Bring on the Bhangra
November 21, 2022 6:31 AM Subscribe
I love the sound of Bhangra drums, played fast, joyful and loud and want to dig deeper into the development of the sound. Recommend me your must-know artists/tracks/documentatries!
Am especially interested in very intricate, drum-front varieties using classical and acoustic instruments. I'm less fussed about modern and pop-focused tracks but if someone current is doing something mindbendingly fab or avant-garde with traditional, dance-oriented arrangements I'd love to hear. Epic is good, Dark is good too, heavy is good - basically any irresistably compulsive beats will be met with delight by my ears.
Thank you!
Am especially interested in very intricate, drum-front varieties using classical and acoustic instruments. I'm less fussed about modern and pop-focused tracks but if someone current is doing something mindbendingly fab or avant-garde with traditional, dance-oriented arrangements I'd love to hear. Epic is good, Dark is good too, heavy is good - basically any irresistably compulsive beats will be met with delight by my ears.
Thank you!
Best answer: Pump Up The Bhangra (SLYT) is a documentary about the rise of UK Bhangra in the British Punjabi community and how it came to become a mainstream part of the British Asian music scene.
posted by essexjan at 8:48 AM on November 21, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 8:48 AM on November 21, 2022 [4 favorites]
Best answer: The drum used in bhangra is called a dhol, which might help in your searching. There's a documentary about one of its most famous players, King G Mall.
One of the modern transformations of bhangra is Red Baraat, led by dhol player Sunny Jain. They're big fun.
posted by dr. boludo at 3:49 PM on November 21, 2022
One of the modern transformations of bhangra is Red Baraat, led by dhol player Sunny Jain. They're big fun.
posted by dr. boludo at 3:49 PM on November 21, 2022
Best answer: Iffy on whether this meets much of your criteria, as the traditional sound is pretty overwhelmed by the modern, but then you mentioned "heavy"... well that plus "dhol" brings Indian folk [nu] metal band Bloodywood immediately to mind. Traditional drummer Sarthak Pahwa is not one of the central three band members but is in the videos, tours, and on the album.
Gaddaar, linked above, and Machi Bhasad which includes Bhangra dancers, are probably the best examples. Prolly enough to get the gist. (Previously featured on MeFi for their zany cover of Bhangra pop hit, Tunak Tunak Tun.)
posted by to wound the autumnal city at 8:05 PM on November 21, 2022
Gaddaar, linked above, and Machi Bhasad which includes Bhangra dancers, are probably the best examples. Prolly enough to get the gist. (Previously featured on MeFi for their zany cover of Bhangra pop hit, Tunak Tunak Tun.)
posted by to wound the autumnal city at 8:05 PM on November 21, 2022
Response by poster: Thank you so much for these excellent answers, and special props for to wound the autumnal city for introducing me to the absolute joy that is Bloodywood, who are AWESOME.
posted by freya_lamb at 5:42 AM on December 2, 2022
posted by freya_lamb at 5:42 AM on December 2, 2022
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posted by toodleydoodley at 8:01 AM on November 21, 2022