WOMAD

Joi

From United Kingdom

Joi originally consisted of Farook and Haroon Shamsher; two young Bengalis raised in London's East End whose musical careers started in the pioneering Joi Bangla sound system which grew out of the Bangladesh youth movement.They progressed through DJ'ing to writing and recording their own music, developing one of the most exciting new musical styles of recent years. Their unique fusion of western dance and hip hop with traditional Asian forms has produced tracks which vary from sublime break-beat workouts to experimental techno numbers and mystical instrumentals.This talent for original fusion was powerfully demonstrated on their first major vinyl outing 'Desert Storm'. It earned them Single Of The Week status in the NME where the reviewer described it as "one of the most inventive dance records ever made."Throughout the mid to late '90's Joi put out a number of singles on different labels and put on various sound system sessions at clubs around London, as well as supporting Spiritualized on their '98 British tour. The sound system sets allow Joi to mix up exclusive DATs with vinyl, and feature on-line sampling and live percussion and MCing.The Joi Sound System has torn it up every month at their own club, which currently runs on the third Saturday of the month at the Dog Star in Brixton with guests including Spring Heel Jack, Barry Ashworth, Plaid and Paul Hartnoll (Orbital).In addition to these system sets Joi also performed a full live show, incorporating vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion and a dancer, which they've done with great success at events such as Womad, Swaraj, Big Chill Tribal Gathering and Wembley Conference Centre, and has taken them as far afield as Bucharest, Rome, Madrid and Geneva up to May '99 when Joi completed a successful US tour and international shows in France throughout November to continue spreading the sound.These gigs have led to various live radio sessions over the last year including Andy Kershaw (Radio 1), XFM, GLR and Kiss FM as well as Acetate on BBC2 and Flava.Joi's music has been used on film and TV with appearances in Brokedown Palace and Sex In The City respectively, as well as a yoga video, proving that their music is not just an underground sound.Last year Joi finally found a label they were happy to get involved with on a long-term basis, Peter Gabriel's Real World Records (linked to Virgin Records), and their debut album, 'One And One Is One', was released recently to great critical acclaim. A limited edition single, 'Fingers' (complete with Lionrock remixes), set dancefloors alight across the country at the end of last year, and their second single, 'Asian Vibes', (with outstanding remixes from Way Out West and Skeewiff) spread their appeal further around the globe.Tragically in July of this year Haroon died prematurely of a heart attack. After a period of mourning his brother Farook has begun work on their second album for Real World Records, using much material that he and his brother had recorded before Haroon's death.Joi's work has been rewarded when they won the BBC Asia Music Award, Other nominees were Talvin Singh and Nitin Sawhney, Fitting recognition for pioneering the sound that the two brothers created nearly a decade ago.Joi brought the year to a spectacular climax after having been invited as special guests of Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox on the Eurythmics European Stadium tour - playing to over 200,000 people.They saw in the new Millennium by headlining the Freshworld London Millennium show on New Year's Eve in front of 10,000 party goers."The original Asian fusionists return to reclaim their throne."4/5 Ministry Mag'... Forget about talk of the "Asian Underground'. Joi's a sound that will appeal, in time, to a far wider audience.'8/10 DJ Magazine'... 'Oh My People' slows the pace and sweetens the mood but sacrifices none of the excitement of this inventive, hard-hitting debut.'**** Q Magazine'Set yourself free with the spirit of Joi'January 2000