Foji ft Gop Virk - Bondhlgai (Free Download)
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Foji Gill, better known as Foji, is the newest upcoming talent to hit the UK Bhangra scene and is set to cause waves with his hotly anticipated debut single ‘Bondhalgai’ in November 2009.
Having been hard at work over the past five years the Birmingham bred singer, writer and producer, whose influences range from Gurdas Mann and Kuldip Manak to Jagjit Singh, Satinder Sartaaj and Ustaad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, is currently completing his forthcoming debut album (scheduled for release in 2010) and can’t wait to unleash his unique and contemporary Bhangra sounds within the desi music scene.
Foji started singing at the tender age of eight after growing up listening to
Yamla Jatt, Surinder Kaur, Chamkila, Dildar Sandhu, K Deep and Jagmohan Kaur to name a few. He was further inspired to pursue his dream of becoming a successful UK Bhangra singer-songwriter with a trip to India aged 13, where he learnt how to read and write Punjabi and began listening to the music of Punjabi artists who at the time were still unheard of in the UK. He wrote his first song - a humorous reworking of Malkit Singh’s 'Lumbra De Vere Vich' - whilst studying at Solihull College in 1995.
That same year, Foji joined the famous Bhangra dance group Nachda Sansar as a freestyle and traditional Bhangra dancer. After having heard Foji’s vocals, magnetic talent for Boliyan, his awesome and completely charming stage presence (not to mention top-notch dance skills) the group elected him as front vocalist. Foji’s success with Nachda Sansar lead to a 10 year stint with the group as well as worldwide bookings and TV appearances which included BBC’s The Generation Game, The Eurovision Song Contest and Goodness Gracious Me.
Foji honed his vocal range and skills further under the guidance of highly trained Indian classical musician and vocalist Soni Atwal. In 2009 he met with Punjabi ghazal singer and music director Surinder Khan who helped to further develop his vocal range and who is currently training him on the harmonium, giving him a deeper understanding of Indian classical music.
In 2007, Foji, who has a staggering amount of vocal ability ranging from the fresh and contemporary to a highly astute folksy and traditional sound, started work on his debut album, taking his guide vocals with him to India where he acquired all the instrumentals for his tracks and came back and booked with Artisan studios in Birmingham. Although they had never worked with a Punjabi artist before, their joint efforts on ‘Bhagat Singh’ proved to be an amazing collaboration and Foji, having now also picked up guitar training, set to work with them for the entire album.
Featuring on the album is American mainstream Punjabi rapper GOP (Gop Virk) and the queen of duets ‘Miss Pooja’. Surinder Khan helped co- produce Sajna and Pardes - two of the most striking songs on the album and other co-producers include up and coming producer Enzo and the renowned Simon Nandra. All of the 10 songs on the album have been penned masterfully by Foji himself, apart from ‘Pardes’ which is written by KS Gill.
Bondhalgai, the brilliant new single is releasing in NOVEMBER 2009. The album is set to be released early 2010.