Joi
Encyclopedia
Joi are British Bangladeshi
alternative dub
/ dance music
DJ
team, originally composed of London brothers Farook and Haroon Shamsher. Haroon died at the turn of the century, and the remaining brother has continued Joi alone.
father and an Indian mother their passion for music developed at a young age as their father was an musician, a flute player. Joi was formed, originally working under the banners 'League Of Joi Bangla Youth Organisation' and 'Joi Bangla', a collective set up in 1983 to promote Bengali culture
to kids in their local area East London
. Fusing Asian influences with Western beats were fusing the sounds of traditional Bengali music
with hip-hop
and contemporary dance styles.
, during a set at World of Music, Arts and Dance
in 1996, Joi signed to his Real World
label the following year, leading to the release of their debut album, "One And One Is One" in the UK in March 1999. Later that year, Haroon died unexpectedly of a heart-attack on 8 July 1999 at the age of 34.
In between working in the studio, Joi had been taking their sound system to clubs around London, as well as supporting Spiritualised on their '98 British tour. Their sound system helped promote their fusion ethic regardless of trends within the music industry. Over the years the duo worked with various other artists and DJs, including Asian Dub Foundation
, Athletico, Mixmaster Morris
, Plaid
and Spring Heel Jack
.
The Joi Sound System has played at clubs and gigs like The End
, The Complex, Return To The Source
, and the Ministry of Sound
. Joi also developed a live act and put on a full live show - incorporating sitar, guitar, tablas, and vocals by Susheela Raman
, performed at such events such as Tribal Gathering
, Whirl-Y-Gig
, World of Music, Arts and Dance
, Big Chill
, Wembley Conference Centre
, Swaraj as well as others around Europe taking them as far afield as Bucharest, Rome, Madrid and Geneva. They also performed live radio sessions with Andy Kershaw
(Radio 1
), XFM
and Greater London Radio
.
1999
2006
British Bangladeshi
A British Bangladeshi is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis...
alternative dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
team, originally composed of London brothers Farook and Haroon Shamsher. Haroon died at the turn of the century, and the remaining brother has continued Joi alone.
Background
Joi were brothers Farook and Haroon Shamsher, born to a BangladeshiBengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
father and an Indian mother their passion for music developed at a young age as their father was an musician, a flute player. Joi was formed, originally working under the banners 'League Of Joi Bangla Youth Organisation' and 'Joi Bangla', a collective set up in 1983 to promote Bengali culture
Culture of Bengal
The culture of Bengal encompasses cultures in the Bengal region, which today consists of the independent nation of Bangladesh , and the Indian federal republic's constitutive state of West Bengal. The two geographical entities share many cultural traits which root from their historical...
to kids in their local area East London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
. Fusing Asian influences with Western beats were fusing the sounds of traditional Bengali music
Music of Bengal
The music of Bengal, also referred to as Bangla music, comprises a long tradition of religious and secular song-writing over a period of almost a millennium...
with hip-hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
and contemporary dance styles.
Studio and performance
Catching the attention of Peter GabrielPeter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, during a set at World of Music, Arts and Dance
World of Music, Arts and Dance
WOMAD is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance.-History:...
in 1996, Joi signed to his Real World
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
label the following year, leading to the release of their debut album, "One And One Is One" in the UK in March 1999. Later that year, Haroon died unexpectedly of a heart-attack on 8 July 1999 at the age of 34.
In between working in the studio, Joi had been taking their sound system to clubs around London, as well as supporting Spiritualised on their '98 British tour. Their sound system helped promote their fusion ethic regardless of trends within the music industry. Over the years the duo worked with various other artists and DJs, including Asian Dub Foundation
Asian Dub Foundation
Asian Dub Foundation are a British electronica band that plays a mix of rapcore, dub, dancehall and ragga, also using rock instruments, acknowledging a punk influence...
, Athletico, Mixmaster Morris
Mixmaster Morris
Mixmaster Morris is an English ambient DJ and underground musician. Relating specifically to ambient music, Morris stated "It's exactly what you need if you have a busy and stressful life".-Life and career:...
, Plaid
Plaid
Plaid may refer to:Material* A plaid or full plaid is a pleated cloth worn with the modern kilt, made from the same tartan and worn cast over the shoulder and fastened at the front* The belted plaid or "great kilt", earlier form of the kilt...
and Spring Heel Jack
Spring Heel Jack
Spring Heel Jack is an English electronic music group consisting of John Coxon and Ashley Wales.Formed in 1993 in London, England, Spring Heel Jack began their career exploring drum and bass and jungle, but have since branched out into free improvisation and jazz, collaborating with many acclaimed...
.
The Joi Sound System has played at clubs and gigs like The End
The End (club)
The End was a nightclub in the West End of London, England. Started in December 1995 by DJs Layo Paskin and Mr C, The End was world-renowned. It was also responsible for the label End Recordings....
, The Complex, Return To The Source
Return To The Source
Return to the Source was a London-based Goa Trance club and off-shoot record label run by partners Chris Decker, Mark Allen, Janice Duncan and Phil Ross....
, and the Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
. Joi also developed a live act and put on a full live show - incorporating sitar, guitar, tablas, and vocals by Susheela Raman
Susheela Raman
Susheela Raman is an acclaimed British Tamil musician. Raman has released five albums since 2001. Her debut album Salt Rain was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2001.-Early years:...
, performed at such events such as Tribal Gathering
Tribal Gathering
Tribal Gathering was a dance music festival that catered for different types of dance music cultures such as drum and bass, techno, rave and house. -History:...
, Whirl-Y-Gig
Whirl-Y-Gig
Whirl-Y-Gig is one of the longest running world dance clubs in London. It was set up by Ros Madden as an experiment of the Association of Humanistic Psychology in 1981, who passed it on to the capable hands of DJ Monkey Pilot four years later. Ros Madden died on 20th October 2011 in Luton...
, World of Music, Arts and Dance
World of Music, Arts and Dance
WOMAD is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance.-History:...
, Big Chill
The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August...
, Wembley Conference Centre
Wembley Conference Centre
Wembley Conference Centre was a conference centre near Wembley Stadium, Wembley, in London, England.-History:Opened in 1977, it was the first purpose built Conference Centre in the UK. Events included conferences, corporate hospitality, annual general meetings, banquets and sports events including...
, Swaraj as well as others around Europe taking them as far afield as Bucharest, Rome, Madrid and Geneva. They also performed live radio sessions with Andy Kershaw
Andy Kershaw
Andy Kershaw is a British broadcaster, known for his interest in world music.His shows feature a mix of country, blues, reggae, folk music, spoken word performance from the likes of Ivor Cutler, and other music from around the world.- Early Life :Kershaw and his sister, fellow broadcaster Liz...
(Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
), XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
and Greater London Radio
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
.
Awards
1993- NME magazineNMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
: Single Of The Week - "Desert Storm"
1999
- BBC Asian Music Award - "One and One is One"
2006
- UK Asian Music AwardsUK Asian Music AwardsThe UK Asian Music Awards, also known by the abbreviation UK AMA, is an award show that is held annually in the United Kingdom since 2002. It is presented by B4U Music since 2008...
: Farook Shamsher received the "Commitment to Scene"
Singles
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Taj Mahouse | BPM Records |
| 1988 | Funky Asian | BPM Records |
| 1992 | Desert Storm | Transglobal |
| 1996 | Spiritual Get-Together | ZYX Music ZYX Music ZYX Music is a German record label which was founded in 1971 by Bernhard Mikulski. Until 1992, the label's name was Pop-Import Bernhard Mikulski. The label specialized in disco and early house music. Founder Bernhard Mikulski is credited with coining the term Italo disco in the 1980s... |
| 1998 | Fingers | Real World Records Real World Records Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's... |
| 1999 | Asian Vibes | Real World Records |
| 2001 | Deep Asian Vibes | Real World Records |
EP
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Bangladesh | Nation Records Nation Records Nation Records is a record label set up by Kath Canoville and Aki Nawaz in 1988.-History:The label was set up after major labels declined to release their fusion of world music and dance music, an album called Fuse... |
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | One and One is One | Real World Records |
| 2000 | We Are Three | Real World Records |
| 2007 | Without Zero | Real World Records |
Collaborations and contributions
| Year | Title | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Goddess | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Eastern Uprising | Sony Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... |
| 1997 | India | Various Artists | Global Explorer | Zip Dog |
| 1998 | Sweet Pain | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Star Rise Star Rise Star Rise is a remix from two previous Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan / Michael Brook collaborations. The album was dedicated to the memory of Khan, who died prior to the album's completion, and released posthumously by Real World Records.... |
Real World Records |
| 1998 | Shanti | Various Artists | Further East-Westercisms | Law And Auder |