Taz (singer)
Encyclopedia
Tarsame Singh Saini aka Taz (Stereo Nation) born 23 May 1967, Coventry
, West Midlands
, United Kingdom
), is a British
singer, composer and actor of India
n descent. He is the lead singer of the pop band Stereo Nation which was formed in 1996. Formerly known as Johnny Zee, he is credited with being the pioneer of cross-cultural Asian fusion music
.
in 1989 with the album "Hit the Deck" which spent over 36 weeks on the UK Asian pop charts at number one. The album was produced by the former vocalist in The Specials
, Neville Staple. He went on to produce many albums in the 1990s and early 2000s which were hugely successful. To date, all but two of his albums have received gold platinum and multi-platinum discs. His most successful album to date is "Slave II Fusion", released in 2000, which includes many of his most well-known hit songs including "Pyar Ho Gaya", "Nachenge Saari Raat", and "Gallan Gorian". His music videos also feature actors before they became famous. His video "Ishq" features model and actress Koena Mitra
and "Pyar Ho Gaya" features actor Shiny Ahuja.
In 2005, he won "Best International Artist" at the UK Asian Music Awards
.
In 2007, he made his film debut with Don't Stop Dreaming
, for which he also composed the soundtrack
and did the playback singing. In 2008 he returned with his new album "Jawani on the Rocks". His hit singles from this album include "Meri Nazron Mein Tu Hain" and "Hai Hai Jawani".
In 2010, he released his album, "Twist & Shout", which was a success.
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
), is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer, composer and actor of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent. He is the lead singer of the pop band Stereo Nation which was formed in 1996. Formerly known as Johnny Zee, he is credited with being the pioneer of cross-cultural Asian fusion music
Asian Underground
Asian Underground is a term associated with various British Asian musicians who blend elements of western underground dance music and the traditional Asian music of their home countries in South Asia...
.
Career
He first hit the chartsRecord chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in 1989 with the album "Hit the Deck" which spent over 36 weeks on the UK Asian pop charts at number one. The album was produced by the former vocalist in The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
, Neville Staple. He went on to produce many albums in the 1990s and early 2000s which were hugely successful. To date, all but two of his albums have received gold platinum and multi-platinum discs. His most successful album to date is "Slave II Fusion", released in 2000, which includes many of his most well-known hit songs including "Pyar Ho Gaya", "Nachenge Saari Raat", and "Gallan Gorian". His music videos also feature actors before they became famous. His video "Ishq" features model and actress Koena Mitra
Koena Mitra
Koena Mitra is an Indian actress and model who appears in Bollywood films.-Early life:Mitra was born in Kolkata, West Bengal to a Bengali Hindu family. She attended South Point High School and Lady Brabourne College of the University of Calcutta. She has a major in psychology. Mitra was trained...
and "Pyar Ho Gaya" features actor Shiny Ahuja.
In 2005, he won "Best International Artist" at the UK Asian Music Awards
UK Asian Music Awards
The 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...
.
In 2007, he made his film debut with Don't Stop Dreaming
Don't Stop Dreaming
Don't Stop Dreaming is a film directed by Aditya Raj Kapoor , produced by Munir Ahmad and set in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom...
, for which he also composed the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
and did the playback singing. In 2008 he returned with his new album "Jawani on the Rocks". His hit singles from this album include "Meri Nazron Mein Tu Hain" and "Hai Hai Jawani".
In 2010, he released his album, "Twist & Shout", which was a success.
Albums
- Hit the Deck (1989)
- The Remix Album (1990)
- Vibes (1991)
- Back To My Roots (1992)
- From Me To You (1993)
- Spirits of Rhythm (1994)
- New Dawn (1995)
- I've Been Waiting (1996)
- Jambo (1998)
- Nasha (1999)
- Slave II Fusion (aka Oh Laila) (2000)
- Tazmania (2002)
- Cafe Mumbai (aka Apna Sangeet) (2003/2004)
- Don't Stop Dreaming (Film Soundtrack) (2007)
- Jawani On The Rocks (2008)
- Rewind Selekta (2009)
- Twist and Shout (2010)
- Desi & U know it (coming soon - December 2011)
Film Soundtracks
Taz has also contributed to the soundtracks for the following films:- Tum BinTum BinTum Bin - Love Will Find the Way is a 2001 Hindi movie directed by Anubhav Sinha. It starred Sandali Sinha, Himanshu Malik, Priyanshu Chatterjee and Rakesh Bapat in the leading roles.-Plot summary:...
(2001, song: Daroo Vich Pyar) - Koi Mil Gaya (2003, song: It's Magic)
- Race (2008, song: Mujhpe To Jadoo)
- It's a Wonderful AfterlifeIt's a Wonderful AfterlifeIt's a Wonderful Afterlife is a 2010 British comedy film directed by Gurinder Chadha. The screenplay centers on an Indian mother whose obsession with marrying off her daughter leads her into the realm of serial murder. It was filmed primarily in English, with some Hindi and Punjabi dialogue...
(2010, songs: Crazee - taken from his album Nasha & Larl Larl Buleeya - taken from his album Rewind Selekta) - Diary of a Butterlfy (2011)
- Mr. Bhatti on ChuttiMr. Bhatti on ChuttiMr. Bhatti on Chutti is a Hindi comedy film that was released on August 26, 2011. It stars Anupam Kher as Mr. Bhatti, Bhairavi Goswami as Katy and Shakti Kapoor as a tourist. The film was directed by Karan Razdan and is distributed under the banner of Tulips Film Ltd.-Cast:* Anupam Kher as Mr...
(2011)
Filmography
- Don't Stop DreamingDon't Stop DreamingDon't Stop Dreaming is a film directed by Aditya Raj Kapoor , produced by Munir Ahmad and set in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom...
(2007) .... Channi Singh - Sambar Salsa (2007) .... Himself