Surj Sahota
Encyclopedia
Surj Sahota is the lead singer/song-writer and music producer of the band Sahotas
whose work combines the Bhangra genre with Pop, House, Reggae and Rock, focusing on vocal styles and sounds. This transfusion occurred during the apex of Bhangra Music in the 1980s and 1990s when there was an abundance of Live British Asian Music across the United Kingdom; and when British Asian Music sought to be recognised by the mainstream music industry. The Sahotas were at the forefront of seeking this recognition, performing live on Cilla Black
’s ‘Surprise, Surprise’, ‘Blue Peter
’, '8:15 from Manchester
' and 'Eggs 'n' Baker
'. The Sahotas also joined Apache Indian on Carton TV's Soul Music
and performed the soulful spiritual song 'Urdaas (Prayer)'.
The band were signed by Miles Copeland's EMI Records
, who at the time was Sting's Manager. The single 'Out of Reach' and the album 'Right Time' reached the UK Top 100, the first for a British Asian Artist. This was closely followed by a nationwide tour with top reggae band ‘Aswad
’.
Sahotas toured and explored the world of music in Africa, India, Pakistan, the US, Canada, Europe with exhilarating live performances. Pushing all the dimensions of musical innovation and creativity of British Urban Bhangra music, bringing a new groove to dancefloors worldwide with the new sounds, meaningful lyrics, breath-taking melodies and vocals producing the distinctiveness of the Sahotas with hit songs like, ‘Sahota Show Te Jake’, ‘Hass Hogia’, ‘Mahi Di Udeek’, ‘Gal Bangaee’, ‘Akhian Samaal’, ‘Dang Ditha’, ‘Sach’, ‘Ajaa Ajaa Ajaa’, ‘Heerie’, and many more......
The Sahotas achieved many accolades during the last 20 years including ‘Best Band’, ‘Best Live Band’, and were awarded Platinum and Gold Discs for album sales. The band were awarded 'Band of the Millennium'
At the heart of Surj's and the Sahotas music is his love and respect for his fans
"Music in the soul can be heard by the Universe" - Surj
His musical journey has taken him to many places, over the last few years. He has been working with Urban Tribe a Swedish Reggae band and with Basil Gabbidon
founder of Steel Pulse
.
Discography:
List of Punjabi singers
Sahotas
Sahotas
Sahotas were a U.K. based Bhangra/Rock/World music band. The band, started in Wolverhampton in the mid-1980s, had a line-up of five brothers. The band's music is very different from conventional Punjabi music. They have released music in both English and Punjabi...
whose work combines the Bhangra genre with Pop, House, Reggae and Rock, focusing on vocal styles and sounds. This transfusion occurred during the apex of Bhangra Music in the 1980s and 1990s when there was an abundance of Live British Asian Music across the United Kingdom; and when British Asian Music sought to be recognised by the mainstream music industry. The Sahotas were at the forefront of seeking this recognition, performing live on Cilla Black
Cilla Black
Cilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...
’s ‘Surprise, Surprise’, ‘Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
’, '8:15 from Manchester
8:15 from Manchester
8:15 from Manchester is a Saturday morning children's magazine show broadcast on BBC1 when Going Live! was between series.Broadcasting from Manchester, it was presented by Ross King and Charlotte Hindle. The first edition was broadcast on 21 April 1990. It was produced by Martyn Day...
' and 'Eggs 'n' Baker
Eggs 'n' Baker
Eggs 'n' Baker was a Saturday morning Children's BBC music and cookery show presented by ex-Bucks Fizz singer Cheryl Baker. It was often shown in the early morning slot before the magazine show, Going Live....
'. The Sahotas also joined Apache Indian on Carton TV's Soul Music
Soul Music
Soul Music is the sixteenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, first published in 1994. Like many of Pratchett's novels it introduces an element of modern society into the magical and vaguely late medieval, early modern world of the Discworld, in this case Rock and Roll music and stardom, with...
and performed the soulful spiritual song 'Urdaas (Prayer)'.
The band were signed by Miles Copeland's 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...
, who at the time was Sting's Manager. The single 'Out of Reach' and the album 'Right Time' reached the UK Top 100, the first for a British Asian Artist. This was closely followed by a nationwide tour with top reggae band ‘Aswad
Aswad
Aswad are a long-lasting British reggae group, noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid 1970s, having released a total of twenty-one albums.-History:...
’.
Sahotas toured and explored the world of music in Africa, India, Pakistan, the US, Canada, Europe with exhilarating live performances. Pushing all the dimensions of musical innovation and creativity of British Urban Bhangra music, bringing a new groove to dancefloors worldwide with the new sounds, meaningful lyrics, breath-taking melodies and vocals producing the distinctiveness of the Sahotas with hit songs like, ‘Sahota Show Te Jake’, ‘Hass Hogia’, ‘Mahi Di Udeek’, ‘Gal Bangaee’, ‘Akhian Samaal’, ‘Dang Ditha’, ‘Sach’, ‘Ajaa Ajaa Ajaa’, ‘Heerie’, and many more......
The Sahotas achieved many accolades during the last 20 years including ‘Best Band’, ‘Best Live Band’, and were awarded Platinum and Gold Discs for album sales. The band were awarded 'Band of the Millennium'
At the heart of Surj's and the Sahotas music is his love and respect for his fans
"Music in the soul can be heard by the Universe" - Surj
His musical journey has taken him to many places, over the last few years. He has been working with Urban Tribe a Swedish Reggae band and with Basil Gabbidon
Basil Gabbidon
Basil Gabbidon is a guitarist / vocalist, and a founding member of the reggae band Steel Pulse....
founder of Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
.
Discography:
- 2002 Dil Vich Tu Vasdi Tips - India (Released for India)
- 2001 Revolution Envy
- 1999 Brotherhood Envy
- 1998 Maa da Pyar
- 1997 Decade
- 1995 Suniye EP Roma Music
- 1995 The Right Time IRS Records/EMI
- 1994 Out of Reach - Single IRS Records/EMI
- 1991 Ishk Multitone Records
- 1990 Are You Feeling EP Rough Trade
- 1989 AaJa Multitone Records
- 1988 Sahota Beat Multitone Records
- 1987 Gidha Pao Multitone Records
See also
List of Bhangra BandsList of Punjabi singers
Sahotas
Sahotas
Sahotas were a U.K. based Bhangra/Rock/World music band. The band, started in Wolverhampton in the mid-1980s, had a line-up of five brothers. The band's music is very different from conventional Punjabi music. They have released music in both English and Punjabi...