Raag Glitter & Chips. Asian music, British society - ACE433.3

Aziz Zeria, Leader of Raag Rang Group ’85-’91, says that he tried, with his group, to experiment with his own ideas of composition and to fuse jazz and Latin American rhythms, though the forms of the group’s music are very traditional. He is saddened that so few people are aware of their musical heritage. Caption: "Aziz also leads Britain’s first and only BTEC in Asian Music." Class learning rhythm. Zeria hopes that this course will enable the study of Asian music and other Asian cultural traditions. 2 Phaan [Phaaan] the Alien, The Kalifs [Kaliphz] Group, says Asian people in Britain didn’t have Asian role models to offer them images of "aggressiveness", needed to help them survive in the culture they’re living in. He thinks that hip hop became popular with Asians because it was the first music "to show a bit of anger". The Kalifs. 2 Phaaan thinks that most people’s access to any progressive post-colonial music is limited; Indian cinema is a relic of colonial cinema and doesn’t relate to the experiences of young people of Asian origin. Article from The Groove in which the Kaliphz describe themselves as "a bunch of pakis and a couple of poor white trash". Other articles headlining them as "hard core rap". 2 Phaaan wants the group to be known for its music, not because of its racial mix.
Radical Sistah, the KKKings [KK Kings] Group, says their musicians grew up with a wide variety of musical styles, all reflected in their work, though some of it does contain more recognisable traditional Asian sounds. Mikha K, the KKKings Group, believes that the Indian traditional will inevitably "be watered down". Radical Sistah believes that they are all very aware of their musical heritage, but thinks that it requires investment by "people in power" to ensure that younger people all know and understand those traditions. Mikha K thinks that large record companies recognise the need to sponsor Asian groups in order to reach the Asian market which will mean the growth of the new music as well. The father’s instruments. Discordant musical sounds form into a traditional-style piece. Credits.