Jeeti is fast becoming one of the most sought after producers in the Bhangra scene. Having first burst onto the scene in 2004 with his debut solo release titled 'Off The Hook', Jeeti has gone on to produce some of the biggest anthems of the past three years! We caught up with the Birmingham based musician/producer, who talks about the new album 'Serious Duets' alongside other forthcoming projects featuring some of the biggest names in the industry!

First and foremost, you’re a producer from Birmingham, how did you first get into the production side of things?

 Jeeti: Well I’ve always been into music from a young age and it sort of developed from there I used to go to studios with artists when i was about 16 i used to make the tea and get the pizzas! Just to watch the engineers work and learn how everything was done and the rest is history. 

 You’re also a very talented musician, which instruments do you specialize in? Anything you would like to go onto master in the coming years?

 Jeeti: Haha thanks a compliment for once!!!

Well i play the keyboards, tumbi, algozey and flute and i’m also an audio engineer and run my own studio, I don’t think you can master any instrument all you can do is keep learning and practicing!!

 Your last album titled ‘Off The Hook’ was released all the way back in 2004, since then you have been busy working on various albums and compilations, when can we expect the next Jeeti solo album, and who will be featuring on it?

 Jeeti: Has it really been that long!

My next solo album is ready i’m just putting the final touches to it and i’m hoping to release it by april the vocalists include Lehmber, Kaka, Daljit Mattu, Kam Bhamra, Ravi Duggal, Nirmal Sidhu, Angrez Ali and many more.

Since 2005 you’ve been working closely with ‘Serious Records’, what exactly is your role within the label?

Jeeti: Well first of all above everything else I’m a freelance music producer i make music for a living and for anybody who wants me to not just Serious Records.

My role in the label is simply to make music! Despite what a lot of people think.

Im very fortunate that serious records offered me a very lucrative contract to produce music for their artists and that seems to of rubbed a few people up the wrong way hence all the forum posts about Double Glazing! Sad people.

You’re ready to release a new compilation album titled ‘Serious Duets’  (click here for more info) which is out now!, and the album heavily features Miss Pooja. As Miss Pooja becomes more and more common within the UK Bhangra scene, don’t you think that this album is releasing 6months too late to really take advantage of the Pooja fame?

Jeeti: Not really take Lehmber for example people were saying the same thing about him 2 years ago but he’s still in demand. As long as the songs are good the demand for pooja will still be there.

 You decided to re-do the Chalakiyan Boliyan (Mera Mahi Tu Pateya) (click here for the video) , which is a dance floor classic, did you have any reservations on re-doing such a popular track so soon after it first released?

Jeeti: Of course at first when the idea was put to me i was a bit apprehensive but once i finished the track i was happy with it and its getting played everywhere at the moment so im happy and despite what a few haters are saying the music has been done again from scratch anybody with an ear for music will be able to tell.

Speaking of remakes, can we also expect the same treatment on the track ‘Dil De Hoor’ which was also released on the Chalakiyan album?

Jeeti: Yeh this time the track has been done by Jassi Bros.

The album also features the excellent Daljit Mattu, I hear you are working on his solo album, is this true and when can we expect a possible release?

Jeeti: Daljits album is done it features various producers and should be out soon.

 Can we expect a big comeback from Lehmber Hussainpuri in 2009 on Serious Records?

 Jeeti: Definitely Chalakiyan was a huge worldwide success so to follow that is always going to be a challenge but we are confident that the album will deliver its complete and the label are looking at a end of march release.

When Serious Records first burst onto the UK bhangra scene there was a strong sense of promoting UK talent within the label, however now it seems as though Serious Records have gone off on the whole Indian Bhangra (Miss Pooja, Jassi Bros) route, what’s your view on this?

Jeeti: Simple what of lot of people don’t realise is that Serious records also operates as a label in india and in todays market you can’t survive as a label just in the UK anymore so the albums are made to cover both markets if that makes sense! But we have a few more compilation albums coming out towards the end of the year which are more UK based.

The ‘Mehfil’ album was released last year and for me and a lot of Bhangra fans, it was a major disappointment. Was there a reason why you decided to add an old song (Taweet, Getting Serious), and various duets from India featuring Miss Pooja instead of concentrating on good solid original (UK Bhangra) tracks, something we saw on similar compilations; Ne Baliye and Getting Serious.

Jeeti: Again the songs that were released on the mehfil album were not officially released in the UK they were only released in india by serious records. Which comes to the fact that people obviously downloaded them illegally hence calling them old and again if you download any artists album not just mine you’re not worth the **** on my shoe.

On the topic of Ne Baliye, which was one of the biggest releases of 2006, the album saw the talented UK born vocalist Kam Bhamra duet with Lehmber Hussainpuri. It seems as though Kam has totally disappeared from Bhangra, can you shed any light on his whereabouts or any future solo releases? Mitran Nu Time Das Ja still remains a favourite.

Jeeti: Lol i can assure you he’s still here! Nah Kam just took time out for abit to pursue other things in life but his album is near completion and should be out for September.

You’re apart of the live band Serious 7, how is that going for you? Do you feel the Bhangra audience have embraced the live scene again?

Jeeti: Its hard work!! Live music was the “thing” when i was growing up so people of my generation understand it and can appreciate it, today’s generation haven’t got that so its going to take time to educate and showcase it to them and i think stuff like the live sessions that DCS and Jassi Sidhu have done is the best way to do that.

Have you ever bought a vocal from a specialist vocal website, or would you ever consider doing that in the future?

Jeeti: No I always work with the singers on making compositions and song selection to suit my style of music. But having said that im fortunate enough to be able to that if people wanting to make an album can’t get a hold of singers then i see nothing wrong with buying them from a site.

Over the past 12 months which albums or tracks have you been playing out either from the UK scene or India?

Jeeti: There are literally too many to mention!

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear these names…

Miss Pooja – Bhangra Queen

Dips Bhamrah – Makhana(Personal Joke)

UK Bhangra – Heart of Bhangra Music full stop

Baljit Malwa – Dont know who that is

Jassi Bros – Fantastic music producer 

Rambo Rambo – A good friend of mine lol

What else can we expect from Jeeti and the whole Serious Records crew in 2009 going into 2010?

Jeeti: Well people can expect Solo albums from myself, lehmber, daljit mattu, kam bhamra, ravi duggal and various compilation albums.

Thanks for taking time out for this interview, any final words for your fans and the readers of SimplyBhangra.com?

 Jeeti: Yeh just wana give a big shout out to Simplybhangra and everyone whos supported me and my music I'm nothing without you and to people who wana hate keep it up coz u only make me stronger!!

Serious Duets is out now!! - Buy your copy legally!