Play Punjab

It8217;s not everyday that Wyclef Jean drops a line saying that he liked your music.

Composer Gaurav Dayal has struck gold with his album Play Groove Punjab

It8217;s not everyday that Wyclef Jean drops a line saying that he liked your music. And when Gaurav Dayal woke up to one of those days, he was over the moon. The Delhi-based music arranger, sound designer and composer for some of the most popular Punjabi pop albums in the late 90s, Gaurav Dayal decided to put all his music education into an album that he hoped would change the way people looked at Punjabi music. The result is Play Groove Punjab BIG Music, Rs 125, the highest selling and most downloaded non-Bollywood album out of India this year.

Tired of hip-hop remixes and hearing staple beats in every Bollywood soundtrack and pop album, Dayal chose to compile a multi-artist album in late 2007. 8220;All the tracks that I was composing or designing before catered to the artist only. I8217;m not Punjabi and I wanted to compose my own tribute album to a genre that gave me my first break,8221; says Dayal who hit the big league in Indi-pop circles with Jassi8217;s hit single Dil Le gayi Kudi in 1999. Working in between other commercial sessions, tentatively arranging loops, hook lines, and choosing artists wasn8217;t easy but Dayal wanted the album to sound international.

8220;With the best equipment and arrangement, Punjabi music can appeal to people who like other genres as well. I wanted to arrange the sound in a truly international way but with brand new compositions, merge the traditional instruments in a completely different format,8221; says Dayal who even went to New York City8217;s renowned recording studio Masterdisk that boasts of artists such as Jay-Z and Beyonce. Industry observer Jasmine Malik who works with record label HMV isn8217;t surprised that the album has done so well.

8220;Compared to solo artist albums, a multi-artist compilation does better because it gives it8217;s buyers a choice. I8217;ve known Dayal8217;s work and he8217;s not been afraid to try different things, to challenge the way we listen to popular music,8221; she says. The album is a collection of ten richly layered songs replete with guitar solos, strings, hand claps and liberally sprinkled with infectious beats.

Dayal invited some of Punjab8217;s most prolific singers and amongst them, Husna Di Sarkare and Sohna Yaar Mera by Rana and Ishq Tere Ne by Shubha Mudgal stand out. Rocker chick Aditi Singh Sharma of Crimson and Level 9 has even sung the English hook line in Husna Di Sarkare which has become the most downloaded Punjabi track since the release of the album.

A Google search belies the popularity of the album as listeners from across North America, Canada, Germany and Australia have posted favourable comments along with praise for the album.