Imagine - How Music Makes Us Feel

Ever wondered why the effects of music can be so powerful? In this week's edition of Imagine Alan Yentob explored how music can arouse certain emotions in human. He talked to a range of musicians and scientists including dubstep artist Mala and Emile Sand, who sung at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.

The programme doesn't talk to any Asian artists or cover Desi music, but is still worth watching to learn about the different musical devices used by composers. One musicologist showed how Adele's use of a major key in Someone Like You portrays her as a strong yet vulnerable women with happy memories.

If you missed How Music Makes Us Feel you can watch it on the BBC iPlayer. There are also some extra web clips here.

MoFolactic feat. G-ta - Haa!

MoFolactic, one half of the Australian DJ and production duo MixtaBishi and MoFolactic, has released a new song featuring g-ta. Haa! is a bhangra meets bass track with Amar Singh providing some great traditional Punjabi vocals.

The video for Haa! pokes fun at aspects of the bhangra industry, particularly ghost production. This is when artists pay producers (ghost producers) for songs which they then pass off as their own. It also mocks the use of scantily clad models and expensive flashy cars in bhangra videos.

Haa! starts off with a faux news report about Asian men resorting to ghost production to attract women. It then shows a DJ using MoFolactic as a ghost producer and follows him as he makes his video. There are contemporary references throughout and little jokes - I particularly liked the Stig dancing and the the guy reading Fifty Shades of Grey. Dr Zeus had a cameo role in the video and his shots were a nice contrast to the funny scenes. The last minute of the video shows some outtakes and how to make a man cry.

With it's heavy bass and strong vocals, the song is great but the video is sheer genius. It succeeds in getting the point across and being funny at the same time. A lot of though has gone into the making of Haa! and I wish other bhangra videos were as clever as this one.

If you like Haa! you can download the track from MoFolactic's  facebook page here, or wait until the the 6th December when it is available on iTunes.

Rekha Sawhney - Shayad Woh Ladka

Rekha Sawhney, who has performed with the live Bollywood cover band Botown, has released her debut single on iTunes. Shayad Woh Ladka is an energetic catchy song with a retro feel. Rekha's slightly breathy vocals are brilliant and gives the single a dream like girly sound.

The video for Shayad Woh Ladka is simple and fun. It's mostly shot outdoors and has the feel of a glamorous summer garden party complete with a rock band. Look out for the guest appearance from Eeyore!

Charles Bosco, Ambika Jois and Anshul Tomer - Saath

Music producer Charles Bosco has teamed up with vocalists Ambika Jois and Anshul Tomer to make Saath. It's a gorgeous romantic song with some great vocals. Ambika and Anshul sing well together and I'd like to see them doing more projects together in the future. The song has a simple video to accompany it. The video shows Ambika and Anshul snuggling up under an umbrella on a park bench and lying in the grass.

 

Saath is available to download through the Charles Bosco app on iTunes. 

RDB - We Doin' It Big

RDB, the brothers who were dubbed "the Asian So Solid Crew" by The Face magazine, are finally ready to release their next single tomorrow. We Doin' It Big features Smooth and Raftaar, who are the latest artists to sign to Three Records.

The video for the song promises to be bigger that the song. We Doin' It Big features 34 of the biggest names in the British Asian music industry alongside Surj and Manj. Apache Indian, DCS, DJ Sanj, Dr Zeus, H Dhami, Jassi Sidhu, Jaz Dhami, Jazzy, B, Jind Mahi, Juggy D,  Metz 'n' Trix, Panjabi MC, Surrinder Rattan and Tigerstyle are some of the artists who will make an appearance in the video.

We Doin' It Big is an upbeat positive track. It's instantly recognisable as an RDB track and has a slow laid back groove to it with plenty of added bass. The number of pre-orders on iTunes has been high and I'm sure it will go to the top of the charts when it released.

It's worth highlighting how RDB have promoted We Doing' It Big. All too often artists release a short teaser a few weeks before release which they promote constantly and usually run out of steam by the offical release date. However, RDB have been giving us hints of what they have been up to since August and have built up the hype slowly. Photos on social media from both RDB and other artists involved in the video have given fans tantalising glimpses of the action. 

Along with the photos, their are no less than four promo videos. One is particularly poignant as it shows Kuly with Manj and Surj recording the track in their studio. The other teasers show Surj flying a helicopter and the making of the video. 

Here is a handy round up of all the promo videos.

Panjabi Hit Squad Remix Gangnam Style

Panjabi Hit Squad have released their remix of popular Korean pop song Gangnam Style. The VIP Desi Remix has been played on the Asian Network, but it has finally been made available for download on SoundCloud. Panjabi Hit Squad have cleverly incorporated lots of well known Bhangra tracks into their remix. Sadi Gali by RDB, Hai Hai by Panjabi Hit Squad, High Heels by Jaz Dhami, Has Has by Surinder Rattan and Metz n Trix and Janeeman by Raxstar are all set against PSY's crazy vocals.

As PHS say on their SoundCloud page: "Downlad, Play and TURN IT UP!!"

Romay - Digital Ragas

Romay, the producer who set up his own record label called Acoustic Science, has released a new single via his SoundCloud page. Digital Ragas is a dubstep track which has had air play for a few weeks on Nihal's Radio 1 show. A sitar solo is set against plenty of bass with a hint of vocals. The track is full of high quality musical wizardry that I associate with Romay and there is a nice dark mood that he manages to create.     

Romay has made Digital Ragas available as a free download via SoundCloud, so make sure you add it to your collection now.