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STATE OF BENGAL TIMELINE
1979: Youth work with under 10s @ Bangladesh Youth Movement, Tower Hamlets
1980: Dj set: my sisters birthday party, Tower Hamlets
1981: Dj set: Bangladesh Youth Movement Anti Racist Conference, Tower Hamlets
1982: International Dj set: Sos Ca Bouge, Anti Racist Conference
Nanterre University, Paris, France
1983: Dj set: Bhangra gig in a club. Ilford Palais. Sold out 3000.
Alaap, Chiraag Aur Pachaan, East West, Talvin Singh - Contemporary Dance,
Amitabh Bhachan - look and sing-a-like competition, Saree competition.
Lots of trouble and excitement.
1984: Dj sets at Community Festivals and Bangladesh Centre, Nottinghill, London.
1985: Dj sets in support of Nurses, Firemen, Unions in Tower Hamlets and U.K.
1986 Formed (LJBY) League of Joi Bangla Youth,
Promoting Bengali culture through music and dance.
Performances in the UK at festivals inc. ICA.
1986: Dj sets in House parties and Warehouse Raves in London.
Became Joi Bangla Crew, became Joi Bangla, Became Joi in 1988.
1987 Experimental stage of writing and production using technology.
1987 Network east (Bbc1) - Joi Bangla performance
1987 Formed State of Bengal
1988 Formed Joi Bangla Banned (The Band) Performance on Bandbaja Channel 4.
1989 State of Bengal performed at festival and club events in London, Featuring Deeder (Rebel Uprising and ADF) and Mustaq (fundamental).
1990 Cloud nine events in Woodseer Street, Brick Lane. London.
Featuring State of Bengal, Joi, Easy Mo (Badmarsh), Osmani Sounds, Fundamental.
1991 Formed Zongli Tribe, Winning local song competition.
Performance at 91 Brick Lane (currently Vibe Bar)
1992 Club Events at Woodseer Youth Project, Organised and arranged by Local youth Peer Group to fundraise for music studio
1992 Formed A1 ( Ragga, Jungle, Hip-hop Experiment)
1989-1993 Teaching Degree at London University
1993 - Experimental writing and production using both live and technology
1994 Performed A1 @ Opera House, Liverpool Street.
1995 Lost everything
1995 Dj sets: Anokha @ Rocket
1996-7 Dj sets: Anokha, Monday Nights, Unique.
1997-1998 Dj sets: Bjork Homeogenic Tour
1995 Lost everything
1998 Dj Set: Kenya Tour with Apache Indian
1997 - 2003 Off Centre, Shoreditch, London
1998 - present: State of Bengal Live Tour Worldwide
1999 Release Visual Audio - One little Indian/ Virgin
2000 Release Walking On (Ananda Shankar and State of Bengal) Real World/ Virgin
2000 Release Visual Audio USA - Six degrees San Francisco
Dj tour of USA and Canada
2001 State of Bengal live in India, China, Russia, U.K, Europe.
2002 Writing Tana Tani in London and Paris
2003 Recording Tana Tani In Bengal studios, East London.
2004 Release Tana Tani ( State of Bengal and Paban Das Baul) EMI
2005 Begin sculpturing Skip-ij energy, Dj Tour Usa and Europe
2006 Touring Live Brazil, Spain, Canada, Usa, India, China,
2006 CMN tour Uk - Nylon Sounds Live Project - June and July
2007 Release Skip-ij dance album on Betelnut records London U.K.
2007 Skip-ij Launch Nyc, Usa, Istanbul,
2008 State of Bengal - Skip-ij Live - Tour Worldwide
MULTI GROUND LEVEL REVIEWS
duque @ latrama
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SKIP-IJ
Skip-ij es la nueva apuesta musical de State of Bengal. Skip-ij proviene de la expresión anglosajona "Skip Age", o lo que es lo mismo, un gran salto evolutivo difÃcil de catalogar, incluso en el presente conglomerado de géneros musicales que nos rodean. El propio Sam Zaman (State of Bengal) lo define con gran acierto como un "experimento rÃtmico" y "atemporal". Skip-ij es fruto de las sensaciones y experiencias recogidas durante más de 20 años en clubs de todo el mundo, cuatro LPs y una lista interminable de producciones y remezclas para artistas como Björk o Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan entre otros.
Skip-ij es muy nuevo, y no sólo por su reciente publicación comercial, sino por lo revolucionario que resulta pensando en las pistas de baile como uno de sus principales foros. Las canciones de Skip-ij se contruyen mayoritariamente alrededor de ritmos binarios, sin embargo lejos del habitual 4/4 al que nos tienen acostumbrados. Cada compás y cada estrofa han sido meticulosamente cuidados tanto rÃtmica como tÃmbricamente obteniendo asà un resultado sorprendente y con personalidad propia. Los tiempos sincopados dan forma a grooves que se fortalecen con una selección tÃmbrica que lo llenan de color en cada golpe. La disposición y variedad sonora de las bases y las lÃneas de bajo de Skip-ij conforman los cimientos de un álbum de muchas caras. Éstas se manifiestan en forma de delicados arreglos instrumentales y vocales viajando junto a letras que vuelan con sentido entre el romanticismo y la reivindicación.
Antes de publicar el álbum State of Bengal ha difundido sus sonidos en actuaciones y DJ sets como UK, China, India, Canada, Suecia, Brasil, España o USA ante un público que le ha proporcionado el feedback idóneo para terminar de dar las últimas pinceladas a Skip-ij. Para la realización de Skip-ij Sam Zaman se ha mantenido al frente ejecutando la producción, grabación, bajo, guitarra y percusión entre otros menesteres. Ha contado con la participación de artistas de todo el mundo como el primer vocalista de Asian Dub Foundation y hermano Deeder Zaman, Marque Gilmore, Nexmanz, Rosina 'Lal' Kazi, Renu Hossain, Ram Nagi, Suzana Ansar y un largo etcétera. Sus influencias junto a las del propio State of Bengal llenan los temas de raÃces africanas, brasileñas, latinas y por supuesto, asiáticas. Sin embargo éste no debe considerarse un álbum del denominado movimiento 'Asian Underground' al que entre otros State of Bengal dieron nombre y forma hace ya más de una década.
El nuevo álbum de State of Bengal supone una salto arriesgado en su carrera musical. Canciones que sencillamente te harán bailar y sentir de distintas maneras, en distintos lugares y que sin duda lo convertirán en un nuevo referente de un género aún sin calificar. Bienvenidos a Skip-ij.
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BIOGRAPHY
State Of Bengal is one of the Key Dj / Producers to have emerged from the Cutting Edge British Asian Music scene that emerged in the late 90's that gave birth to the 'Asian Underground' movement. His reputation as one of the most innovative and pioneering artists is still held today as he continues to pushes the boundaries with his varied projects and albums.State of Bengal was set up in 1987 after Sam returned to London from a visit to the village of Noakhali in Bangladesh where he met and interacted with traditional musicians and dancers. Inspired and drawing from his experiences Sam set up a sound system, which included rappers, Dj's, dancers and musicians. The team mixed Bengali and Western street style dance to create a style that reflected the diverse facets and synergy between the 2 cultures in the UK at that time. The sound system developed its repertoire and found its identity as state Of Bengal. Two of the Rappers / Mc's to emerge from the sound system were Mc Deedar (www.deedermama.com) who went onto Asian Foundation and Mc Mustaq who became the lead rapper for Fun^Da^Mental.During this period Sam also worked intensely with Asian youth groups in London's East End, setting up music training workshops, where he helped to develop the skills of rappers, singers, and Dj's many of whom went onto become some of the 'core ' Dj's of the Asian Underground Scene.Concepts for State Of Bengal continued to develop, creating a definitive style of music that drew from a multitude of influences in his role as Dj and producer that brought him a strong fan base.His reputation as an innovative and exciting producer / Dj was projected further at the cutting edge Anokha club nites where he was one of the Key Dj's. His music and unique Dj style of weaving an eclectic mix , from Indian Classical, breakbeat, Hip-Hop, tabla driven beats, melodic vocals to smashed up beats and funk was instrumental in the success and aesthetic of the highly acclaimed club nite. His eruptive tracks Flight IC408 and Chittagong Chill, featured on Talvin Singh's Anokha compilation became the anthems of the scene, the industry and media hailed the tracks as groundbreaking and they still have the power to explode the dance floor today. SOB's respected reputation ensured him to be courted by several major labels, culminating in a deal with Indie Label, One Little Indian in Sep 97.It was at Anokha; Bjork discovered and fell in love with SOB's music and unique Djing style, She was so inspired that she asked him to open for her world tour and remix the track 'Hunter' for her Homogenic album (end of 97) and a musical friendship was struck. Their mutual respect as artist developed that led to Bjork pursuing Sam to sign up to her label One Little Indian.Upon his departure from Anokha SOB was highly sought after by numerous cutting-edge club nites around the Uk, he finally took up residency at the infamous Off Center club nites hosted by respected veteran Dj, music critic and radio host Patrick Forge. 1997-2001 proved to be hectic years, which saw Sam produce his debut album Visual Audio, taking time out the studio to play at several international festivals, tour with Apache Indian in Kenya as well as Sob's own Live interactive Dj tour. During the production of Visual Audio, countless remixes came in by various artists.Following his Debut album, Sam fulfilled a long time dream in 1998; a collaboration album with the late Ananda Shankar entitled Walking On, followed by a highly successful Uk tour. SOB had been a fan and collector of Ananda shankar whom he helped to bring back into focus in the Uk by holding tribute nights whilst at Anokha. It was during the making of Walking on that Massive attack asked SOB to remix a track after hearing him at Real World Studio's.India attack! In September 98, Mumbai was sent rocking when Anokha Promoter Sweety Kapoor transported State Of Bengal in what proved to be explosive groundbreaking events that opened the doors and introduced the 'British Asian' music scene into India. The events were followed up a few moths after with a series of collaboration events between SOB and Mumbai musicians Ranjit Barot and percussionist Tourfique Qureshi. The response from the crowds, industry, media, musicians and celebrities aside was off the marker. It helped to create a platform and inspire younger generation, several drum n bass club nites were set up after these 1st gigs by Mumbai's own inspiring Dj's.The next few years saw State Of Bengal come in and out of India, including a British Council sponsored tour of Bengal, were State of Bengal live band played to crowds of 5000- 8000 in Calcutta, Dhaka and Chittagong. All the events in India have accompanied by workshops for aspiring Dj's / producers and have been inspirational and instrumental in setting up the platform and creating a market for the 'British Asian' sound. This was taken to another level in a series of 3 big campaign gigs organized by Sweety Kapoor in 2001, which saw Mumbai covered in huge Billboards with the slogan Asian underground, A step into the future.State Of Bengal continued to be in high demand and played non-stop at various clubs and festivals around the globe whilst also developing his Live band. State Of Bengal Live did a 30-day tour of China in 2002 while Sam worked on several collaboration projects including Dance collaborations and composing music for commissioned productions of dance and theater for youth organizations.Having worked on and off over the years with Paban das Baul thru Sam's Love for Baul music, this musical relationship came together in the Album Tana Tani (Push & Pull) released 2004 on Real World Records. Tana Tani has been a labor of love and has been nominated Best Global album by Song lines magazine 04 and XLR8R mag voted it no.2 in their Global Breakbeat charts 2004.Sam's Passion and dedication to encourage and train up talented musicians and vocalists continues through his workshops, where possible they are often incorporated into his music as way of supporting them and given them an opportunity to enter the music industry.State Of Bengal's reputation for pushing the boundaries and 'stepping out' to produce eclectic 'out of the box' albums as well as his archives of dance tracks has gained him further and continuing respect as one of the innovators and Pioneer's of the British Asian music scene.At present state of Bengal is working on 2 concept idea's including SKIP-IJ, a dance music conceptÉ..watch out for this one its gonna be hopping IN and OUT of the box!