Asian Underground is a term associated with various British musicians of Asiatic (mostly Indian or Pakistani) origin which blend elements of western popular music and the traditional music of their home countries. The first well-known mention is the compilation Anokha - Soundz of the Asian Underground released in 1997 and masterminded by Talvin Singh. It is not a strict musical genre per se, since the specific sounds can vary wildly (from Cornershops' britpop to Panjabi MCs' jungle). Most of these artists are the children or grandchildren of immigrants and have grown up in Western culture, but still have a strong Asiatic background through their families.
In the late 1990s, Asian Underground was considered hip and broke through to the mainstream, with Talvin Singh winning a Mercury Music Prize for his Album OK in 1999.
Notable artists
Last updated: 05-29-2005 16:34:54
