Talvin Singh

Creator of a groundbreaking blend between Indian bhangra traditions and drum'n'bass electronica, Talvin Singh received formal tabla instruction from childhood yet discarded much of that schooling upon launching the Anokha club night inside East London's Blue Note venue. Raised in Leytonstone, he first struck the tabla at five while also embracing breakdancing to electro beats and absorbing punk rock. At sixteen he was sent to India for rigorous classical study, only to reappear in Britain toward the close of the 1980s, where session work quickly followed with an eclectic roster that included Sun Ra, Björk, Future Sound of London, Siouxsie & the Banshees, and the Indigo Girls.

Late in 1995 he established Anokha, the weekly event pitting drum'n'bass DJs against Asian punk outfits in direct sonic confrontation with his own amplified tabla and percussion. Appearances by LTJ Bukem and additional guests quickly turned the Monday gathering into a sought-after London fixture, prompting Singh to ink a deal with Island Records for a corresponding Anokha compilation that featured several of his own productions. After further activity as a remixer he delivered his first full-length solo album, OK., toward the end of 1998.