VA - Naya Beat, Vol. 2: South Asian Dance And Electronic Music 1988-1994 (2024) [Hi-Res]

South Asian dance and electronic music rarities handpicked, remastered, and occasionally remixed. Featuring a lovingly curated selection of future classics from an overlooked era of South Asian house, street soul, and downtempo originally released between 1988 and 1994. ‘Naya Beat Volume 2: South Asian Dance And Electronic Music 1988-1994’ is available now for pre-order and out on vinyl and all digital platforms on November 1, 2024!

Naya Beat Records is proud to present Volume 2 of our critically acclaimed series focused on uncovering South Asian sounds from the subcontinent and diaspora. While Volume 1 explored early 80s Balearic, synth pop, and disco, Volume 2 uncovers lost or forgotten future classics from later in the decade. The release spotlights a unique era in the late 80s and early 90s when fertile cross-cultural collaboration abounded in diasporic communities in cities like London and New York and when South Asian music was infused with acid house, New Beat, and dub.

There is a true wealth of sounds here, from The Jets Orkhestra’s organ-fuelled house romp ‘X-290’ to the downtempo splendour of the Asha Bhosle fronted West India Company. Lady M lends the Hindi house track and arpeggiated wonder of ‘Kali Raat’ and Mantra’s eponymously titled cut is a hypnotic gem. Featuring other scintillating Balearic house, dub, and street soul from the likes of Asha Puthli, Bappi Lahiri, Johnny Zee, and Kuljit Bhamra, this double album is truly a treasure trove of never-before-reissued and previously impossible-to-find holy grails.

Often "too Asian for mainstream success in the West, and too Western for success in Asia," the pioneering music from this time was frequently released to short-lived success or relative obscurity. Naya Beat founders Filip Nikolic (aka Turbotito) and Raghav Mani (aka Ragz) have spent the last four years endlessly hunting through dusty records, obscure cassettes, and unreleased studio tapes to deliver a reference release for contemporary collectors, tastemakers, and bold selectors looking for fresh sounds.

Featuring an incredible gatefold package with Naya Beat’s trademark stunning artwork and exhaustive liner notes, the 2LP release has been cut to vinyl for the discerning DJ and listener by Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt from The Carvery, London.

This is Naya Beat’s seventh release in a series of reissues, remixes, and compilations dedicated to uncovering electronic and dance music from the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora.