Award winning and Dynamic leading British Asian vocalist Shahin Badar releases her debut solo album 'Laila' and returns to the music scene for the first time in nearly two years. She is the first muslim Female artist to have crossed over with the world renowned dance band 'The Prodigy'.
Laila features a blend of Arabic, English and Indian influences that showcases a talent that lead to collaborations with the likes of AR Rahman, Jah Wobble, Twista and Juliet Lewis. It is a strong offering of 18 solid cuts, which are edgy, tripping and hypnotic beats and chants. No dance floor is likely to be empty when tracks like Doleh Reh from Mercury nominated Choque Hosein, Jhoom Jhoom, Laila, and Andheri Raai hit the decks.
Shahin is best known for the Prodigy’s 'Smack My Bitch Up' which featured her spine tingling chant on their multi million selling Fat Of The Land album giving them and Shahin Billboard and UK No. 1 chart positions and entry into the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest selling album at the time. For this she received a double platinum disc and a place in music history. Shahin featured on two further Prodigy albums that enjoyed UK number 1 chart positions. She has worked with dance maestro Tim Deluxe on the single Mundaya, which was chosen as an ‘Essential tune of the week’ by BBC Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong.
Shahin’s distinctive vocals have also featured in over 30 Hollywood and Bollywood films including Academy nominated Closer and Charlie’s Angels, US sitcoms North Shore and Kevin Hill and Shyam Bengal’s Zubeidaa. Shahin supported leading US rapper 50 Cent when his tour took in Lebanon with award winning producer Guy Manoukian at The Biel, in front of a 20 thousand strong audience followed by an invitation to perform with chart topping Turkish artist Mercan Dede in Germany.
Shahin has already won Best female Vocalist at the Asian Pop Awards; nominations for Ethnic Multicultural Media Award - Best New Comer; Asian Women of Achievement Awards - Arts & Culture; Muslim News Alhambra Award for Excellence and Channel 5’s prestigious Community Award – Glory of India thereby establishing Shahin as one of the most outstanding female Asian vocalists in the UK dance and British Asian music scene.
Born in Colchester to Indian parents Shahin had shown strong vocal ability From a very young age , encouraged by her mother she took semi - classical lessons. Having spent 12 years in Kuwait Shahin’s musical horizons broadened and Arabic influences were added to her already strong beautiful Indian vocals.
Shahin scored chart success with the Prodigy’s ‘Smack My Bitch Up’, which featured her spine tingling chant on their multi-selling ‘Fat Of The Land’ album. Shahin, along with the Prodigy earned number 1 chart positions on both sides of the Atlantic and a double plantinum award. Their ‘Fat Of The Land’ album also reached number 1 in19 further countries.
Her collaborations include the likes of AR Rahman, Jah Wobble, Twista and Juliet Lewis. Her vocals have already featured in more than 30 Hollywood and Bollywood films including Academy, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award nominated Closer and Academy Award nominated Charlie’s Angels; US sitcoms North Shore and Kevin Hill as well as Shyam Bengal’s Zubeidaa.
One of Shahin’s greatest achievements includes supporting US rapper 50 Cent when his tour took in Lebanon with award winning producer Guy Manoukian at the Biel in the presence of a 20 thousand strong audience. She was then invited to perform with chart topping Turkish artist Mercan Dede in Germany and worked with director Ang Lee on The Hulk, starring Eric Bana.
Shahin has already won MTV Video Music Award – Best Breakthrough Video Award (Prodigy / Smack My Bitch Up); Muzik Magazine Dance Awards – Best Video Award (Prodigy / Smack My Bitch up); Best Female Vocalist at the Asian Pop Awards; Grammy Award nomination for The Fat of the Land / Prodigy; Ethnic Multicultural Media Award – Best New Comer. Other nominations include Ivor Novello nomination for soundtrack ‘Second Generation (film); Asian Woman of Achievement Awards – Arts & Culture; Muslem News Alhamra Award for Excellence and Channel 5’s prestigious Community Award – Glory of India;
On a personal level, Shahin, having returned from recording vocals for The Hulk in Hollywood with composer Michael Dannah was informed by her mother that her father made the decision to embark on the Hajj pilgrimage, the largest annual pilgrimage in the world.
Still exhausted by her LA flight, within moments of stepping through her front door and upon hearing this news Shahin went to her room to pray. She then informed her mother of her decision to join her father on this epic and momentous trip.
The whole experience was life affirming to her and provided the inspiration for one of her most spiritual songs to date: “Light At The End Of The Tunnel”.
Shahin was to find her faith tested once again. On a trip to India she collapsed and passed out. Taken to hospital it was discovered that Shahin had contracted a serious illness thus forcing her to take time out of her very hectic music career. It has now been two years and Shahin has been given the all clear. She is delighted that interest in her debut album ‘Laila’ has been positive and she’s eager to return to performing live, on stage.
Shahin has emerged as one of the most accomplished crossover/commercial female Asian vocalists in the UK mainstream and Asian music scene.
Release Date: LAILA out now !
Label: Shahin Badar Records through Imprint Records
Distribution: Cargo
www.shahinbadar.com
www.myspace.com/shahinbadar
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