Mukhtar Sahota
Encyclopedia
Mukhtar Sahota is a British Music Composer/Producer popularly associated with the group Sahotas
. Born into a musical family, Mukhtar plays multiple instruments, all of which are self taught.
Mukhtar and his brothers decided to pursue a career in music, in the final years of school. They formed a band called the Sahotas
, and made nine albums, coupled with tours around the world, and topped the ‘Bhangra’ charts. The Sahotas achieved many accolades including ‘Best Band’, ‘Best Live Band’, Platinum and Gold discs for album sales. Mukhtar wanted to take a different direction with his solo projects, as the band decided to take a long deserved break.
Mukhtar Sahota’s debut album Time Out was released in 2002. This album featured various artists from India
, including the debut collaboration with Lehmber Hussainpuri
. 4 The Muzik was released in August 2004, an album that features some big names in the Asian music industry, alongside various up coming artists from India. The first video from the album was for a track called Jogi, which is a fusion of rock and bhangra music, this was followed by the video, Rang Kala, both tracks went on to become huge hits.
After the major South Asian disasters in 2004 and 2005, Mukhtar produced and arranged the charity single, "We Can Make it Better" by Donasian. The funds raised from this single were for the victims of the tragedies. The concept of the single was inspired by the ‘Band Aid’ single, and sixteen Asian artists from around the world from different genres were united together from a list constructed by Mukhtar. This project allowed him to bring forth up-coming talent alongside established artists and was a great experience as a Music Producer working alongside A R Rahman who did the String Orchestration.
In 2006, Mukhtar decided to set up his own Record Company, Internalmusic, to allow him to have full control of his works, and to provide a platform for established, new, and up-coming talent. Mukhtar united with Arif Lohar
of Pakistan
for his first release under Internalmusic, and produced an album called, 21st Century Jugni, to re-introduce some classics of Alam Lohar
, the Pakistani legend and hits from Arif Lohar. The album brought Arif Lohar to the sound of the 21st Century with the distinctive sound of Mukhtar Sahota. The album received an exceptional response from around the world and received awards for, ‘Best Folk Pop Album’, ‘Best Non Residential Punjabi Vocalist’, and ‘Best Folk Pop Vocalist’ at the Punjabi Music Awards in India in March 2007.
In May 2007, Mukhtar released Unpredictable, an album featuring Lakhwinder Wadali and his father Puran Chand Wadali. The album featured an array of musical genres including ‘Arabic’, ‘Electronic Beats’ and a ‘Qawali’ - Charkha, culminating into an ‘innovative musical feast’. The album has been appreciated and applauded by musicians from around the world and has had a positive reception from all generations.
In 2009, Mukhtar was approached by Meem Records to produce 6 tracks for a Nasheed Album, for a French Pakistani vocalist, Suhail Najmi. The album was titled Illahi and was released for Eid 2009.
Mukhtar Sahota recently worked with ‘A R Rahman’, Music Composer of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ winner of Golden Globes, Bafta, Oscars and Grammys,’. Mukhtar worked together on various projects, most recently Bollywood film ‘Raavan’ (2010), and in 2009 Mukhtar composed the background score with A R Rahman for the Bollywood Film, ‘Blue’.
In July 2011, Mukhtar teamed up with , Harbhajan Shera, a vocalist from Punjab, India, and released an album called, 'Khazana', which was released worldwide. The album again featured various musical genres including, Rock, Arabic, Bhangra to more emotional and momentous tracks, an opulence of a musical experience. The album was launched with the video, 'Dukh Thor Dithe', a Rock fusion based track which has achieved a huge response worldwide.
Mukhtar is currently working on a number of Bollywood films, including the forthcoming films, Saheb biwi aur gangster
, and Diary of a Butterfly.
Sahotas
Sahotas were a U.K. based Bhangra/Rock/World music band. The band, started in Wolverhampton in the mid-1980s, had a line-up of five brothers. The band's music is very different from conventional Punjabi music. They have released music in both English and Punjabi...
. Born into a musical family, Mukhtar plays multiple instruments, all of which are self taught.
Mukhtar and his brothers decided to pursue a career in music, in the final years of school. They formed a band called the Sahotas
Sahotas
Sahotas were a U.K. based Bhangra/Rock/World music band. The band, started in Wolverhampton in the mid-1980s, had a line-up of five brothers. The band's music is very different from conventional Punjabi music. They have released music in both English and Punjabi...
, and made nine albums, coupled with tours around the world, and topped the ‘Bhangra’ charts. The Sahotas achieved many accolades including ‘Best Band’, ‘Best Live Band’, Platinum and Gold discs for album sales. Mukhtar wanted to take a different direction with his solo projects, as the band decided to take a long deserved break.
Mukhtar Sahota’s debut album Time Out was released in 2002. This album featured various artists from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, including the debut collaboration with Lehmber Hussainpuri
Lehmber Hussainpuri
Lehmber Hussainpuri in a Jatt Sikh family. He is a popular bhangra singer in India, UK, US, and Canada.-Career:Hussainpuri first appeared onto the mainstream bhangra scene in 2001 through Mukthar Sahota on a track titled Sanu Sohni Lagdi. His next song was the all-time classic Das Ja on the album...
. 4 The Muzik was released in August 2004, an album that features some big names in the Asian music industry, alongside various up coming artists from India. The first video from the album was for a track called Jogi, which is a fusion of rock and bhangra music, this was followed by the video, Rang Kala, both tracks went on to become huge hits.
After the major South Asian disasters in 2004 and 2005, Mukhtar produced and arranged the charity single, "We Can Make it Better" by Donasian. The funds raised from this single were for the victims of the tragedies. The concept of the single was inspired by the ‘Band Aid’ single, and sixteen Asian artists from around the world from different genres were united together from a list constructed by Mukhtar. This project allowed him to bring forth up-coming talent alongside established artists and was a great experience as a Music Producer working alongside A R Rahman who did the String Orchestration.
In 2006, Mukhtar decided to set up his own Record Company, Internalmusic, to allow him to have full control of his works, and to provide a platform for established, new, and up-coming talent. Mukhtar united with Arif Lohar
Arif Lohar
Arif Lohar is a Pakistani folk singer. He usually sings with native musical instrument resembling tongs . His folk music is representative of traditional folk heritage of the Punjab...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for his first release under Internalmusic, and produced an album called, 21st Century Jugni, to re-introduce some classics of Alam Lohar
Alam Lohar
Muhammad Alam Lohar was a prominent Punjabi folk music singer of Pakistan.He died in 1979 in an accident. He is also credited with popularizing the term and song Jugni.-Early life:...
, the Pakistani legend and hits from Arif Lohar. The album brought Arif Lohar to the sound of the 21st Century with the distinctive sound of Mukhtar Sahota. The album received an exceptional response from around the world and received awards for, ‘Best Folk Pop Album’, ‘Best Non Residential Punjabi Vocalist’, and ‘Best Folk Pop Vocalist’ at the Punjabi Music Awards in India in March 2007.
In May 2007, Mukhtar released Unpredictable, an album featuring Lakhwinder Wadali and his father Puran Chand Wadali. The album featured an array of musical genres including ‘Arabic’, ‘Electronic Beats’ and a ‘Qawali’ - Charkha, culminating into an ‘innovative musical feast’. The album has been appreciated and applauded by musicians from around the world and has had a positive reception from all generations.
In 2009, Mukhtar was approached by Meem Records to produce 6 tracks for a Nasheed Album, for a French Pakistani vocalist, Suhail Najmi. The album was titled Illahi and was released for Eid 2009.
Mukhtar Sahota recently worked with ‘A R Rahman’, Music Composer of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ winner of Golden Globes, Bafta, Oscars and Grammys,’. Mukhtar worked together on various projects, most recently Bollywood film ‘Raavan’ (2010), and in 2009 Mukhtar composed the background score with A R Rahman for the Bollywood Film, ‘Blue’.
In July 2011, Mukhtar teamed up with , Harbhajan Shera, a vocalist from Punjab, India, and released an album called, 'Khazana', which was released worldwide. The album again featured various musical genres including, Rock, Arabic, Bhangra to more emotional and momentous tracks, an opulence of a musical experience. The album was launched with the video, 'Dukh Thor Dithe', a Rock fusion based track which has achieved a huge response worldwide.
Mukhtar is currently working on a number of Bollywood films, including the forthcoming films, Saheb biwi aur gangster
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is a 2011 Bollywood thriller/drama film. It is directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, and stars Jimmy Shergill, Mahie Gill,Shreya Narayan, and Randeep Hooda in pivotal roles...
, and Diary of a Butterfly.
Albums Produced by Mukhtar Sahota for Sahotas
- Urdas Karde Ha - 1986
- Giddha Pao - 1987
- Sahota Beat - 1988
- Aaja - 1989
- Are You Feeling - 1990
- Ishk - 1991
- Hass Hogia - 1994
- Out Of Reach - 1994
- The Right Time - 1995
- Suniye - 1995
- Decade - 1997
- Maa Da Pyar - 1997
- Brotherhood - 1999
- Revolution - 2001
Solo Albums Produced by Mukhtar Sahota
- Time Out - 2002
- 4 The Muzik - 2004
- Donasian - We Can Make it Better - 2005
- 21st Century Jugni - 2006
- Unpredictable - 2007
- Khazana - 2011
Films
- Blue 2009 - Background Score (Punjabi rap, vocal, music and lyrics)
- Dil Bole Hadippa - 2009 - Track Melody Composition 'Ishq Hi Hai Rab'
- RaavanRaavanRaavan is a 2010 Hindi film directed, written and produced by Mani Ratnam. It stars Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Vikram in the lead roles while Govinda, Ravi Kishan, Nikhil Dwivedi, Tejaswini Kolhapure and Priyamani feature in key supporting roles...
- 2010 Track - 'Thok De Killi'
Various musical projects
- Rock in the Temple - Collaboration with Des Sherwood
- Stage 3 - Ministry of Sound 2003 Compilation Album
- Ilahi - Religious Islamic Nasheed Album 2009 for Suhail Najmi