Editing Talvin Singh

{{short description|British musician and producer}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Talvin Singh<br/>{{post-nominals|size=75%|unlinked=[[OBE]]}}
| image             = Talvin Singh.png
| alt               = 
| caption           = Singh performing in 2012
| image_size        = 
| background        = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name        = Talvin Singh
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth year and age|1970}}
| birth_place       = London, England
| origin            = 
| death_date        = <!-- {{death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place       = 
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Asian underground]]
* [[electronica]]
* [[drum and bass]]
* [[Indian classical music|Indian classical]]
* [[trip hop]]<ref name="allmusic_ok">{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r382052}}</ref>
}}
| occupation        = 
| instrument        = 
| years_active      = 1991–present
| label             = [[Island Records|Island]]
| associated_acts   = 
| website           = {{URL|talvinsingh.com}}{{dead link|date=April 2020}}
}}
'''Talvin Singh''' [[OBE]] (born 1970) is a British musician, producer, and composer. A [[tabla]] player, he is known for creating an innovative fusion of [[Indian classical music]] with [[drum and bass]]. Singh is generally considered involved with an [[electronica]] subgenre called [[Asian Underground]], and more recently as Indian and/or Asian electronica.

After collaborating with [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]] and [[Björk]] in the early 1990s, Singh released his debut album ''[[OK (Talvin Singh album)|Ok]]'' (1998), which received the [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]] in 1999.<ref name="auto1">Finn, Gary. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/mercury-prize-for-talvin-singh-1117161.html Mercury prize for Talvin Singh] ''The Independent''. 8 September 1999</ref>

Singh has since collaborated with a variety of acts including [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] and [[Massive Attack]].{{cn|date=April 2025}}

==Early life and career==
Singh grew up in [[Leyton]]<ref name="auto">Garratt, Sheryl.[https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2001/mar/25/featuresreview.review1 "You drum it, I'll Singh it"]. ''[[The Observer]]''. 25 March 2001.</ref> and began playing the tablas as a child. At the age of 15, Singh went to India where he studied [[tabla]] under Sangeet Acharya Ustad [[Avirbhav Verma|Lachman Singh Seen]] of Punjab Gharana, he stayed with his Guru till he passed away at 96 in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chawla |first=Noor Anand |date=2024-03-10 |title=A conversation with Talvin Singh |url=https://sundayguardianlive.com/featured/a-conversation-with-talvin-singh |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=The Sunday Guardian Live |language=en-US}}</ref> In the beginning Singh's tabla playing was not accepted by British promoters of [[raga|classical Indian music]], as he incorporated too strongly his western influences. By the late 1980s, Singh had decided to turn towards the fusion of sounds. In 1991, he came to prominence by both playing tabla and singing on the "[[Kiss Them for Me (song)|Kiss Them for Me]]" single by [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]] : the single peaked in the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at number 23.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/siouxsie-and-the-banshees-p125670/charts-awards Siouxsie and the Banshees US charts awards] [[AllMusic]]</ref> Singh then became the sixth member of the Banshees and took part with them as second headliners of the inaugural [[Lollapalooza]] tour. Two years later in 1993, he was recruited by [[Björk]] to be her percussionist and director on her 1993 album, ''[[Debut (Björk album)|Debut]]''.

In late 1995, Singh founded the Anokha club night with promoter Sweety Kapoor at East London's Blue Note, where drum'n'bass DJs and [[South Asian]] punk bands went head to head with the amped-up sounds of his tabla and percussion. Producer and DJ [[State of Bengal]] (Sam Zaman) soon became the core of Anokha alongside Singh & Kapoor, and his sets alongside Singhs help to inspire a whole generation.

Singh and Zaman would make fresh tracks, cutting them on Vinyl press hours before the Monday Anokha sessions where they would be showcased.

Guest spots by LTJ Bukem and others made Anokha a Monday-night hotspot in London, and Singh signed to Island for an Anokha compilation including several of his own productions. He worked as a remixer, for [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] on their "Maria" single".

In 1998, Singh released his solo debut album, ''[[OK (Talvin Singh album)|Ok]]''.<ref name="Larkin90">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2000|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0427-8|page=356}}</ref> The record was critically acclaimed and received the prestigious [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]] in 1999.<ref name="auto1"/> That same year, he also collaborated with [[David Sylvian]]. In 2000, he worked with [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] for her album, ''Music''.

== Personal life ==
On 21 August 2011 he married Calcutta-born, now Bangalore-based [[Jasmeen Patheja]] in Gurdwara Jagat Sudhar on Rashbehari Avenue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Music and moustache for monsoon wedding |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/music-and-moustache-for-monsoon-wedding/cid/1278168 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Underground guru to marry Calcutta girl - Wedding after hush-hush affair |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/asian-underground-guru-to-marry-calcutta-girl-wedding-after-hush-hush-affair/cid/1278010 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=‘I used to borrow money to buy Talvin’s cassettes’ |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/i-used-to-borrow-money-to-buy-talvin-s-cassettes/story-4xQeM9aM6SHUR2qqaj0D1I.html |website=www.hindustantimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Style and influences==
Singh is an accomplished tabla player, electronic musician, music theorist, record producer and DJ. As a solo artist, he is perhaps best known as the father of modern Asian electronica music, though he is also a highly celebrated tabla player, record producer and visual practitioner.

Drawing inspiration from the classical Indian arts, Singh first came to prominence as a tabla percussionist in the 1980s London music scene. Whilst still in his mid-teens, Singh travelled to India to earn pupillage from Sangeet Acharya [[Avirbhav Verma|Ustad Lachman Singh Seen]], master tabla maestro of the Punjab school. This period made an indelible mark on the young artist and he has since continued to practice and perform the art form internationally. Singh's collaborations with Indian classical musicians include Ustad Sultan Khan, Rakesh Churasia, Ustad Imrat Khan and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan amongst scores of others.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OSZKCXtx-wEC&q=talvin+singh+LachmanSingh+seen&pg=PA343|title=The Dawn of Indian Music in the West|first=Peter|last=Lavezzoli|date=24 April 2006|publisher=A&C Black|page=343|isbn=9780826418159|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Singh also became involved in experimental music collaborations beginning in the late 1980s, working with Sun Ra and Courtney, which helped to popularise the burgeoning Asian underground sub-culture movement.

Singh is notable for re-introducing the concepts of Indian classical music to western pop, dance and jazz genres in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Singh's solo album credits include critical and commercial successes Ok (1998)—which won the UK's two most prestigious music prizes, 'The South Bank Prize' and the [[Mercury Prize]] in 1999. ''Ok'', his groundbreaking 1998 debut release, was recorded in Mumbai, Madras, Okinawa, New York and London, featuring contributions from [[Bill Laswell]], [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], [[Ustad Sultan Khan]] and the Madras Philharmonic Orchestra amongst others.

Singh has pursued several artistic ventures parallel to and in conjunction with his music career, including creating the seminal London club ANOKHA, performing at the [[Tate Gallery]] in London, creating a sound installation at the Frith Street Gallery in London and composing music for various experimental dance, theatre and film projects. In 1990 Singh conceived the Tablatronic, a hybrid electronic/analog tabla (drum) which uses a rare internal microphone system. However, in a 2017 interview, he said he "did not do fusion music" and disliked the way Indian musicians felt they had to do fusion music.<ref>Canton, Naomi.[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/all-that-matters/Indian-musicians-feel-they-have-to-do-fusion-to-be-hip/articleshow/60440503.cms "'Indian musicians feel they have to do fusion to be hip'"]. ''[[The Times of India]]''. 10 September 2017.</ref>

==Awards==
Singh's debut album ''[[OK (Talvin Singh album)|Ok]]'' (1998) received the [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]] in 1999.<ref name="auto1"/>

In 2010, Talvin Singh won an award at the [[UK Asian Music Awards]] (UK AMAs) for his "Commitment to Scene".<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/events/ama2010/winners/
 |title=BBC – Asian Network – BBC Asian Network AMA 2010 – Winners |publisher=BBC |access-date=24 August 2010}}</ref> He was awarded an [[OBE]] in the 2014 Birthday Honours.

==Discography==
===Albums===
*''Drum + Space'' (as Calcutta Cyber Cafe) (1996)
*''[[OK (Talvin Singh album)|OK]]'' (1998)
*''[[Ha (Talvin Singh album)|Ha]]'' (2001)
*''Sweet Box'' (2008)

===Compilations===
*''[[Anokha - Soundz of the Asian Underground]]'' (1997) Island
*''Back to Mine, Volume 8'' (2001) DMC

===Collaborations and original contributions===
* [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], "[[Kiss Them for Me (song)|Kiss Them for Me]]" and "Silver Waterfalls" on ''[[Superstition (Siouxsie and the Banshees album)|Superstition]]'' (1991)
* [[Keith LeBlanc]], ''[[Time Traveller (Keith LeBlanc album)|Time Traveller]]'' (1992)
* [[Dub Syndicate]], ''Live at the Town and Country Club''
* [[Björk]], ''[[Debut (Björk album)|Debut]]'' (1993)
* Abracatabla (1994) ''Sampling CD'' (time and Space)
*[[The Future Sound of London]], "Life Form Ends" on [[Lifeforms (The Future Sound of London album)|''Lifeforms'']] (1994)
* [[Little Axe]] – ''The Wolf That House Built'' (1994)
* [[Bim Sherman]] – ''Miracle'' (1996)
* [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]] – Star rise (1997) Real World.
* [[Duran Duran]], "[[Out of My Mind (Duran Duran song)|Out of My Mind]]", ''[[Medazzaland]]'' and ''[[The Saint (soundtrack)|The Saint]]'' (1997)
* [[David Sylvian]] – ''Dead Bees on a Cake'' (1999)
* [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], "Cyber-Raga", ''[[Music (Madonna album)|Music]]'' (2000).
* [[The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar|Master Musicians of Jajouka]] (2000)
* ''[[Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (2000 TV series)|Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)]]'' – Original soundtrack (2000) Island.
* ''Remixsingh Ok'' (2001) Island / Japan Import.
* ''Voxygen'', a commission by [[English National Opera]].
* Talvin Singh & [[Rakesh Chaurasia]] – ''Vira'' (2002) Sona Rupa UK.
* [[Tabla Beat Science]] – ''Tala Matrix'' (2002) Palm Pictures.
* [[Richard Ashcroft]] – ''[[Human Conditions]]'' (2002)
* [[Msoke]] – ''Murder Time'' (2003) Buback
* Talvin Singh & [[Sangat (musician)|Sangat]] – ''Songs for the Inner World'' (2004) Live French Import.
* Talvin Singh feat. [[Amar-Jaan]]
* [[Smadj]] – ''Selin'' (2009)
* Talvin Singh & [[Niladri Kumar]] – ''Together'' (2011)
* "D.U.S.T." – Talvin Singh feat. [[Frame/Frame]] (2014)

===Remixes===
* [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] – "[[Maria (Blondie song)|Maria]]"
* [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] – "[[Nothing Really Matters]]"
* Najma Akhtar – "Ghoom Charakhana"
* [[Björk]] – "[[Possibly Maybe]]"
* [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] – "Grief"
* [[John Martyn (singer)|John Martyn]] – "Sunshines Better"
* [[Sarah McLachlan]] – "Answer"
* [[Natacha Atlas]] – "Duden"
* [[Asa-Chang & Junray]] – "12 Bushi"
* [[Alisha's Attic]] – "Air We Breathe"
* Najma Atish – "Ghoom Charakhana (Talvin Singh mix)"
* [[Bill Laswell]] and [[William S. Burroughs]] – "The Western Lands"
* [[Otm Shank ]] – "Maharaja" (Talvin Singh Remix) (2021)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.talvinsingh.com|Talvin Singh}} – official site {{dead link|date =April 2020}}
*{{discogs artist}}
*{{IMDB name|id=1228917|name=Talvin Singh}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Talvin}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:British club DJs]]
[[Category:British remixers]]
[[Category:English Sikhs]]
[[Category:People from Leytonstone]]
[[Category:English electronic musicians]]
[[Category:Tabla players]]
[[Category:Asian Underground musicians]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:21st-century British drummers]]