Follow us on www.twitter.com/easterneye • www.easterneye.eu • December 20, 2013 Music 31 40 memorable music moments in 2013 the most talked about artists and tracks in the past 12 months And the top 10 are... Best Unsigned Act: Not having the backing of 10 a major label didn’t stop ace music producer Zaheer Zaheer from releasing acclaimed songs, getting airplay on the biggest mainstream radio stations, doing exciting collaborations and performing at major music festivals. He also gave a platform to some of the best unsigned talent there is in the UK right now.

Best Newcomer: It was no surprise that San2 9 won Best Newcomer at the BritAsia Music awards in October. Almost like a flash of lightening on a sunny day, San2 took everyone by surprise with his thunderous debut Nayo Lagda. One San2 of the most accomplished debut singles of the past decade, the catchy contemporary song with a classical feel delighted critics, DJs and music fans.

Best Single: The first song of the year to score 8 a perfect five in EE’s music review was Bups Saggu’s brilliant bhangra track Drama Queen. Saif Ali Khan The best track of 2013, it was the perfect combination (centre) of world-class vocals, catchy music and fun lyrics. with RDB Best Male: British-Asian singer, songwriter, 7 music producer and all-round nice guy Arjun continued to conquer the internet with (From left) , stunning songs and the live circuit with powerful and performances. This year Arjun performed all over the world and showed international audiences just why he is one of the most exciting acts in the music scene.

Best Female: You can’t keep MIA out of the 6 headlines and that was the case again in 2013. She took on her record label and threatened to leak her album if they didn’t release it. In between the battles with her label, estranged husband and the Arjun media, she released some great music and entertained fans with some electrifying performances. MIA Best Video: Meh Punjabi Boli Ah by Jaz Dhami 5 had a beautiful music video that matched the heartfelt sentiments of the superb song to deliver a meaningful message and added to the increasingly growing stature of the singer.

Best Live Act: Bat For Lashes was nominated Reunion: Rishi Rich, Juggy sic and dance festival of its kind in 4 at prestigious ceremonies like the Brit Awards 17 D and Jay Sean surprised Europe. It will be returning to cre- and even gave us some superb new music, but the entire music industry ate more magic next year. she made her ultimate mark on the live scene. Real by reuniting in the studio a dec- name Natasha Khan, the British-Asian singer/ Rahat Voice from heaven: In songwriter performed at huge music festivals and ade after they first got together. Fateh They have picked up from where 13 terms of reality televi- prestigious venues around the world. She showed just Ali sion the most memora- why she is one of the finest performers in the world. they left off and will be dropping Khan their musical bombs in 2014. ble musical moment happened The inside word is that the songs on popular BBC show The Voice Best Album: The best album by far was Global are going to be pretty special. with Abi Sampa’s stunning audi- 3 by ace music producer Bups Saggu. Incredible tion. The super singer, who is also a songs like Drama Queen, Punjabi Hurrr, Milky Cool collaboration: Brilliant qualified dentist, left all those who saw and Battle Giddha had cross-generational appeal and 16 bhangra man Jassi Sidhu showed her haunting performance of Oasis song the kind of entertainment value that was lacking in many us that there was a lot more to Stop Crying Your Heart Out in awe. other releases. The five-star album shows that Bups is Lilly Singh than her hilarious YouTube one of the finest beat-makers in the UK right now. videos when he collaborated with her Royal rumble: Shreya Ghoshal deliv- for the single Hipshaker. The catchy 12 ers the most successful-ever solo Girl Power: Earlier this year, a DJ who is not as song combined the talents of the two concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall 2 clever as he thinks proclaimed there weren’t stars and the result was a tasty musical and such was the demand for tickets at the many British-Asian female artists. EE reacted cocktail that was enjoyed by everyone. sell-out show that many audience members by showcasing more talented music acts than were happy to stand in the very top tier. any other media organisation, including a Rahat’s record: maestro Then six months later, fellow playback feature highlighting more than 50 fabulous 15 Rahat Fateh Ali Khan showed singer Sunidhi Chauhan delivered females. Hopefully in 2014, radio stations, Bat For just why he is the most one of the finest TV channels and DJs will follow our lead Lashes popular Asian live performer in shows ever seen in the UK at and support more females. the world by delivering a solo the world-famous venue. show to a record-breaking audi- Best Music Producer: Taking ence at 02 Arena in London in Top boy: The most 1 the top spot for 2013 is talented August. He followed that up 11 successful British- music producer Bups Saggu. A with more sell-out shows Asian man in the dream year saw the brilliant around the country that de- western mainstream beat maker deliver not only lighted fans and critics alike. this year wasn’t Jay the best single and album Sean, but Naughty of the past 12 months, but Alchemy: The ama­ Boy. Apart from also some top-drawer 14 zing Alchemy music working with high- music videos. In festival at the South- profile names like addition, he did some bank Centre in London hos­ted Gabrielle and Emilie cool collaborations and a series of spectacular live events Sande, the award-win- gave us songs that powered by world-class perfor­ ning music producer showed just why the UK mers. The highlight of the mu- (real name Shahid Khan) is the Punjabi music capital of the world. sical calendar showed us all Shreya gave us chart-topping Bups just why it is the leading mu- Ghoshal single La La La. Saggu