RBC desiFEST 2008 Artists

Zzen

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
10 SECOND BIO::

Zzen is a Rock/Progressive South East Asian band from Toronto, ON comprising of members from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

http://www.everythingzzen.ca/band.php
http://cf.myspace.com/160235586

The Leathal Dholis

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Household names are assigned by public recognition to many professions and hobbies. One prime example of such a scenario is The Lethal Dholis. The Lethal Dholis of Toronto have imprinted themselves into the North American market as a force to be reckoned with.

http://cf.myspace.com/dholilovneet

Sunny Khaira

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Sunny Khaira, is an 18 year old singing sensation that has rocked stages all over for the past years and has become known for his voice, charisma, and stage presence. He is a young energetic individual, who has the ability to light up a stage and entertain all types of audiences. Although Sunny sings strictly Punjabi folk, his upbringing is completely western. Born and raised in the bhangra capital itself, Birmingham, England, Sunny came to Canada in the year 2000. Always having an interest in music, Sunny began taking classical training from his ustaad, Professor Purshottam Singh Jee. From his few years of learning classical music, Sunny gained vital experience and knowledge in music, which is expressed and easily recognizable in his singing.

SUKOON

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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SUKOON is a South-Asian rock band based in Mississauga (a city near Toronto). Initially formed in Pakistan, co-founder Irfan Pasha (Guitars/Backing Vocals) brought Sukoon to Canada when he moved to Toronto in 2005. Comprising of Irfan, his schoolmates Sheryar Amin (Guitars) and Ali Taiyeb (Bass), acquaintance Aman Gulati (Drums), and a couple of friends, the band played a few gigs, before they hit a dead-end due to members quitting and the absence of shows in the area.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sukoon/6359023891
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=177510016

Shweta Subramanian

HOMETOWN:: Ottawa
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After winning the coveted title of Best Singer in North America by Sangam Kala Group, Shweta was selected by Sunsilk Hair Products to create Sunsilk Gang of Girls, an all-girl band featured on Zoom TV for 13 weeks. Thereafter Shweta has represented the band through choreographed performances across India, as well as media interactions and interviews providing nationwide and global coverage and was featured on Time of India.

http://www.shweta.ca/
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=416210268

Shobha

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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“Music has this remarkable way of going beyond where words could go. I can’t always articulate my words quite right during conversation, so for me music is a means to express what I’m feeling in a way I could never say.”
The soothing tone, reflective lyrics and fluid melodies of Halifax-bred, Toronto-based singer/songwriter Shobha could not have arrived on the music scene at a better time.

http://profile.myspace.com/shobhamusic

Parul Sharma

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Parul has co-written and recorded with renowned producers such as 2002 JUNO award winning Songwriter of the Year Russell Broom (Jann Arden, Josh Groban, Sam Roberts), Universal Music’s Luke McMaster (Rihanna, Nick Lachey), Sony/ATV’s James Bryan (Philosopher Kings, Prozzak, Fefe Dobson), Justin Gray of Big Boom Entertainment (Joss Stone, Snow, Emma Bunton), Richard Bailey (LFO, Natural), and Sony/ATV’s David Thomson (Wave, Brian Melo).

http://parulmusic.tripod.com/index.html
http://www.myspace.com/parulmusic

Parichay

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Parichay, a multi-talented artist who defines versatility by writing, singing and producing songs in English, Hindi and Punjabi, has performed all over North America, India, Dubai, the Caribbean and swayed a variety of audiences with his energetic yet soulful performances.

http://www.parichayonline.com/Parichay_Online/Parichay_-_A_True_Urban_Desi.html
http://www.myspace.com/chayakaparichay
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parichay/31587797502?ref=ts

Onkar Singh

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
10 SECOND BIO::

Born and raised in Brantford. Have performed as an East Indian vocalist for well over 25 years in devotional settings, to private and corporate gatherings, and sacred music festivals. Have performed all across Canada and the U.S. and India. Trained in Gurmat Sangeet (Sikh devotional music), Onkar has for the past 6 years collaborated with western artists and western musical elements to bring a fusion component to his repertoire.

NuS

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Nus, is a Canadian based Pakistani Rock Band that was formed in April’05. Their headlining performance that brought them up in the local Pakistani underground scene was the Battle of the Bands 2006 – “Rockfest II”
where NuS won the 2nd place prize. Since then NuS has opened (headlined) for some well known South Asian artists such as “Josh” (at the PSA Formal 2007 in Toronto), “Falak” (at various shows around the GTA) and “Noori” (at the PSA Formal 2008 in Ottawa) just to name a few. With each performance they look to increase their fan base and gain more respect and appreciation amongst the South Asian audience in Toronto and the GTA.

Nandita

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Nandita began her vocal training with Indian classical singing and went on to train in western classical music. She found her natural talent and artistic passion in jazz. Today she sings in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Indian languages. This dynamic young woman has been performing since the tender age of ten. She is also a song-writer and has a variety of original material.

http://www.myspace.com/nanditadias
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nandita-Dias/28112979

Meditating Minds Entertainment (MME)

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Meditating Minds Entertainment (MME) was established in 2002 by founder and CEO Rocky Jeyam to fill the void in the Canadian urban landscape. MME has evolved into one of Canada’s rising entertainment companies in just five years. The success of MME is largely due to our unique core group of artist’s and producers. Our artist’s come from a wide variety of cultural and social backgrounds that resonate through our music.

http://www.meditatingmindsent.com/
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=62601962

Little Empire

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Little Empire is five Canadians of Tamil descent putting flavour and sense back into the ordinary and making it look EXTRAORDINARY! They let their various styles collide to make the HARDEST hitting conscious sound out there with a STYLE that is fresh ‘n’ unique. Their REALNESS is reflected in their demeanor, which is cognizant of the issues THEY REPRESENT. It’s not just music and clothes, LITTLE EMPIRE is a MOVEMENT!!!!!

http://www.littleempire.ca
http://www.myspace.com/littleempiremusic

Ken Huang

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
10 SECOND BIO::

Ken, an Indian-born Chinese had often listened to English, Hindi and Bengali songs on the radio since childhood days in India. Always liked singing along to especially really old songs like that of Mukesh, Mohd. Rafi, Kishore Kumar, etc., usually during the festivals like Durga puja or Kali puja. Now, more than ever, I miss those times in India. So, I listen to or sing Hindi songs frequently. I have sung in English, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi and Bengali on stage here in Canada. I am hoping to capture the hearts of South-Asians with my Hindi singing performance.

Just Gita

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Just Gita is a singer/songwriter who was born and raised in Toronto.
To Gita the city is a myriad of cultures that inevitably allowed her to develop her musical talent with some aspect of each culture represented in her unique style.

http://www.justgita.com/JustGita/Welcome%20.html
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=35900923

Jsin

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
10 SECOND BIO::

jsin is rock music.

Raw emotion, raw energy – You’ll hear it. You’ll feel it. This is the new Rock where there are no boundaries. Acoustic, electric, electronic – anything that captures the essence of the song is used in all the music jsin creates.

http://www.jsinisrockmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jsinisrockmusic

Jaya Devan

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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The Indian born Canadian Violinist Jayadevan hails from a family of artists, his grand father being Abhayadev, a well known name both in Malayalam film and literary worlds. Jayadevan started learning violin at his young age under Kalaksethram Mathew and Nedumangadu Sivanandan.

http://www.jayadevan.ca/
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=188821334

Jay Deala

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
10 SECOND BIO::

M Way Entertainment started out as a group of close friends who were all born in Toronto and then migrated to the suburbs of the Peel Region. As a pass time, this group of friends would hang out at the parks and catwalks cyphering, beat boxing and playing basketball, bringing the Toronto urban lifestyle to the suburbs of Brampton and Mississauga.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jay-Deala-of-M-Way-Entertainment-Inc/21389215404
http://www.myspace.com/mwayent

Ishq Bector

HOMETOWN:: Winnipeg, Canada
10 SECOND BIO::

Energy, innovation, finesse, and music that commands you onto the dance floor is only the beginning of IshQ Bector. This Hip-Hop artist is gathering his global Indian community for a musical revolution.
As a singer, songwriter, producer, performer, and entrepreneur, this visionary poet is making a statement. And it’s all in the name. IshQ is passionate love, and this is exactly what this rising star possesses in all he puts his heart and mind to.

http://www.ishqisdead.com/
http://www.myspace.com/80643269

Gifty Singh

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Gifty Singh is driven to go against the grain. His soulful music creates imagery in the world he sleeps in hoping one day to wake up to peaceful harmonies. Gifty Singh’s music goes back to his roots in India, where he was taught the harmonium and tabla. These traditional instruments help sustain a catchy tempo while the strings such as the piano, guitar, and violins express his true inspirations combining hip hop, folk, and soul. Singer/Songwriter, and a producer, Gifty is involved in every aspect of his music development., “ I just want to create honest music, that’s why I write all my songs create all my music and even do the harmonies.” Gifty Singh believes that “Through passion and hard work, you can achieve anything.”

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=231850220

Sunny Khaira, Hans Mann, Jasraj Singh .

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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The definition of the word “Avalla” is ‘unique’ or ‘different’, and there is no better word to define this group of up and coming young artists. Avalla connection is just that: a unique representation of today’s artistically inclined Punjabi youth brought together by the universal language of music. They bring a different feel to live music by intertwining the fundamentals of Punjabi folk music with western elements to bring forth a fresh, in-your-face sound that has blown away audiences all over the GTA.

http://ca.myspace.com/172872443

Autorickshaw

HOMETOWN:: Toronto
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Autorickshaw’s music lies on the cultural cutting edge, as contemporary jazz and funk easily rub shoulders with the classical and popular music of India. Formed in 2003, autorickshaw has swiftly risen to become one of the most intriguing acts on the world music and jazz landscapes, garnering a 2004 JUNO nomination for World Music Album of the Year, and winning a Canadian Independent Music Award in 2005.

http://www.autorickshaw.ca
http://www.myspace.com/autorickshaw

Roach

HOMETOWN:: Sebha, Libya
10 SECOND BIO::

Roach was born in a small city called Sebha, in Libya which is in the heart of the Sahara desert. At the age of ten, him and his family were forced to migrate to Canada due to the country’s educational limits. At the age of 12, Roach was introduced to the life of urban music and from the first sounds of reggae, he fell in love with the culture which inspired him to become a reggae artist. At the early age of 14, Roach collaborated with producers from the Greater City of Toronto and released an underground Reggae album called “ROACHSTAFARIAN” of which he sold 6000 units across North America.
The New Album titled “ The Revolution” with its first single Yara Dildara dropping in Fall.

http://www.myspace.com/roachkilladot

DJ Baba Kahn

10 SECOND BIO::

As a DJ, Toronto based party controller Baba Kahn has done it all. He reigned supreme at several of Canada’s hottest clubs for over a decade, has a fan base that stretches across North America and into to parts of Europe. His live-to-air radio shows are always ranked number one in their time slots, and he has two incredible successful MIX CD series called “Wrath of Kahn” that features his own production along with current club anthems in addition to “Fresh Pulp,” his monthly new music mix CD.

http://www.babakahn.com
http://www.myspace.com/djbabakahn