Shahin Badar, Award winning singer and songwriter is one of the most accomplished, crossover commercial female Asian vocalists, in UK who has crossed over with international success, leaving a mark through some of her original breathtaking collaborations.
Her sound has now become her trademark, she sings in several Anglo-Indo-Arabic languages.This genre and style is strongly reflected in her music today.
She has acclaimed celebrity status through her work in both Hollywood and Bollywood, and is an inspiration and role model to both the younger and older generation. Shahin has launched special events, endorsed charitable causes and was described by one mainstream magazine as "one of the most original artistes around" .
Shahin's unique Alaap chants, created and vocalled by herself were featured on the headline track "Smack my Bitch up "on the phenomenal double platinum selling album "Fat of The Land" by the UK based legendary dance band "The Prodigy".The Album made history, hitting the No.1 spot in 21 countries, earning the group a Grammy nomination . She received a double platinum disc for her outstanding contribution. Shahin’s written and vocal works features in over 40 TV and Film soundtracks including Award winning Hollywood movies like Charlie’s Angels, Scary Movie 2 and Academy nominated movie ‘Closer’.
After the success of SMBU, Liam Howlett of PRODIGY once again invited Shahin to feature on his track "Get up Get off" from their No.1 selling album "Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned" which also featured the vocals of Hollywood rapper Twista and actress Juliet Lewis .She was asked to perform live with the prodigy at BBC Radio1 on Zane Lowe’s prestigious show "The legend's week "which had a listenership of 6 million people.
The release of the House stomper "Mundaya" produced by Tim Deluxe, chosen as the tune of the week on Pete Tong’s BBC Radio 1 show was an astounding success , and went on to be released on Tim’s debut album "The little ginger club kid". No stranger to the big stage she went on to perform at the UK ‘s most awesome festivals - Cream fields and Global Gathering and many more amongst sharing the floor with the likes of Pink and Basement Jaxx. It doesn’t stop there.
Going by her profile ,Shahin’s list is endless, some of the works are with the legendary bass player Jah Wobble and Temple of sound On the track "Hayati" 4 the album " Shout at the Devil", with Indian Ropeman on" 66 Metres", Mukhtar Sahota on the beautiful composition of "Gal Lagh Jah", Fraser T smith from Craig David's "Born to do it" Album , Doug Laurent of Mr.Vain Fame, Film composer Michael Dannah, Mercury nominated Choque Hosain, Robson Galdino last but not least with the legendry" AR Rahman" on the background score of the Bollywood movie Zubeida and Yuva .
Her style ranges and fits into the Big Beat, world, Arabic, Electronica, House, Hip Hop, Trance, Ambient, Film to Pop, collaboratively or as a soloist.
A dynamic performer and powerfull vocalist , Shahin captivates the audience with her great presence on stage. She also supported the phenomenal" 50 Cent" in Lebanon with lebanese Award winning producer Guy Manoukian at " The Biel" to a staggering crowd of 20 thousand fans, which led to Shahin being especially invited guest to perform with the N0.1 world Turkish artist Mercan Dede in Germany.
Currently vocalising for a musical which will be released in Belgium, Shahin will be bringing more music to our ears this year with her album due for release soon .
With her current music to go by, you know the next album hitting the shelf will be something different!
Shahin Badar undoubtedly a Diva, Strong and Spiritual, continues to challenge stereotypes of the Indian subcontinent while respecting her culture and pursuing her various projects and dreams!
Team IMT caught up with Shahin Badar for an exclusive interview
Very little is known about your background. Do you belong to a family of musicians? Why did you take up music as a career?
My mother Zohra Badar was born and brought up in Mumbai and was classically trained. She was fortunate enough to learn from Naushaad. She also had an opportunity to perform with Mukesh. As a child, I always had a lot of music around me and I used to listen to the contemporaries of those times. The seeds of music as a career were sown during a very young age.
What is the genre of music you sing?
Since I was brought up in Kuwait, I grew up listening to a lot of Dance and Arabic music. I was influenced by a lot of Fusion music too. Like every good Indian singer, I had a base of Indian Classical music and I had my share of influences too. My voice was a little different than the traditional Indian classical singer's voice. Electronica happened to me a lot later. I was hooked onto it simply because it was a lot different. It was inspiring and magnetic. Also vocally in a genre like Electronica you could deliver what you want to deliver. As an artist when I heard to Electronica productions I had my own vibes. I am not used to a teacher or a composer telling me ‘Child this is your lyric sheet. Just sing it’ which is what happens in Bollywood. But here I am the master. The production is given to me and I create what I want to create out of it.
I wouldn’t say that the genre of music I sing is predominantly Electronica. It can also be categorized as Dance Music, World Music or lets put it simply as Fusion Music.
What influences your music? Who have been those inspiring artists and who have been the forces that have always propelled you?
From a very young age I was attached to Sufi Music. I believe that Sufi music reaches out to a completely different power and singers such as Abida Parveen and Sabri brothers have had a huge influence on me. On the mainstream it’s been Electronica, Drum and Bass, Trance, Break Beats, Dance, World Music with Arabesque influences. Like all artists and fans worldwide, Michael Jackson has also been one of the most influencing factors of my music. When I was a kid I was a fan of Asha Bhonsale and Lata Mangeshkar. I always tried to imitate them but could never succeed since my vocals were very Arabic and I sang with a base in my voice but also with some slight operatic pitches. But this is when I started thinking, that I have to start composing and writing something unique that will work with my voice rather than just imitating other artist's.
One of your most renowned works is the Alaap with prodigy in the song SMACK MY BITCH UP which was a huge hit worldwide. Tell us more about this collaboration work with Prodigy? My first album had just been released in UK. It was an album with an Arabic theme and was done with limited production values. So one fine day after this release I had a call from Richard Russell of XL Recordings to whom my name was recommended by Aqi Nawaaz of the fundamental, he had seen me perform on stage 4 years prior to the release of my first album and remembered my voice. Richard asked me whether I was interested to work on this track by The Prodigy. Excited, I agreed and put together some of my demos and sent the demo cassette to Richard. In those days, just out of college, I had a small portable cassette player and the reel of the demo cassette malfunctioned, messing up the beginning part of my song .But somehow the chant and vocals, I had sung was the last piece that was saved at the end of the tape! I was very nervous but had faith .The demo was passed to Liam Howlett along with my album. Finally when Richard and Liam heard my vocals, they were completely overblown by it. Liam started working on the production of his demo and sent me a tape with a scribbling of ‘Change My Pitch Up’ for which I created the chant for Liam. I had no idea it was going to be called ‘Smack My Bitch Up’.
They invited me to the studio the same week and we recorded it giving the chant an Indo Arabic vibe. Keith and Liam went absolutely crazy about it. And the rest as they say is history. It was all over the papers/media across the world .The song became a massive HIT and is still played after so many years in clubs and discs worldwide and still No.1.
How did it all start off with AR Rahman?
Long time back I had send Rahman a package consisting some of my works. So when he came to England we caught up and things started rolling. I was invited to the studio where I sang a Sufi song written by myself. Rahman was very impressed when he heard it so I requested him if we could do something together on a big production. He was kind enough to remember me when he was composing for YUVA. He called me up and told me about this Electronica sort of a song he was working on and thought that my voice would suit just perfectly on it. Thats how I recorded with Rahman for the song in Madras at night at about 2 am.
Even your work in Zubeidaa was a big hit!
Yes the Alaap was a huge hit.
Any more Rahman projects in the future especially after Rahman’s global success of the Slumdog Millionaire?
Firstly let me tell you that, globally, Rahman has put India on a very high platform. I am very proud to be an Indian and I am extremely proud of Rahman. I would love to be involved with Rahman’s projects but he needs to compose something on a very different scale for me now.. I would love to work with him on songs that are not very traditional but very powerful and that which will challenge my vocals.
Shahin you sure have a focus on Bollywood. Considering you are doing so well in the International markets why this sudden Bollywood focus?
I was born in UK and brought up in Kuwait, like any Indian I too love Bollywood music just the way I love Arabic Music. Besides for me music does not have any boundaries. I have sung with some of the biggest bands in history and I am very open to new forms of collaboration. So Bollywood ranks high on my priorities.
Do you find the Bollywood music market disorganized or do you think it is a great platform for independent artists like you?
Now that’s a wrong question to be answered by someone who is trying to get into Bollywood.
Let me re phrase this for you. What is it that an international artist like you expects from the Bollywood market?
Alright you want it straight you get it that way. There have been times I have been frustrated in Mumbai. Most industry people ask you to come down for a meeting at a certain time and I keep waiting endlessly for them to turn up. Since I belong to England they expect me to be a millionaire. All the time they are expecting me to finance them. There are times when they promise they will do something and then they do not deliver it in that manner. Now that is my frustration. Bollywood is fantastic in production and music but if only they can become a lot more transparent. Just to keep a relationship going, it’s not good to keep pushing things endlessly.
In the international markets everything is very organized, from the time of the meeting, to picking me up for the studios or the questionnaire and mostly importantly the contract papers. Everything is at the time when it’s supposed to be. There isn’t any slyness about the dealings. They are just very upfront about it. You just get the work done and that’s it. There isn’t anyone who keeps asking me for dinners and stuff like that which is very common in Bollywood. In Bollywood, they see a smart looking girl and the only thing that crosses their mind is 'how do they get to party with the girl? I am not that sort of a girl. When I am in India, it’s strictly business for me.
What is the natural progression in the career graph of an international artist like you who’s having a focus on Bollywood? Is it the item number / actress – singer way?
A lot of Indian born internationally bred artists have tried to break into the mainstream music industry in the international markets, but they haven’t been successful. So the next step for such people is obviously Bollywood where you get quick recognition. Let me tell you something - An Asian artist despite having a oodles of talent, has to put in a lot of hard work to get promoted in the British / US Market. Such talented artists who are not able to find work obviously get frustrated and move to alternate avenues like Bollywood which in no way is bad. But they end up doing things which go against their morals and their self respect. I am sure you know what I am talking about. Till such time one doesn’t do this, it is okay to try different avenues like Bollywood. For me stooping to such levels is not acceptable. Be it Bollywood or not, I refuse to let go of my self respect.
If not Bollywood then how do you plan to get across to the Indian masses? What is your promotional plan specific to India?
I haven’t ever given this a thought, but at the moment, I am having quite a few Bollywood offers. I would love to work with producer – directors like Mahesh Bhatt and Ram Gopal Verma.
Do you plan to tour Indian cities?
I would really love to tour India. Primarily because I believe that Electronica and Dance Fusion Music would go down well with the Indian crowds. I have always been excited about doing something big in Mumbai.
Do you think it makes sense for an International Artist to tour India to get one's music across to the masses?
Everybody in Mumbai is just glued to Bollywood music. I feel so bad for all those artists who and wait outside the recording studios of Mumbai to do FREE work just to get noticed by Bollywood composers. It really makes sense not just for me but for all those artists as well to tour India, do some LIVE events and get the crowds to hear alternative forms of music.
You have been doing a lot of cross over / fusion projects wherein you have introduced Indian sounds in western music. Do you think this form of music is a fad or will it stay on and grow to the next level? Beyond doubts, I am going to take it to the next level. Let me tell you a bit about my thought process behind my choice to do collaborations. Unlike Bollywood, when it comes to collaborations I get to hear the complete product of another artist, then I choose how to introduce my music into it and what new ideas can be fused into it to enhance the listening experience. Now since I belong to an Indian origin, I introduce Indian sounds in it thereby letting the world appreciate Indian sounds and Indian Music. When I do this, I not only feel proud but I am also sure that apart from India the whole world is going to love the music. SMACK MY BITCH UP’ the song from Prodigy even today plays at discs and clubs world over. So I really don’t think it is a fad. It is a form of music which is here to stay and will continue to grow on its listeners.
Who would be the Indian Bands / Composers / Artists you would love to collaborate with and introduce your own style of music into their productions? I would love to perform with the big Indian Bands with my Indo Arabic style. I love trance music so I would love to collaborate with DJ’s on trance music. I think RABBI has a beautiful voice and an amazing production quality. I would love to collaborate with him. I have always been huge on SUFI so Kailash Kher is someone I look forward to collaborate with.
Tell me something - Are Indian artists well received in the west? Are international deals as easily available to Indian artists the same way they are to artists in UK / US? Do the producers consider you for big budget English projects as well? Let me give you an example to explain that one – Sometime back I released a song in Paris. The song was called ‘Jule Jule’. EMI distributed it and spend about one million French Francs on me. My Management was a little tight with me in the beginning disallowing me to sing in English. But now things are different so I sing in English and sometimes the delivery is very different because of my own style. Today most producers see me as a very versatile singer and I am sure this will hold true for other Indian artists who aspire to work in the west.
What advice would you give to an upcoming Indian Band?
Option A - Stick to Indian roots, sing in Hindi, use instruments which are very Indian
Option B - Try going more international and sing in English and use more of
the Western instruments? I would go with the Option B but would always advice on not forgetting one's Indian roots. The Indian roots give you a classical base. If you have a classical base, can compose and write your own songs then undoubtedly you can venture out a lot more. Obviously you can’t expect to become a star overnight. You‘ve got to have the right management and the right company behind you. Besides as an artist you should have a very strong persona about yourself. I say this because companies spend thousands of dollars to manipulate the artist and create for themselves a brand. But if you are the brand yourself then you are the KING in the international market. If you present yourself as a whole package to the companies then they don’t have to spend the money on you, yet when you go out there people will always remember you for your own style and music.
Again I would advice Indian artists to travel the world, understand different cultures and the music in those cultures. Collaborate with the right artists but keep the Indian roots intact. This I believe is the key to success.
What should be done to revive the non Bollywood / POP market in India?
When I was in Mumbai, all I heard was Bollywood. Money has been given and taken from the radio stations and the television stations to plug just Bollywood. The Music Companies that are involved in this manipulation / promotions are heavily invested in Bollywood Music. So the other non Bollywood artist’s who are also signed by the same music companies are played only twice a day. These talented Indian Artists are actually begging to these record companies to give them a chance. I feel horrible when I am in Mumbai to watch the plight of such talented artists. The companies insist on these poor artists approaching them only when the artists have a finished product. My question is - How will these music companies get a finished product when they are not investing anything on the artist?
Since I come from England most companies expect me to spend 10,000 pounds on making a video. Why would I do that? Sooner or later the music companies in India will have to invest into the non bollywood genre and stay in it for the long term.
With the whole world talking of digital sales which are obviously not taking off, physical sales which have been plummeting steadily and rampant piracy which we are all aware of, what do you think is the way forward for an artist like you?
I think Digital Sales in England have been steadily picking up. I think it is very important to get an agent who understands music and the business. Every artist needs to go out there and do as many festivals and shows as one can. I think this not only gets you introduced to the crowd but this is also the best way to attract sponsors and record companies. I agree with you, the market for physical is ruined and the FREE downloads is creeping into the digital sales. Also a lot of people are talking of giving tracks for FREE on the internet so there is this huge question mark on royalties. I really don’t know what’s going to happen in the next 5 years but what I am sure of is, I will be doing a lot of LIVE shows. I also think that the artists should set up their own record label and do the distribution themselves by signing exclusive deals with individual retail outlets.
Shahin tell us something about your upcoming projects? What are they and when are they slated to be released?
My recent track called 'REVOLVER' with the fantastic Dope buzz has got an absolutely amazing response from radio plays picked for airplay by BBC Radio1 and KISS 100 FM. LAILA has also has been picked up by KISS 100 FM. I am finishing 2 projects with an Electronica band called Noise Control and Dirty Rich. I am also working with Sebastian Taylor a UK TV film composer on a fusion project. I am working with my mother on producing some SUFI tracks. The lyrics are written by her. She is a ghazal writer and the songs are composed by me. I am also working with Dave Pemberton and Julius from a band called Kinobi, we are putting together an album worth of material for my project and I am writing all the songs for the album in English.
Will you please hum a few lines of your favorite song?
Click Below to listen to this enchanting Old Arabic Song.
She received a double platinum disc for her outstanding contribution. Shahin’s written and vocal works features in over 40 TV and Film soundtracks including Award winning Hollywood movies like