Equalize
Encyclopedia
Equalize is an Urban Desi album by the UK band Swami
released on September 24, 2007.
Their two previous albums were DesiRock
in 2004, and So Who Am I
in 2005 (a re-mixed version of DesiRock
)
The tracklisting was confirmed on April 16, 2007 by BBC Radio 1
DJ Nihal
, and the name was confirmed on May 8, 2007, by bandmember DJ Swami on the official Swami forum.
The album features South African vocalist Ishmael
, French rap group Asuivre, Sonia Panesar, Lady Ru, Romesh Chohan, Bobby Panesar, El Feco, Pras
of The Fugees
, MC Spee of Dreadzone
, Yam Boy, Boostylz, as well as Swami vocalists S-Endz
and Sups.
.
"Hey Hey
" premiered on MySpace on August 1, 2007, and the album artwork was revealed at the same time. Following the premiere of the song and artwork, the MySpace page was changed to reflect the new release date of September 2007.
On June 11, 2008, an all-new English language version of 'Electro Jugni', entitled 'She's Mine' was premiered by Nihal on BBC Radio 1.
Tracks #1-7 all appeared on the EMI India release of Equalize.
were uploaded to Swami's MySpace blog and the full video was premiered a week later on YouTube.
In May 2008, it was revealed that a full music video for "Electro Jugni" had been filmed. A preview of the video surfaced on YouTube around the same time but was later removed. The video premiered later in the year and was very well received by fans, generating 200,000 plays on YouTube in less than 3 weeks.
Swami (band)
Swami are a critically acclaimed British Indian pop/alt/bhangra band from Birmingham, England. It is also the pseudonym of the band's lead performer, producer, DJ and guitarist Diamond Duggal , who founded the band with his brother Simon Duggal...
released on September 24, 2007.
Their two previous albums were DesiRock
DesiRock
DesiRock is the third album by British-Indian producer Diamond 'Swami' Duggal's alternative bhangra group Swami and is also the title of the album's electro/ bhangra/ rock fusion lead track. It is their most popular album to date and voted as one of BBC Radio 1's best DJ tracks of the year. It was...
in 2004, and So Who Am I
So Who Am I
So Who Am I is the fourth album by British bhangra group Swami.The album is a re-recorded and re-mixed version of their previous album, DesiRock, and contains massive musical differences, most notably, the tracks have all been re-done with live instruments, giving the album much more of a rock...
in 2005 (a re-mixed version of DesiRock
DesiRock
DesiRock is the third album by British-Indian producer Diamond 'Swami' Duggal's alternative bhangra group Swami and is also the title of the album's electro/ bhangra/ rock fusion lead track. It is their most popular album to date and voted as one of BBC Radio 1's best DJ tracks of the year. It was...
)
The tracklisting was confirmed on April 16, 2007 by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Nihal
Nihal
Nihal may refer to:*Nihal , people with the name*Beta Leporis, a star traditionally known as Nihal*Nihāl, a tribe that inhabits parts of Central India; cf. Nihali language...
, and the name was confirmed on May 8, 2007, by bandmember DJ Swami on the official Swami forum.
The album features South African vocalist Ishmael
Ishmael
Ishmael is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, and was Abraham's first born child according to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Ishmael was born of Abraham's marriage to Sarah's handmaiden Hagar...
, French rap group Asuivre, Sonia Panesar, Lady Ru, Romesh Chohan, Bobby Panesar, El Feco, Pras
Pras
Prakazrel Samuel Michel, known as Pras, is a Grammy Award-winning Haitian-American rapper, actor, film producer, and member of the hip hop trio The Fugees.-Early life:...
of The Fugees
The Fugees
Fugees were a Haitian American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of Hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group were rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel...
, MC Spee of Dreadzone
Dreadzone
Dreadzone are a British band whose music is an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, techno, folk and rock. They have so far produced six studio albums and two live albums.-Career:...
, Yam Boy, Boostylz, as well as Swami vocalists S-Endz
S-Endz
S-Endz, also known as Turi and Casey Rain is a British Asian vocalist, music producer, songwriter and presenter. He is best known as a member of the critically acclaimed UK rap/alternative/bhangra band Swami....
and Sups.
Song premieres
On May 23, 2007, a one-minute clip of 'Electro Jugni' was premiered on Swami's Official MySpace page, as well as the press release for the new album. On June 15, a live version of the song was premiered instead, recorded at the 2007 Wychwood FestivalWychwood Festival
The Wychwood Festival is an annual music festival held at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire, UK, the weekend after the late May Bank Holiday...
.
"Hey Hey
Hey Hey
"Hey Hey" is the lead track from Swami's 2007 album, Equalize.The song features vocals by Harlem-based R'n'B singer Boostylz, guest Punjabi vocalist Romesh Chohan, and was produced by DJ Swami....
" premiered on MySpace on August 1, 2007, and the album artwork was revealed at the same time. Following the premiere of the song and artwork, the MySpace page was changed to reflect the new release date of September 2007.
On June 11, 2008, an all-new English language version of 'Electro Jugni', entitled 'She's Mine' was premiered by Nihal on BBC Radio 1.
Track listing
- "Hey HeyHey Hey"Hey Hey" is the lead track from Swami's 2007 album, Equalize.The song features vocals by Harlem-based R'n'B singer Boostylz, guest Punjabi vocalist Romesh Chohan, and was produced by DJ Swami....
" (featuring Boostylz) - "Electro Jugni"
- "Intoxicated" (featuring Lady Ru)
- "ChingChing (song)"Ching" is the second single from Swami's 2007 album, Equalize.The song features vocals by Punjabi vocalist Lakhwinder Lakha and London-based vocalist MC Spee, of the band Dreadzone. It is produced by DJ Swami....
" (featuring Spee) - "Pushin'" (featuring Pras Michel and Ishmael)
- "Shakedown" (featuring El Feco)
- "Break" (featuring Ishmael)
- "Can't Let Go" (featuring Errol Reid and Yam Boy)
- "Give It What U Got" (featuring A Suivre)
- "In Your Eyes" (featuring Sonia Panesar)
Limited Edition release
On September 10, 2007, it was announced on Swami's MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/swamimusic that anyone pre-ordering the album through MySpace would receive a limited signed edition and also receive the album before the official release date.B-Sides, remixes and alternate versions
- "Can't Let Go" (unplugged mix)
- This mix first appeared as an exclusive for the DesiHits website http://www.desihits.com, and later via the SwamiMusic.com website, on November 6, 2007.
- "Hey Hey" (Tigerstyle Remix)
- Mentioned by DJ Swami in an interview with Eastern Eye newspaper on October 12, 2007, and released via the SwamiMusic.com website on October 23.
- "Hey Hey" (English version)
- Mentioned by DJ Swami in an interview with Eastern Eye newspaper on October 12, 2007, and released via the SwamiMusic.com website on October 23.
- "Break" (Demixify Mix)
- Released via the SwamiMusic.com website on November 6, 2007.
- "Ching" (radio edit)
- Released via the SwamiMusic.com website on the February 20, 2008.
- "Pushin'" (EMI India album version)
- Contains an additional English chorus by Ishmael.
- "Electro Jugni" featuring Dede Lopez (EMI India album version)
- Contains a new female English chorus by Swedish pop singer Dede Lopez.
- "Electro Jugni" (2008 single release)
- Punjabi vocals have been re-sung by Sups, with an additional Hindi chorus by Liana and new rap verse and adlibs by S-Endz.
- "She's Mine"
- English language version of "Electro Jugni" with new verses from Sups, English chorus by Liana, and the same rap verse and adlibs by S-Endz as #8.
- "Ching" (Shiva Soundystem Mo-Flow Remix)
- Released via the SwamiMusic.com website on the May 10, 2008.
- "Hey Hey" (Video version)
- The mix of the song used in the music video contained the same Punjabi lyrics as the album version but sung by Sups.
- "Electro Jugni" (Live from Wychwood Festival 2007)
- This appeared on Swami's official MySpace page for a few months in 2007.
Tracks #1-7 all appeared on the EMI India release of Equalize.
Music videos
On August 29, 2007, a preview of a live video for "Electro Jugni" was uploaded to the video-sharing site YouTube. A month later, stills from a forthcoming video for Hey HeyHey Hey
"Hey Hey" is the lead track from Swami's 2007 album, Equalize.The song features vocals by Harlem-based R'n'B singer Boostylz, guest Punjabi vocalist Romesh Chohan, and was produced by DJ Swami....
were uploaded to Swami's MySpace blog and the full video was premiered a week later on YouTube.
In May 2008, it was revealed that a full music video for "Electro Jugni" had been filmed. A preview of the video surfaced on YouTube around the same time but was later removed. The video premiered later in the year and was very well received by fans, generating 200,000 plays on YouTube in less than 3 weeks.
Reviews
- Review by BBC Radio 1 DJ Bobby Friction
- Review by BBC Radio 1 DJ Nihal
- BBC Music Review
- Asian Woman Magazine Review
