Anokhi Fashion Lifestyle Entertaiment

Up Close: Jay Sean

By: Tessa Johnson

*posted December 19, 2009

Jay Sean is no stranger to the music industry. With seven years in the music business under his belt, he has naturally transformed into the well seasoned and in-demand artist that he is today.  With a huge following from his UK success, the next stepping stone in his career naturally, was to join forces with heavy hitters Cash Money/Universal Republic as part of his introduction into the mainstream music scene. Now he is setting the global music charts on fire with his number one hit “Down” and his latest released track “Do You Remember”.

Before hitting the stage here in Toronto—the final stop of his international tour—Jay Sean sits down with ANOKHI to talk about his pretty fabulous year.

How would you describe your sound? It’s definitely music which I would say is very real in terms of topics I talk about.  I like to strike a chord with humanity the best way of doing that is to write from the heart, and be honest.I think the biggest compliment I have ever received so far about my music is a number of people will come to me and say “Man you have literally written my life story in that song.” That is really cool to hear and that is why I like to write melodic songs with meaning.

As a South Asian artist, what challenges did you face (if any) with respect to breaking free from what the industry may expect from a South Asian artist in terms of music? America was a really different process, they did not look too deep into anything they just took the music for what is was which I think is the best thing to do, that’s what it should be about, it’s about music.  When they heard the songs, they thought ‘Great! What is his name?’ Let’s play more of it.’ and the more and more they played the bigger and bigger it got.

He continues to remain close to his cultural roots and would love to pursue the possibility of recording for a Bollywood movie soundtrack in addition to collaborating on future projects with pop artists such as Rihanna, Taylor Swift and even Hip-Hop giants such as Jay-Z and Eminem.

Any advice for budding singer/songwriters who are trying break into the mainstream music industry? Yes definitely, this industry is highly competitive. You really need to be up on your A-game, see who your competition is and try to be the best you can be.  It is very important to have people in your life that will be very honest with you. No matter how successful you think you are, they will always be the one to be real with you.

Any last words for ANOKHI fans? Yes of course! For me it is very important where I have come from and  where I have grown from.  I did an interview with ANOKHI 4- 5 years ago. Way back in the day before the American success and I feel it is very important to let you know how much I appreciate your success and how you have given me your support throughout the years. Without you, I would not be here today.

We too, will keep our eyes on Jay Sean as his success clearly is far from over.

Holiday Tips: An Ode To Regifting

By: Ranga Thangarajah

*posted December 17, 2009

The countdown beings! So don't be afraid to go down that gift giving road with our fab tips to make you the superstar regifter!

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You want to, but you don’t. Your conscience sets in as you battle out the potential outcomes of making someone happy while jeopardizing your chances of getting caught red-handed. It’s the moral dilemma that staggers gift-givers worldwide: you want to practice giving, but you don’t want to get caught regifting.

The good news: you’re not alone.

We’ve all heard the cliché: one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, yet when it comes to gift-giving, we fail to realize the regifting treasures hidden in the depths of our own junk.

Contrary to conventional theory, regifting doesn’t have to imply that you, the giver, are frugal and thoughtless. Regifting is all about making the most of what we have in a creatively conscientious way. It doesn’t have to be embarrassing if our intentions are sincere and our planning crystal-clear. It’s better to give after all, than to not give at all. But it’s important to do it right by following some simple regifting etiquette in order to truly master the art of regifting. Otherwise, you could find yourself in more trouble than not having given anything at all.

So here are a few faux pas to avoid should you decide to jump on the regifting bandwagon:

“Gently used” and “new” are not synonyms. This is not about mastering the art of reinventing the thrift store. Unless it’s brand spanking new, never regift it.

Don’t regift used gift cards. Chances are a balance of $53.72 on that gift card you received last year is going to give you away. Especially if you’ve forgotten to do your research and the store is no longer in business.

Personalized gifts are meant to be personal. When giving gifts, put your name on it, just ensure it’s not written all over it. Engraved keepsakes, autographed books, handmade gifts, or any other personalized items should be kept personal and hence, off the regifting radar.

Rewrap regifts. So you’re not splurging on a present. The least you could do is buy some new wrap (and perhaps a card too) and personalize somebody else’s gift. Trying to fit a gift back into its original packaging will more than likely give you away. The aim here is to be frugal and selfless, not parsimonious and heartless.

Finally, the Golden Rule of Regifting. Remember, at all times, who gave you the gift initially. This is the twenty-first century, where growing social networks have made those six degrees of separation feel more like one. Word spreads quickly so, avoid regifting to the gift-giver and mutual friends to ensure a Happy New Year.

Ultimately, if you’re looking to score it on Santa’s Nice List this year and get to everyone on your gift-giving checklist, you may want to rummage through your junk, discover those buried treasures, and rejoice in giving the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season. If you’re still reluctant and find yourself second-guessing the recipient’s reaction, just remember: they can always regift your gift to someone else.

Happy Holidays!!

Up Close: New Jersey's Bamboo Shoots

BY: Hilal Nakiboglu Isler

PHOTO: Courtesy of Hilal Nakiboglu Isler

I met Ankur Patel in an over-lit New Jersey diner a few years ago. A

kid with a quick smile and over-sized jeans who didn’t talk much, and

when he did, it was about this band, called Bamboo Shoots, he was in

with a couple of his buddies.

I might not have taken Patel that seriously (what is it with boys and

their garage-bands?) if Rekha Malhotra, a.k.a. DJ Rekha, hadn’t been there.

She’s the New York-based turntablist responsible for bringing Bhangra to the

city through her long-standing club night Basement Bhangra. I was

interviewing her and had spent the day being SUV-ed around to a local

TV taping to her offices in Brooklyn and now here to this restaurant

booth off the New Jersey Turnpike.

It was she who introduced us. And over some deep-fried food, which the

three of us now shared, she told me Ankur’s band was the real deal, a

group to watch. She was a fan, and had recently hosted them at

Basement Bhangra, part of an attempt to showcase Desi-American music

not of the dhol-beat-repeat kind.

Patel, softspoken with an earring and well-pruned goatee, told us

about a competition they’d recently entered: an annual contest

sponsored by mtvU, held in attempt to find the "Best Music On Campus."

He said if they won, it would be "huge" and gave me the online address

where I could go and place my vote — which I did later that night.

So did thousands of others. The Bamboo Shoots secured a win, becoming the

first Desi-American band to do so. The prize: a chance to perform on

Late Night With Conan O'Brien and a deal with Epic Records, a major

mainstream label.

That was two years ago. Since then, there have been gigs, lots of

them, across the United States: at dive bars, clubs, even a theme park

(the tween girls seemed to really enjoy that one). Then three months

ago, a first: a five-city tour of India.

You don’t see many young bands travel to India so early on in their

careers. That’s something generally reserved for rock veterans

(Metallica, Iron Maiden come to mind) who roll through, almost as an

afterthought, on the tail-end of an Asian blitz. So why India? And why

now?

"We get the sense that most American bands would only come to India

once they were firmly established internationally,"  frontman Avir

Mitra told me from Delhi, where he had performed at the Turquoise

Cottage the evening before. "They'd stop by on their way to Japan or

something and play huge venues and then leave.  We want to do it

differently…to start from a grassroots level, build a solid

relationship with India early on." They’ve managed to pull this strategy

off nicely in the States.

The guys (there are five: Avir Mitra, Karl Sukhia, Shiv Puri, Ankur

Patel and Ahmed Mahmoud) have a following as loyal as any — people

they’ve won over with their accessibility and their endearing, nerdy

charm. Watch their YouTube videos (/bambooshootsband), and you’ll see

what I mean. In the clip where Mitra announces the India tour, for

instance, he sits mumbling in a collapsed lawn chair, nervously

tossing a pebble around before someone (is that Ankur?) starts raking

a pile of dead leaves in the background.

The video ends as awkwardly as it began which makes you realize two

things. One: these guys probably didn’t go on many dates in high

school. And two: they don’t see any reason you can’t be rock stars and

normal people simultaneously.

The Shoots cover both classics (Al Green’s I’m Still In Love With

You), and contemporary hits (by Kanye West, Radiohead), but it’s their

original pieces like Milk, Satin, Silk and Wrong All Along that are

really memorable, full of punchy charm.  Their debut album, Armour, is

to be released late this year. Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads

gets production credits.

Their legion of committed online fans will help make the album a

success here. And in India? "None of us had any idea how our sound

would be received," says Avir Mehta, "But people there are definitely

getting it."

That’s reassuring and suggests if word-of-mouse spreads, as it does,

the Shoots just might become a band with a transcontinental following.

Visit  the band on MySpace for more info: http://www.myspace.com/bambooshoots.