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The Re-emergence of Charanjit Singh

Proto acid beats vs. hip hop deconstructed - Charanjit Singh and Heems of Das Racist. Live.

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The Re-emergence of Charanjit Singh

The Re-emergence of Charanjit Singh

The Re-emergence of Charanjit Singh

The Re-emergence of Charanjit Singh

The Re-emergence of Charanjit Singh

Proto acid beats vs. hip hop deconstructed - Charanjit Singh and Heems of Das Racist. Live.

Proto acid beats vs. hip hop deconstructed - Charanjit Singh and Heems of Das Racist. Live.

Proto acid beats vs. hip hop deconstructed - Charanjit Singh and Heems of Das Racist. Live.

Proto acid beats vs. hip hop deconstructed - Charanjit Singh and Heems of Das Racist. Live.

Rana Ghose
Rana Ghose
Rana Ghose
Rana Ghose
2 Campaigns |
Halifax, Canada
$50 USD 1 backers
1% of $4,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Choose your Perk

Dinner For Two

$5 USD
Est. Shipping
December 2012
0 out of 100 of claimed

Potluck Party

$15 USD
1 out of 20 of claimed

House Party

$20 USD
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July 2013
0 out of 30 of claimed

Karaokefest

$25 USD
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December 2012
0 out of 10 of claimed

Block Party

$30 USD
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November 2012
0 out of 10 of claimed

Open Mic Nite

$40 USD
0 out of 10 of claimed

Club Gig

$50 USD
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January 2013
0 out of 20 of claimed

Stadium Show

$100 USD
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November 2012
0 out of 7 of claimed
Highlights
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Who are we?

Rana Ghose is a filmmaker and photographer by profession, an economist and anthropologist by training, and a music lover by pure conviction. He is obsessed with storytelling - to write, shoot, and share narrative with others.

Edo Bauman is an obsessive vinyl collector, author, DJ, and entrepreneur.  He started Bombay Connection a few years back, the label that re-released the record that this pitch is centred around.

 

What do we want to do?

We want to tell the story and showcase the work of a man who, by a combination of his own talent and passion, recorded an album in 1982 that threatens to re-write history.  Most people think house music started in Chicago and Detroit in 1986.  The thing is, Charanjit Singh actually was doing something very similar using the same equipment in 1982 - in Bombay.

The album of this music - "Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat" - essentially disappeared after its 1982 release.  That is, until 2010, when Edo re-released it.  We're not alone in realizing its historical significance - artists such as Hudson Mohawke, Luke Vibert, and Heems are all fans.  And it doesn't hurt that it's banging.

   

From left to right, Charanjit Singh in 1972, the cover of the original EMI LP from 1982, and the 2010 Bombay Connection re-release.

Rana tracked Singh down weeks after hearing Edo's release in 2010, and immediately after meeting him, was convinced that he should get back on a stage to perform this music live.  The stage is now set for that to happen. 

We've set up a European tour for November across 10 cities, with Heems of Das Racist as the opening off the back of his first solo record, "Nehru Jackets".  Along with Rana shooting what unfolds, we'll be managing the tour. 

This tour brings together two true originals, complementing each other by electronic instrumentation that is now essentially taken for granted - 808 "boom-bap" beats and the 303 squiggle.  It brings history full circle; Singh as a pioneer of this sound, and Heems as a current manifestation of what Singh began. 

This is why this event is so crucial to curate and document.  A whole new generation hearing this music live for the first time, Singh fully realizing why his music resonates now, and the collaboration with Heems - these are all elements of a great documentary.  And the concerts will without a doubt be something to remember.

The cover of Heems' 2012 solo record, Nehru Jackets.

Heems' 2012 solo album, Nehru Jackets

 

When and where is he going to perform?

Singh and Heems will be rehearsing with the 303, 808, and Jupiter 8 in Groningen, Holland with Dutch DJ and producer, Johanz Westerman in October for ten days, along with recording a collaborative EP.  After that, we start the tour at CPH:DOX, a documentary film festival in Copenhagen in the first week of November.

After Denmark, Singh and Heems are scheduled to play Sweden, Holland, Germany, France and England, and likely other places throughout November.  At the time of this being written, other dates are being confirmed.

Charanjit composing the landmark "10 Ragas" LP at EMI Studios in Bombay, 1982.

 

Why do we need this money?

Two main reasons:

1.  Rana's travel to, from, and within Europe.  It's not a cheap place.  He's tour managing, so he'll need $1500 to get there, and $1500 to get around and have accommodation sorted once he's there.

2.  Usually, Rana works as a one person film crew - he shoots and edits everything himself.  But for this, he will a hire another camera person in the cities we tour in, and he wants to pay for their time - at least $100 per show - which is $1000 for a minimum of ten shows.

 

 

Help?

If you are down with house music, the history of electronic music, Das Racist, or all of the above, you'll know why this story needs to be told. Check us out on Facebook, and we'll be updating this as we go along!

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