengal bring out his latest album, Skip Ij. featuring Deeder Zaman, Nexmanz, Rosina Kazi, Johanna Marin, Marque Innamost Gilmore, Coco Varma, Pundit Dinesh, Poet ME, Ram Nagi, Kevin Davy, Renu Hossain and Susmita Bannerjee. Also a track written by the revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam
, sung by British Bengali
artist Suzana Ansar
,
PAST EVENTS
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and Music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
associated with the UK and Asian Underground
Asian Underground
Asian Underground is a term associated with various British Asian musicians who blend elements of western underground dance music and the traditional Asian music of their home countries in South Asia...
movement.
Biography
Sam is of BangladeshiBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
descent, he was born in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and lived in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, and Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
before arriving in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the age of eight. Sam Zaman set up the "State of Bengal" group in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
after a visit to Noakhali
Noakhali District
Noakhali is a district in South-eastern Bangladesh. It is located in the Chittagong Division.-Geography:Noakhali District located in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1987, where he interacted with traditional folk musicians and dancers. Original members of the group included his brother Deedar Zaman (later associated with the Asian Dub Foundation
Asian Dub Foundation
Asian Dub Foundation are a British electronica band that plays a mix of rapcore, dub, dancehall and ragga, also using rock instruments, acknowledging a punk influence...
), and MC Mustaq (lead rapper for Fun-Da-Mental
Fun-Da-Mental
Fun-Da-Mental is a British-based multi-ethnic hip-hop–ethno-techno–world fusion music group formed in 1991. The group is notable for its energetic fusion of Eastern and Western musical forms, for its outspoken political stance, and for its strong Islamic affiliation and advocacy. Fun-Da-Mental's...
). Outside of the State of Bengal project, Zaman also worked with British Asian
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...
youth groups, setting up music training workshops.
State of Bengal was a DJ at the influential Anokha club in London's East End
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
during the mid-1990s. His tracks "Flight IC408" and "Chittagong Chill" - written and produced with Matt Mars - were featured on Anokha Soundz of the Asian Underground compilation, and helped him gain prominence. Singer Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
discovered his work at Anokha; he opened with the homeogenic world tour, and remix her track "Hunter
Hunter (Björk song)
"Hunter" is a song by Björk, released in 1998 as the third single from Homogenic. The song peaked at number 43 in the UK Singles Chart and at number 55 on the French Singles Chart.The song also appeared on the soundtrack to The X-Files movie....
" after hearing the original "Hunter" by SOB In September 1996, thereby signing to the One Little Indian record label.
After Anokha, State of Bengal took up residency at the Off Centre club nights. He produced his debut album Visual Audio toured solo and at several international festivals, and did extensive remix work.
After the release of Visual Audio, State of Bengal worked on two significant projects with musicians from Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, collaborating with Indian sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
innovator Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar was a Bengali musician best known for fusing Western and Eastern musical styles. He was married to Tanusree Shankar.-Early life:...
, a long-time hero, on the 2000 album Walking On, and with Baul
Baul
Baul .Though Bauls comprise only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence on the culture of Bengal is considerable. In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.-Etymology:The origin of the word...
singer Paban Das Baul
Paban Das Baul
Paban Das Baul is a noted baul singer and musician from India, who also plays a dubki, a small tambourine and sometimes an ektara as an accompaniment...
on the 2004 album Tana Tani (Push & Pull).
2007 has seen State of Bengal bring out his latest album, Skip Ij. featuring Deeder Zaman, Nexmanz, Rosina Kazi, Johanna Marin, Marque Innamost Gilmore, Coco Varma, Pundit Dinesh, Poet ME, Ram Nagi, Kevin Davy, Renu Hossain and Susmita Bannerjee. Also a track written by the revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam , sobriquet Bidrohi Kobi, was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi...
, sung by British Bengali
British Bangladeshi
A British Bangladeshi is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis...
artist Suzana Ansar
Suzana Ansar
Suzana Ansar is a British Bengali singer and actress.-Background:Ansar was born in Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leyton, East London, United Kingdom to British Bengali ex pat parents, UK community activist Syeda S Karim, and chartered accountant/businessman Mohamed Ansar Uddin...
,
PAST EVENTS
Solo albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Visual Audio | One Little Indian Records One Little Indian Records One Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and... , Virgin Records Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny... , Six Degrees Records Six Degrees Records Six Degrees Records is an independent record label noted for its catalog of recordings from international musicians and vocalists. It has been described by the journalist and producer Derek Beres as "one of the most groundbreaking labels of the past decade."... |
| 2007 | Skip-IJ (Compact Disc) | Betelnut Records |
| 2008 | Skip-IJ (Digital) | Betelnut Records |
Collaborations and contributions
| Year | Artist(s) | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Ananda Shankar Ananda Shankar Ananda Shankar was a Bengali musician best known for fusing Western and Eastern musical styles. He was married to Tanusree Shankar.-Early life:... Experience & State of Bengal |
Walking On | Realworld Records, Virgin Records |
| 2004 | State of Bengal vs. Paban Das Baul Paban Das Baul Paban Das Baul is a noted baul singer and musician from India, who also plays a dubki, a small tambourine and sometimes an ektara as an accompaniment... |
Tana Tani | Realworld Records, EMI Records EMI Records EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide... |
Compilations
| Year | Artist(s) | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Various artists | Anokha - Soundz of the Asian Underground | Omni/Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
Remixes and other work
| Year | Artist(s) | Title | Album/Single | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Björk Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk... |
Hunter Hunter (Björk song) "Hunter" is a song by Björk, released in 1998 as the third single from Homogenic. The song peaked at number 43 in the UK Singles Chart and at number 55 on the French Singles Chart.The song also appeared on the soundtrack to The X-Files movie.... remix |
Hunter (single) | One Little Indian Records |
| 1998 | Massive Attack Massive Attack Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip... |
Inertia Creeps | Mezzanine - The Remixes (album) | Virgin Records |
| 1998 | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Shadow | Star Rise: Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn and Michael Brook Remixed Star Rise Star Rise is a remix from two previous Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan / Michael Brook collaborations. The album was dedicated to the memory of Khan, who died prior to the album's completion, and released posthumously by Real World Records.... |
Realworld Records |
| 1998 | Ronnie Jordon | New Delhi Island | Unreleased | |
| 1999 | Amar Amar (singer) Amar is a British Indiansinger signed to the independent label Sunset Entertainment Group. She is also the daughter of Mangal Singh . She is a singer and songwriter who writes her own material... |
Day By Day, If You Say That You Love Me & Sometimes It Snows In April | Unreleased | Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies... |
| 1999 | Euphoria Euphoria (Indian band) Euphoria , is an Indian rock band from the city of Delhi, India.-Films:The band has composed the soundtrack for a Malayalam film named Best of luck .-Albums:* 1998 - Dhoom* 2000 - Phir Dhoom* 2003 - Gully* 2006 - Mehfuz* 2008 - ReDhoom... |
Delirium 'Delhi Rias Mix' | Delirium Remixes (single) | Six Degrees Records |
| 1999 | Cheb i Sabbah Cheb i Sabbah Cheb i Sabbah , born Haim Serge El Baz in Constantine, Algeria, is a club DJ based in San Francisco, California.... |
Shri Durga | Tantra Lounge (album) | Six Degrees Records |
| 2000 | Jolly Mukherjee Jolly Mukherjee Jolly Mukherjee is an Indian singer/songwriter. Known as India's "King of Strings", Mukherjee specializes in the music of Bollywood, or the Indian film industry. He started his career as a backup singer for commercials, then moving on to writing music for airline on-flight introductions, where he... |
Madhuvanthi, Jhinjoti, Sarang | Fusebox (album) | Palm Pictures Palm Pictures Palm Pictures is a US-based entertainment company owned and run by Chris Blackwell. Palm Pictures produces, acquires and distributes innovative music and film projects with a particular focus on the DVD format... |
| 2000 | Mindless Self Indulgence Mindless Self Indulgence Mindless Self Indulgence is an American musical group formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno and industrial... |
Bitches remix | Bitches/Molly (single) | Elektra Records Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... |
| 2000 | Solar Twins Solar Twins (band) Solar Twins are an English electronica duo with Joanna Stevens and David Norland .Solar Twins were signed by Guy Oseary at Maverick Records after playing at Viper Room. They are known for their version of Rock the Casbah, found on the soundtrack to the movie Brokedown Palace... |
Rock The Casbah remix | Rock The Casbah (single) | Maverick Records Maverick Records Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:... |
| 2001 | Khaled Khaled (musician) Khaled Hadj Ibrahim , better known as Khaled, is a raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Sidi El Houari in Oran Province of Algeria... |
Mal Habibti | Barclay Records Barclay Records Barclay Records is a French record label founded in the mid-1950s by Eddie Barclay under the alias, Edouard Ruault. Eddie Barclay also founded the Riviera label in the early-1950s.... |
|
| 2001 | Amar Amar (singer) Amar is a British Indiansinger signed to the independent label Sunset Entertainment Group. She is also the daughter of Mangal Singh . She is a singer and songwriter who writes her own material... & Khaled Khaled (musician) Khaled Hadj Ibrahim , better known as Khaled, is a raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Sidi El Houari in Oran Province of Algeria... |
El Harba Wine | Barclay Records |
External links
- StateOfBengal.com Betelnut-Records.com
- Ethnotechno interview with State of Bengal
- AsianVibrations.com interview with State of Bengal
- About State Of Bengal @ Six Degrees RecordsSix Degrees RecordsSix Degrees Records is an independent record label noted for its catalog of recordings from international musicians and vocalists. It has been described by the journalist and producer Derek Beres as "one of the most groundbreaking labels of the past decade."...
website (feat. a portrait photo). - BritBangla | British Bengali Success Stories - State of Bengali: Sam Zaman