EE15.21.EYE

e
www.easterneye.eu
guide
play that
funky
music
INNOVATIVE: Botown
lead singer Ajay; and
(inset and below)
members of the band
Botown adds
some soul to
Bollywood hits
by zekra rahman
For the past 10 years, the
live circuit has been in de­
cline, but one act on the Bri­
tish-Asian music scene that
has kept it live is Botown.
The 10-piece band are back to
give Bollywood chartbusters a
unique twist of soul/funk in a
live jamming session at London’s Watermans arts centre today (15) and Saturday (16).
The feel-good evening, hosted by Club Asia presenter Shak,
will feature dhol players and comedians and introduce fresh
talent to the scene.
Eastern Eye spoke to the
band’s lead singer Ajay to find
out more about their sound,
what to expect on the night and
their future plans.
What was the inspiration behind Botown?
Botown was something that was
just waiting to happen. It’s not
just a band, it’s also a showcase
for a lot of British Asian talent
and their ability to perform live.
I had always experimented with
and re-imagined Bollywood music. As a kid, when my parents
made me sing for family and
guests, I would add a little funk
to the proceedings. Putting a
band together around that idea
had been at the back of my
mind. The right time came along
after my solo success in India
with my album Kasam Se, as it
kicked open a few doors and
helped me gain a lot of support
for my creative ideas.
You are more well-known as a
solo artist. What is the biggest
difference between that and
being in a band?
Botown is a party. On stage, off
stage and in the rehearsal room,
the music is ongoing and the
vibe is that of being part of a
team, so it’s a great environment
to be in. Growing up, I did my
graft work as a musician by being in lots of different bands, so
it was always something I would
return to. Being in a band opens
up the music and allows it to
breathe more.
The main difference is when
you play live. It’s the interaction
you have with the other musicians and the ability to change
the music on the spur of the
moment that is just pure magic.
Though we are well rehearsed,
people who come to our gig will
also hear us improvise.
How did you assemble the band
members for Botown?
Hearsay, word of mouth, and
twist of fate. Because it was a
new project, I decided to involve
people who I hadn’t worked with
Have you guys ever had any
creative differences and how
have you got around them?
No, all the musicians are chilled
out dudes. Besides, as long as
everyone does what I tell them to,
it’s all peace, love and harmony.
Don’t you think your music is a
little too old skool for the
younger generation?
Great music endures and trans­
cends not just generations, but
language, race and cultures.
That’s why the Rolling Stones
can still sell out stadiums in India and AR Rahman can win
Oscars in America. Great music
played by great musicians –
that’s what Botown is about.
Bollywood have on you when
you were growing up?
It wasn’t just an influence, it was
actually a part of growing up. I
learned to understand and speak
Hindi more by listening to the
songs and watching the movies.
It was also an important cultural
re-enforcement, because it was
the only time I had see Asians
on screen doing their own thing.
It’s quite deep-rooted actually –
I grew up thinking for years that
I had a long-lost brother!
Do you prefer new Bollywood
music or the older tracks?
You can’t really compare the
two. The older stuff is wrapped
up in childhood memories, and
the newer stuff represents where
we are now. I like any Bollywood
music that has real musicians
and some passion behind it.
What was the idea behind looking for a vocalist on Club Asia?
It was a great opportunity to
spread the word about live music and to encourage the community to get involved, take
some risks and have fun.
The response has been great
– there is a lot of talent out
there. I hope I’ve encouraged or
inspired some of them to get going with bands of their own.
before. I auditioned everyone by
jamming with them and chatting about music. I chose the
members based on their talents,
personality and passion for the
Botown vibe.
How long did it take you to find
your sound?
Well, it was always in my head.
The Botown sound is about brin­
ging a soul/funk attitude to Bollywood, so it was just a matter of
finding the right musicians. Once
you have the ingredients, you
don’t need to cook something
for too long before it’s ready.
What kind of music will you be
playing at the concert?
A whole lotta soul, funk and Bollywood. But we are playing it the
Botown way, which means a glo­
bal mash up. We are basically a
10-piece soul band that just
wants to groove on some of your
favourite Bollywood tunes.
Who will it appeal to?
Anyone who appreciates good
music, enjoys the experience of
a live band and just wants to
have fun.
How much of an influence did
What’s the future for Botown?
We are spreading the gospel of
Bollywood and soul and we’re
taking no prisoners. Be prepared
for many more gigs, albums, Tshirts, books, downloads, and
interviews in Eastern Eye!
Are you hoping to go on tour
and record an album?
No, I am going on tour and recor­
ding an album. We’re in the studio this summer and will have
an album out before the end of
the year, combining original
material with re-worked classics.
For more information on Botown and ticket details, visit
myspace.com/botownhq
EASTERN EYE May 15, 2009
21
things to do
THIS WEEK
by Pooja Chaudhary
Read: Not that being
shortlisted for a major
literary prize like the
Orange Prize for Fiction should be the
sole criteria to judge a
good book, but Kamila Shamsie’s Burnt
Shadows is a well-deserved pick this year.
Effortlessly tying in
episodes as varied as
the final days of the
second world war in
Japan, India on the
brink of Partition in 1947, Pakistan in the
early 1980s, New York in the aftermath of
September 11 and Afghanistan in the wake
of the ensuing US bombing campaign, it is
a real treat for any fiction lover.
Buy: It might seem like it is too early to
think about buying tickets to a comedy gig
in July, but that is exactly what you have to
do with Paul Chowdhry. The gigs featuring
the popular stand-up comedians get sold
out very fast, so beat the crowd and buy
tickets for his show at The Drum Theatre
in Birmingham on July 4. To find out more
or to book tickets, call 0121-333 2444.
Dance: The most interesting-looking
dance performance of
the week is at the
Norden Farm Centre
for the Arts in Maidenhead on Sunday
(17). Baharan Spring
features the Pagrav
Dance Company and a host of talented
musicians. The vibrant production combines classical kathak with modern choreography, live music and beautifully written
poetry. The good thing about this venue is
that you can get closer to the performers.
To book tickets, call 01628 788997 and to
find out about the dance company, log onto www.pagravdance.com
Watch on TV: Make sure you tune into
EastEnders because the Masood family are
getting a lot more interesting now that the
character we were all looking forward to
the most has been introduced to the story
line. Yes, Preeya Kalidas, who plays Amira
Shah, the girlfriend of Syed Masood (Marc
Elliott), has started shaking things up in
Albert Square and the drama is only set to
intensify as her character develops.
Enjoy: If the credit crunch has made you
miserable, let the warmer weather put a
smile on your face. Look out for a number
of free music festivals, melas and events
that will be taking place up and down the
UK through the summer months.
Check out: The latest Bollywood style
production, Wuthering Heights, from exEastEnders star, Deepak Verma. An adaptation of the classic British novel by Emily
Bronte, it follows the main character Krishan’s search for love, played out against
the dazzling swirl of colour set in the
deserts of Rajasthan. Wuthering Heights is
showing in London at the Lyric Theatre in
Hammersmith until next Saturday (23).
Watch in the cinema: If you love Punjabi
films and have been enjoying the recent
releases, look out for Manmohan Singh’s
new film Munde UK De. The
first Punjabi film the ace
director has made
without Harbhajan
Mann stars Jimmy
Shergill, Amrinder
Gill, Gurpreet
Ghuggi and Neeru
Bajwa. It revolves
around two funloving British
guys who go to
the Punjab and
find true love
there. To find
out more ab­
out the film,
log onto
www.mundeukde.com