The Sahotas' Biography
If there is an Asian band that has blended east with west in an exotic groove and has shown sheer innovation and musical talent in their rapid ascendancy to musical stardom it has to be "THE SAHOTAS", currently the best-selling Bhangra band in the world. They perform the pulsating Bhangra Music (Indian Pop Music), hot rhythms, exotic vocals, fused with Reggae, Dance, Rock and love ballads. The five member brother band write, arrange, produce and perform the music themselves. Their live stage shows prove their ability not only to reproduce music but also to rock every concert arena that they have performed at.
Their latest album "Teri Meri Gal Ban Gayee" hit the number 1 position in India's Billboard charts (summer 2000) and has sold half a million copy's.
Among Bhangra Artist's, The Sahotas have made the most significant contribution to the mainstream market in terms of harbouring unique musical styles both creativity & cross-over appeal. Supporting top Reggae band "Aswad" on their UK tour, a string of peak time television appearances which include "Cilla Black's Surprise Surprise" (ITV), "Blue Peter" (BBC), "Big World Cafe" (Channel 4), "Movers & Shakers" (Sony Ent TV Asia), "MTV India", "Channel V", NDTV's Star TV, and performances at Music Festivals.
On their debut tour of India the Times of India had written: "Taste the real thunder of Bhangra Pop: Sahotas, "If there's one musical entity to credibly manage talent, harbour unique musical styles their ability to innovate both in terms of creativity and cross-over appeal, Sahotas walks away with the cake. Their profound knowledge of Bhangra, music and stage has culminated into TERI MERI GAL BAN GAYEE - an album tailor-made for the sub-continent that thrives on music, rhythm and dance. The unique musical combination of the Sahotas creates a musical language that animates the genre in far-reaching ways." In short, India is rocking'' to the Sahotas' brand of music. Thirteen years and six albums later, the Sahotas are now regarded as a band synonymous with innovation."
"Sahotas album TERI MERI GAL BAN GAYEE has been composed & arranged by Mukhtar Sahota & Surjit Sahota and been sung with exceptional gusto by Surjit. The album has nine songs and each track carries the crossover influences of the west onto the typical pattern of cracking Bhangra, imparting a new flavor to the genre that is already so popular with Indian audiences. The India music market is flooded with innumerable Punjabi artists and music companies hunting for more, The experience of several hit albums and performances on stage certainly give the Sahotas Brothers an edge above the rest! (reported Dhadkan.com)
"The Sahotas Music" continues to dominate playlists on leading Asian Radio stations. They have produced 6 hit albums performed in Punjabi and 1 in English "The Sahotas Music" is a reflection of their experiences and their aim to spread the music to a global scale.
The unique & distinctive sound has made Sahotas the most sought-after Asian Band from the UK! Songs such as "Lokan Nu Nach", "Aaja Aaja Aaja", "Mahi Di Udeek", "Sahotas Show Te Jaake", "Hass Hogia", "Heerie" and more have gone down as Bhangra classics. Lead vocalist Surjit Sahota has co-written over 30 of the band's songs.
Their profound knowledge of Bhangra, music and stage, began to enhance after winning The School Proms, The National Festival of Music for Youth and performing at "The Royal Albert Hall" in 1987, the most prestigious venue in the country. The unique musical combination of "Surjit Sahota", "Mukhtar Sahota" and "Raj Sahota" created an animation of musical language that landmarked "The Sahota Brothers" in the "British Asian Music Industry" at the average age of 19. The boys performed a mixture of Ghazals, Raaghs, Indian Classical music, with Punjabi songs at Mehfils all over the UK including "The Royal Festival Hall" & "Queen Elizabeth Hall" in London's renowned "South Bank".
Ambition of the brothers led them to endeavour in, "Giddha Pao", their first Punjabi album released in 1987, Blending Bhangra rhythms with contemporary sounds. As recognisable new talent they were signed to Multitone Records. Creativity, passion and growth called for three more members to "The Sahotas", "Prakash Sahota", "Vijay Sahota" and a session bass player.
Public demand led to "Sahota Beat", their second album released in 1988, which enhanced their success even more. The distinct voice of "Surjit", became a melodic fantasy that females craved for. "Sahota Beat" charted at number one in the Bhangra Charts, creating a firm fan following in the UK.
Drive, exhaustion and ambition led to the release of their third album, "Aaja" in 1989. Creating a new groove, that was to influence the whole of the Bhangra Industry. The new style was received so well that the album gained platinum and gold discs. Performing at the multitude of Bhangra gigs, music festivals, peak time television appearances, they cultivated a crowd following and made them world known. The Sahotas are continuously being told that their unique style and professionalism at their live shows is an experience.
1990 saw the release of "Are you Feeling" single. This was an experimental crossover project for the dance market. Two English tracks and "Bhangra Pauna" (remix). Sahotas music was used for major television music programme, called "Bhangra Beat" aired in the UK.
After such responsive success, the band released their fourth album "Ishk", in 1991. Creating maturity in musical styles. Not only this top the Bhangra Charts once again, but remained in the Top Ten, for a record breaking five months, leading the progression of The Sahotas even further. In the same year the band's lead singer Surjit Sahota suffered a broken arm in a serious road accident. This news sent shock waves throughout the entire UK Bhangra Music Industry. Fans, media and Bhangra artists all sent their well wishes to the band.
The band went on to receive the "best upcoming band" award at the "1991 UK Asian Pop Awards", where they gave an outstanding performance of the song "Urdas Kar De Han" (Let's Pray). Followed by winning the "best innovative band" award at "The Bhangra Music Awards".
Thousands of bootlegged copy's of the albums "Aaja" & "Ishk" were sold in and around Europe & Africa. The Universal Hym "Urdas Kar De Han" (translated meaning "Let us Pray") received good feedback from followers in UK, India, America, Canada & Germany. A hindi cover-version of the song soon appeared in music stores in Holland, recorded by a local artist!
Experimentation and new ventures allowed The Sahotas to experience independent record labels. In 1992, The Sahotas talents were discovered by "Stings" management company "I.R.S. Records Ltd.". Two years after the release of "Ishk" there was pressure from Britain's Asian community for another album from the band. Not letting their establishers and fans down, The Sahotas released the Punjabi single "Hass Hogia", in 1993, on the I.R.S. label. Yet again, this topped the charts and took the Bhangra Industry by storm. Hass Hogia has become the biggest selling Bhangra single of all time.
After noting the recognised crowd following and the musical ambition of The Sahotas, I.R.S. wanted Bhangra to cross over into the English Music Industry, which led to the release of "Out of Reach" single 1994, followed by "The Right Time" album 1995 on I.R.S. Records (EMI). The album reviewed in "Billboard Magazine" (United States). The band toured Canada where they played to mainstream audiences at music Festivals
Due to the ever increasing support The Sahotas launched their official website on the Internet, which has been visited by fans from all over the globe. www.thesahotas.com. Probably the first Bhangra band to go on the worldwide web. Keeping their fans and friends informed. It is this loyalty that the bands fan base has grown immensely over the years.
The Sahotas have supported the "Goodwill Children's Village", South India, raising money for children in the poorer regions of India. Believing in World Peace, Love and Unity! The band performed their "Urdas Kar De Han" (Let's Pray), the Universal World Prayer song.
The success of The Sahotas has not been a one off. With their remarkable ability to conform to the ever changing musical styles of the industry, their EP "Suniye", released in 1995, has proven that the band's reputation and style is an innovation that cannot be matched.
It had been six year's since the band's last album, the Bhangra fans and media had been eagerly waiting. The Sahotas had been working very hard writing material for their next album, titled "Decade", which was to mark "ten" year's in the history of the band. "Decade" was finally released in the summer of 1997, on one of the upcoming Bhangra labels "Kamlee Records Ltd". The album was a complete sell out and went straight in at number one in the Bhangra charts. "Decade" by The Sahotas became the biggest selling album of 1997. Leading to the "Best Contribution to Bhangra Music" award. The album continued to sell rapidly throughout 1997. The Sahotas were voted "best band" at the "1997 Eastern Eye Readers Music Poll".
The Sahotas released "Maa da Pyar" (Mothers Love), in the loving memory of their late mother who sadly passed away through illness on August 5th 1997. The tribute single contains 2 ballads, 1 which is sung in English. All proceeds from this single go to "The Stroke Association" (charity).
In 1998 The Sahotas success continued as they received the "best live act" award at two prestigious award shows, "The Movie Bhangra Awards" and "The Official Student Music Awards". The Sahotas enjoy reproducing the albums live on stage and when you have the fans singing along...............well that is an experience.
1999, "Envy Entertainment Ltd" exclusively under license to "Times Music" (Times of India) release The Sahotas latest Punjabi album "Brotherhood". Envy Music one of the youngest & upcoming record company's are pleased to have the Sahotas joining their label......The album enters straight in at number 1 in the Bhangra charts. Sahotas secure an International release of Brotherhood with "Times Music" for the India market. After shooting the latest music video in Mumbai's "Juhu Beach", "Times", are very excited about launching the Sahotas in India.
Emag readers vote The Sahotas as officially "THE BAND OF THE MILLENNIUM" in the "UK Bhangra Music Industry"!
May 2000, Sahotas make their official debut release in India with the album "Brotherhood" which was re-titled in India as "Teri Meri Gal Ban Gayee" under "Times Music" one of India's major record labels a subsidiary of "THE TIMES OF INDIA GROUP" (India's largest media conglomerate). Their record label reported; "Sahotas are selling the album faster than the story of their success can be reported. Before sales reports & press ads can be written and printed the guys go and sell thousands more albums. For the past 2 weeks we have only been busy ordering reprints." "At an average 400 people are buying the album per day since it's release 2 months ago!" (reported The Delhi Times). The album enters the Indi Pop Charts and stays spends six months in the top ten. The album reviewed in "Billboard Magazine".
While they have swayed, swung & shook millions of Bhangra fans across the world, CD's & singles of Sahotas were largely circulated (though privately) among Asian sub-continent mostly in pirated form. This has definitely changed now that "Times Music" has flooded the market with "TERI MERI GAL BAN GAYEE", and has been loved by music lovers all over the country. The music video to the title track directed by "Colossus" (India) has also received extensive coverage on leading Asian TV Music Channels across the world.
The hugely successful promotional tour of India followed in July 2000, this was the biggest tour ever done by a UK Bhangra artist. Playing in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad & Bangalore. They launched & performed live at the official "TIMES MUSIC.COM" www.timesmusic.com website party which showcased other top Indi Pop artists & Film Stars. PLANT M (India's most popular music store) where the Sahotas created mauj, masti and mazaa (excitement). Hordes of fans had to be held back as the band took to the stage, there was no stopping them from dancing, with chants of "More...."
The performance at Hotel Regent, Mumbai (where the boys met "Hrithik Roshan" the current Indian Film Industry superstar) went out by live webcast on Internet Channels: www.catchuslive.com and www.entertainmenttv.com (ETC Channel). India's biggest & most watched TV chat show "Movers & Shakers" on Sony Entertainment TV Asia, over 11 million viewers watched the Sahotas interview & perform live the hit songs "Teri Meri Gal Ban Gayee" & "Hass Hogia".
The Sahotas have been involved in intensive and successful promotional work with appearances on major TV Channels, Magazines & Newspapers. The band have made appearances reaching audiences in America, Canada, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kenya and the Middle East. This success justifies the band's status as major International artists.
The Sahotas look forward to releasing more albums in India (worldwide), whilst they continue with the stream of success in Britain and hold plans to tour the Americas, Europe, Africa & the Middle East. Some interesting collaborations are planned and the new Bhangra album is set for release early 2001 followed by the mainstream English language album.
Updated by Sowi November 2000
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