Delhi 2 Dublin

Delhi 2 Dublin's inter-continental flight is straight on course. From trance dance club nights to the world's biggest festival stages, the Vancouver-based, border-bending unit has earned every accolade and ovation they've ever received by targeting our primal need to move to the groove. And, they seem to have a strongly enough developed sense of purpose to know the next area on which to concentrate their efforts, focus their talents and encourage growth. They readily acknowledge it, and it is the first thing you notice about their third studio release of new material, Turn Up The Stereo. D2D threw their best into the songwriting on this offering and it shows. A recent interview revealed that among the band's panoply of musical influences, South Asian-Canadian singer Sanjay Seran professes abiding respect for U2 and it's unabashedly obvious on the album's opener, Our House; as mature and adventurous as anything on Achtung Baby! Lighta is another soaring chorus that Bono could have easliy wrapped his golden tones around if the Irish lads had come up with tune first. Sanjay's delivery has never sounded stronger or more bell-like in tone.There are incredibly hooky melodies of dohl-driven dance pop like Ve Mundeya, and the kind of aggressive, polemic global you might hear from Asian Dub Foundation on my immediate favorite from Turn Up The Stereo called Revolution. But, more predominantly there's a great deal of radio-friendly material which is destined to broaden their fan-base further still to include the uninitiated. iLove is a true pop anthem in every sense, as is the title track. Holding down the Celtic side of the Delhi2Dublin equation is new fiddler and vocalist Sara Fitzpatrick who does a lovely job of coaxing the haunting charm out of She Moved (Through The Fair), probably the single most covered air in the Celtic songbook, backed by minimalist drones of sitar and synth from Andrew Kim and Tarun Nayer. Surprising, with all the new found sonic cohesion and trip-wire tight songcraft, the closer, Bali High looks not so much ahead as is does back to the global/ fusion mash-ups that sparked interest in Delhi2Dublin in the first place. It still distinguishes and defines them. - World Beat International

Do you remember the first time you heard Vancouver’s Delhi 2 Dublin? After realizing it was futile to resist dancing, was your first thought “What’s that sound”? Followed by: “Where can I download this?” Whatever those first impressions were, take a scrap of paper and a pen, and record those memories because Turn Up the Stereo, the band’s latest release, will send you on a roller coaster of what it means to be an evolving blend of world music. Forget everything you knew about D2D. The musical kaleidoscope is over.

The twenty-first century has been infused into these traditional instruments further as more electronic polish is added to unify D2D’s sound on their third LP. Compared to previous releases, Turn Up the Stereo sounds more like remixed versions of D2D songs. The first audible change, aside from the much more synthetic club-like sound, is how much more instruments blend together. The second is that the instruments seem to play with a lot more effect than ever before. Vocals, as always, are distinctive and perfect for a high energy gig, but not the focus for most songs. D2D has moved further from eclectic eccentrics with an addictive yet bizarre sound to assimilate towards being mainstream DJ party animals, with an epic sound that deserves to be cranked from the airwaves proudly with the windows down.
- Stylus Magazine

Thanks to the internet music is now a global industry. Artists can connect instantly with their fans all across the world. So it makes little sense to release music in just one country. I was devastated when iTunes told me Delhi 2 Dublin’s new album was only available in Canada. However, when browsing their website looking for international release dates, I found that fans outside Canada could purchase Turn Up The Stereo directly from the band’s website. But only for a limited time.

Delhi 2 Dublin have a sound like no other musicians I have heard and are one of the few bands who properly fuse different cultures together. Turn Up The Stereo is full of rich tones, dancing rhythms and intelligent instrumentation. The tracks are energetic and uplifting. As with their previous albums I did have to listen to Turn Up The Stereo a few times before I liked it, but by about the third listen the album was on repeat.

Turn Up The Stereo kicks off with Our House. Out of all the tracks, this was the one that stuck in my head most and I won‘t be able to look at an Indian house without yelling “sadi koti“.

ILove has a gorgeous sitar section and I wish it had featured more. The title track of the album has festival atmosphere and some nice tempo changes. Turn Up The Stereo also has a great energetic violin solo.

She Moved is much more Dublin than Delhi. With its slow speed and haunting female vocals, this provides a complete contrast to the other songs on the album. It’s almost like a break to let the listener pause for breath after dancing around to the other tracks.

The longest song on the album is Tabla Boy and it is probably my favourite track on the album. It’s slower and softer than the previous songs. There are hints of melodious old school Bollywood. I loved the tabla section half way through.

Verdict: The sounds that Delhi 2 Dublin make are a colourful catchy mishmash. Unlike the album art, this should be listened to on full volume without headphones. If you don’t live in Canada, get Turn Up The Stereo now, otherwise you won’t get your hands on it until 2013.
- Sari Clad Speakers

Earning recognition in Canada for their party vibe and lively tunes, Delhi 2 Dublin is sure to attract attention with their latest release Turn Up the Stereo. Based in Vancouver, D2D infuses every song with a variety of eclectic sounds, including Punjabi music called Bhangra and Celtic influences. Though their distinctive and bold musical style may seem different to some, D2D exceeds expectations and manages to turn weird combinations into wonderful creations.

Though unanticipated at first, the sweet sound of fiddles and electric sitars slowly grows on you as the album progresses. The intense, heavy guitars in the track “Va Mundeya” differ completely from the more pop club beats of “iLove,” giving the listener a wide range of musical options. Clearly drawing from a variety of influences, D2D sometimes leans towards genres like reggae, rock and pop, all the while taking into account current trends like dubstep. Using almost every instrument known to man, the complex mixture of beats and sounds resembles nothing else on the Canadian music scene.

It’s pretty much impossible to be bored listening to Turn Up the Stereo. While certain songs are a bit overwhelming at times, the fresh sounds of each track keep them intriguing and strangely addictive. Delhi 2 Dublin represents authentic Canadian talent, embodying true musical and cultural diversity.
- The Gateway

When Delhi 2 Dublin stumbled upon their winning recipe of Celtic-inspired folk-hop for the dance club audience, they effortlessly created a niche for themselves within the global music landscape. Their relentless touring and crowd-pleasing antics helped them maintain that momentum, but not without cost. Their high-energy, upbeat vibe was merely echoed in their previous studio work, as if they were content offering souvenirs of their performances. Their latest release, Turn Up the Stereo, finds the Vancouver, BC-based five-piece collective rising to the challenge to either progress or be left behind. Without sacrificing their signature sound, they've chosen to focus on tighter songwriting, enlisting help from the likes of Chin Injeti (Bass is Base, Eminem, Jay-Z) and Dave Genn (Matthew Good, Hedley, Marianas Trench). Turn Up the Stereo's addictive mash-up of fiddle, dhol and electric sitar is chock-full of familiar-sounding hooks, conspicuously informed by '80s synth-pop and '90s trip-hop (vocals from fiddler Sara Fitzpatrick adds to the ambient touch). Turn Up the Stereo is an admirable effort, albeit a commercially safe one that heralds greater things to come.
- Exclaim magazine

Reel Life 2012 - Delhi 2 Dublin

An impressive third outing from the East-meets-West sensation out of Vancouver, Planet Electric sparkles like a disco ball suspended over the Ganges River. Pairing rich bhangra beats and reggae vocals with surging electronic effects, this genre-melding collective offers its most dancefloor-worthy release to date. A shift away from the international caravan presented in Delhi 2 Dublin’s previous efforts, Planet Electric has a more glamorous bent; amping up the tabla rhythms with dynamic violin flourishes, cosmic synth samples and plenty of dub-soaked invocations of the spirit. The opener “Master Crowley” holds court, spinning a Sean Paul-calibre buzz over the crowd, a rapture in five-parts that gradually surrenders itself to the steel-drumversus Shanti ohm undulations of the sitar-laced skank “S.O.S.” Smashing borders and mashing styles like the new generation of musical revolutionaries it belongs to, Delhi 2 Dublin cleverly delivers the future shock of the Zen-tastic “Laughing Buddha” and the crazy Celtic-Bollywood reel of “Cabin Fever” in one all-encompassing breath. - Fast Forward Weekly

An impressive third outing from the East-meets-West sensation out of Vancouver, Planet Electric sparkles like a disco ball suspended over the Ganges River. Pairing rich bhangra beats and reggae vocals with surging electronic effects, this genre-melding collective offers its most dancefloor-worthy release to date. A shift away from the international caravan presented in Delhi 2 Dublin’s previous efforts, Planet Electric has a more glamorous bent; amping up the tabla rhythms with dynamic violin flourishes, cosmic synth samples and plenty of dub-soaked invocations of the spirit. The opener “Master Crowley” holds court, spinning a Sean Paul-calibre buzz over the crowd, a rapture in five-parts that gradually surrenders itself to the steel-drumversus Shanti ohm undulations of the sitar-laced skank “S.O.S.” Smashing borders and mashing styles like the new generation of musical revolutionaries it belongs to, Delhi 2 Dublin cleverly delivers the future shock of the Zen-tastic “Laughing Buddha” and the crazy Celtic-Bollywood reel of “Cabin Fever” in one all-encompassing breath. - Fast Forward Weekly

Delhi 2 Dublin is an incredible act. They are most acclaimed for their energetic live performances since the group’s birth in 2006, and less recognized for their recorded releases. The frustration of being purely a successful live act may have been part of the reason that D2D gave their 2010 release Planet Electrified to ten of their favourite producers to remix. Planet Electrified features some of the best D2D material such as “Tommy,” “The Happy Track,” “S.O.S.,” and “Harmonizin,” which are all staples of their live appearances. But those who worry about tinkering with the one-of-a-kind Punjabi-Celtic sound, fear not: the apple does not fall far from the tree when it comes to the remixed version, and that isn’t so bad. By starting with such complex and exciting creations redeveloping the genius is a very risky endeavour for any producer, but the changes that were made subtly make D2D just a squeeze closer to club tracks. The answer to the tough challenge of new art comes best from Poirier Soca Chutney’s “The Answer” and Sub Swara’s “Laughing Buddha.” These cuts use heavy repetition of the of D2D sounds in producing a completely new song that clearly possesses D2D roots, but are also fearless in the face of experimentation. Aside from the remixes, D2D also added a new song to this album, “Give It Away,” which kicks off Planet Electrified: Remixes with all the wild excitement of what is expected from Delhi 2 Dublin. - Stylus Magazine

It’s been a banner year for Vancouver’s Delhi 2 Dublin. Famed for its incendiary live show, the multi-culti, genre-bending fivesome has been playing white-hot gigs the world over, including a headlining show at Dublin’s legendary Whelan’s Pub, sets at Birmingham’s Shambala Festival and a Canada Day showcase for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — as well as 300,000 other guests — at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

"It has been a really good year,"agrees Tarun Nayar (tabla and electronics) with a laugh over the phone from Vancouver.

Still, the guy sounds tired. Two back-to-back much buzzed-about releases — 2010’s Planet Electric and this year’s remix album Planet Electrified — have meant almost constant touring, so it’s understandable that Nayar sounds a little reluctant about Delhi 2 Dublin’s upcoming month-long Canada/U.S. jaunt.

"At the moment we’re pretty comfortable at home," he admits with a laugh. "We’ve toured so much it gets hard to leave, but once we’re out there, it’s great."

In addition to supporting Australia’s party-starting progressive roots act/fellow Winnipeg Folk Fest fave Oka, Delhi 2 Dublin is touring in support of its latest EP, Delhi 2 Dubland. Released Sept. 13, the EP features collaborations with such luminaries as Odario Williams of Grand Analog and, as its title suggests, sees the band explore its reggae/dub side.

"The whole band spends a lot of time in California and the reggae scene there is huge," Nayar says. "We were writing a lot of reggae-influenced stuff and we knew we didn’t have a record coming out until next year. So we decided to do Delhi 2 Dubland."

Expect this to be a one-off project for Delhi 2 Dublin; the collective has no plans to abandon its Celtic-Bhangra fusion.

"Reggae and dub has always been an influence, but this was sort of just us having fun," Nayar says. "We’d never do a full reggae album — there’s so many other people that do it so much better than us."

Besides, Delhi 2 Dublin — which also includes Sanjay Seran (vocals) Andrew Kim (electric sitar, guitar), Ravi Binning (dhol) and Kytami (fiddle) — have already started working on a new full-length album.

"We have about seven or eight tracks we’re working on at the moment," Nayar says. "We’re setting aside some time in December and February to work on it."

And as far as bottling the lightning of its famed live show goes, the band has a plan for that, too.

"To answer the demand for a live representation of us, we’re putting out a live album in the spring," Nayar says. "I think a studio album should relate to the live show, but I don’t think it necessarily should recreate it. It’s a bit of a compromise in the studio." - Uptown Magazine

It’s been a banner year for Vancouver’s Delhi 2 Dublin. Famed for its incendiary live show, the multi-culti, genre-bending fivesome has been playing white-hot gigs the world over, including a headlining show at Dublin’s legendary Whelan’s Pub, sets at Birmingham’s Shambala Festival and a Canada Day showcase for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — as well as 300,000 other guests — at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

"It has been a really good year,"agrees Tarun Nayar (tabla and electronics) with a laugh over the phone from Vancouver.

Still, the guy sounds tired. Two back-to-back much buzzed-about releases — 2010’s Planet Electric and this year’s remix album Planet Electrified — have meant almost constant touring, so it’s understandable that Nayar sounds a little reluctant about Delhi 2 Dublin’s upcoming month-long Canada/U.S. jaunt.

"At the moment we’re pretty comfortable at home," he admits with a laugh. "We’ve toured so much it gets hard to leave, but once we’re out there, it’s great."

In addition to supporting Australia’s party-starting progressive roots act/fellow Winnipeg Folk Fest fave Oka, Delhi 2 Dublin is touring in support of its latest EP, Delhi 2 Dubland. Released Sept. 13, the EP features collaborations with such luminaries as Odario Williams of Grand Analog and, as its title suggests, sees the band explore its reggae/dub side.

"The whole band spends a lot of time in California and the reggae scene there is huge," Nayar says. "We were writing a lot of reggae-influenced stuff and we knew we didn’t have a record coming out until next year. So we decided to do Delhi 2 Dubland."

Expect this to be a one-off project for Delhi 2 Dublin; the collective has no plans to abandon its Celtic-Bhangra fusion.

"Reggae and dub has always been an influence, but this was sort of just us having fun," Nayar says. "We’d never do a full reggae album — there’s so many other people that do it so much better than us."

Besides, Delhi 2 Dublin — which also includes Sanjay Seran (vocals) Andrew Kim (electric sitar, guitar), Ravi Binning (dhol) and Kytami (fiddle) — have already started working on a new full-length album.

"We have about seven or eight tracks we’re working on at the moment," Nayar says. "We’re setting aside some time in December and February to work on it."

And as far as bottling the lightning of its famed live show goes, the band has a plan for that, too.

"To answer the demand for a live representation of us, we’re putting out a live album in the spring," Nayar says. "I think a studio album should relate to the live show, but I don’t think it necessarily should recreate it. It’s a bit of a compromise in the studio." - Uptown Magazine

First off, while you read this review you should really push that little mp3 play button, just to get you in the mood. It was a night of good vibes, dancing, jumping, whooping, and a few really stinky people. But what else can you expect at a world music event, am I wrong? In my opinion, Nectar Lounge brings in some of the best (if not THE best) lineup of world pop music acts in Seattle. And Nectar didn’t fail me this night either with Delhi 2 Dublin, the Vancouver-based quintet that blasted the crowd with a little hot energy in an otherwise blustery Sunday night.

But before I talk about D2D’s performance, I first have to mention opener Off The Grid, a dub/reggae, feel-good jam band from Portland. This type of languid music is always a little debaucherous to me, especially watching people move to it. Not that that is a bad thing. Watching the members of Off The Grid reminded me of watching a jazz ensemble, constantly relying on each other to move the music forward through different key changes, new rhythms and solos. Though not generally a fan of jam bands, I rather enjoyed this group and thought they started off the evening well. A couple of songs ended a little awkwardly, but overall the flow was smooth and satisfying.

Then Delhi 2 Dublin--or rather, the most good-looking band I have ever seen--stepped onto the stage. Flashing their sparkling white smiles, Delhi 2 Dublin literally jumped into their first song, and an instant dance party started. It being the first time I had seen these guys, I knew it was going to be fun, but I had no idea how energetic and choreographed they would be. They even had synchronized dance moves. Such songs as “Supafunkadholic” and “Celtic Dub” are impossible to stand still to even for the most firmly-footed concert-goer. It didn’t take long for the members of D2D to get nice and sweaty moving at a feverish pace underneath the hot lights and playing their instruments with such a passion I was scared they might burst into flames.

The name alone describes Delhi 2 Dublin’s special brand of music. Theirs is a fusion of bhangra beats, Sanjay Seran’s punjabi vocals, and a fiddle laid on top of throbbing basslines mixed by Tarun Nayar. Andrew Kim took care of both the electric sitar and guitar; Ravi Binning stole the show on the dhol; and the petite Kytami--the only female of the group never to be outshone--gave a rambunctious performance on the fiddle.

Not only hardworking performers, Delhi 2 Dublin makes it a priority to connect with their audience. Taking pictures with fans, jumping into the audience, pumping up the crowd, and consistently making eye contact with fans made everyone feel on the same level. If they could, you just know they would be just as happy playing and dancing in the crowd. They also talked about their not-so-crowded first experience at Nectar a year previous and then their subsequent successful appearance at Bumbershoot last summer.

The only minor drag of the evening occurred when two women decided they preferred my spot at the front in order to show everyone how to properly hump the monitors lining the stage. I normally don’t mind sharing dance space, and I could have even made it past the medusa-rivaling hair, but for the love of humanity, please use some deodorant if you are going to gyrate all over the place. Especially while in proximity to me.

If a bad smell is the only complaint of the evening, then it was definitely a successful evening of music. Provided that Delhi 2 Dublin keeps this type of energy up, and world music continues its slow yet progressing appeal, their audiences should only grow larger, and the dance parties should get even more vibrant. Stinky people or no, I will be there to cheer them on. - Melophobe

First off, while you read this review you should really push that little mp3 play button, just to get you in the mood. It was a night of good vibes, dancing, jumping, whooping, and a few really stinky people. But what else can you expect at a world music event, am I wrong? In my opinion, Nectar Lounge brings in some of the best (if not THE best) lineup of world pop music acts in Seattle. And Nectar didn’t fail me this night either with Delhi 2 Dublin, the Vancouver-based quintet that blasted the crowd with a little hot energy in an otherwise blustery Sunday night.

But before I talk about D2D’s performance, I first have to mention opener Off The Grid, a dub/reggae, feel-good jam band from Portland. This type of languid music is always a little debaucherous to me, especially watching people move to it. Not that that is a bad thing. Watching the members of Off The Grid reminded me of watching a jazz ensemble, constantly relying on each other to move the music forward through different key changes, new rhythms and solos. Though not generally a fan of jam bands, I rather enjoyed this group and thought they started off the evening well. A couple of songs ended a little awkwardly, but overall the flow was smooth and satisfying.

Then Delhi 2 Dublin--or rather, the most good-looking band I have ever seen--stepped onto the stage. Flashing their sparkling white smiles, Delhi 2 Dublin literally jumped into their first song, and an instant dance party started. It being the first time I had seen these guys, I knew it was going to be fun, but I had no idea how energetic and choreographed they would be. They even had synchronized dance moves. Such songs as “Supafunkadholic” and “Celtic Dub” are impossible to stand still to even for the most firmly-footed concert-goer. It didn’t take long for the members of D2D to get nice and sweaty moving at a feverish pace underneath the hot lights and playing their instruments with such a passion I was scared they might burst into flames.

The name alone describes Delhi 2 Dublin’s special brand of music. Theirs is a fusion of bhangra beats, Sanjay Seran’s punjabi vocals, and a fiddle laid on top of throbbing basslines mixed by Tarun Nayar. Andrew Kim took care of both the electric sitar and guitar; Ravi Binning stole the show on the dhol; and the petite Kytami--the only female of the group never to be outshone--gave a rambunctious performance on the fiddle.

Not only hardworking performers, Delhi 2 Dublin makes it a priority to connect with their audience. Taking pictures with fans, jumping into the audience, pumping up the crowd, and consistently making eye contact with fans made everyone feel on the same level. If they could, you just know they would be just as happy playing and dancing in the crowd. They also talked about their not-so-crowded first experience at Nectar a year previous and then their subsequent successful appearance at Bumbershoot last summer.

The only minor drag of the evening occurred when two women decided they preferred my spot at the front in order to show everyone how to properly hump the monitors lining the stage. I normally don’t mind sharing dance space, and I could have even made it past the medusa-rivaling hair, but for the love of humanity, please use some deodorant if you are going to gyrate all over the place. Especially while in proximity to me.

If a bad smell is the only complaint of the evening, then it was definitely a successful evening of music. Provided that Delhi 2 Dublin keeps this type of energy up, and world music continues its slow yet progressing appeal, their audiences should only grow larger, and the dance parties should get even more vibrant. Stinky people or no, I will be there to cheer them on. - Melophobe

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Review – Delhi 2 Dublin
Published On: May 9, 2011 - 5:17 am
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Delhi 2 Dublin at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, May 7 2011. Tamara Lee photo

Delhi 2 Dublin at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, May 7 2011. Tamara Lee photo
Delhi 2 Dublin at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, May 7 2011

- review by Jacqueline Ronson/photos by Tamara Lee

Delhi 2 Dublin has made a name for themselves over the past few years with their high energy live performances. The band first played together at the Vancouver Celtic Fest in 2006 in what was supposed to be a one-time gig. But the fans couldn’t get enough of their fusion style that is part Bollywood wedding, part Celtic kitchen party, and all electronic dance fest. Last night’s show at the Commodore was both a homecoming celebration after a long tour that took them all the way to Bali, and a CD release party for their latest remix album, Planet: Electrified.

With six band members, the band ensured there was a lot going on to keep the audience’s attention. The musicians moved up and down and across the stage while performing Bollywood-style dance moves and engaging each other in instrumental battles. Andrew Kim played the electronic sitar wearing only a kilt and skate shoes. Sara Fitzpatrick looked like a sultry Celtic pirate as she engaged the audience with her no-holds-barred fiddle performance. Each member was alluring and charismatic in their own way, and no one stole the stage from the others. In fact, lead vocalist Sanjay Seran was the most generic-looking of the bunch.

While exciting, the full force of the band’s performance verged at times on chaotic. The most interesting parts of the evening were when only select members were on stage, revealing the full extent of their skill and musicianship. A drum set featured Ravi Binning on the dhol and Tarun Nayar along with two guest percussionists on tabla. The rhythm and energy wowed the crowd. As if that weren’t cool enough, fiddle player Jaron Freeman Fox joined Nayar on stage to reprise the drum set using their voices alone. The sounds of seven drums and four drummers were captured convincingly by two sets of vocal chords. Awesome.

Apparently the band felt the second percussion set later in the evening wouldn’t be enough to keep the audience’s attention alone, so they sent Seran crowd surfing into the crowd in a spacesuit. It felt a tad gimmicky for a band that really doesn’t need to resort to the bizarre to sell their live performance.

Delhi 2 Dublin kept the party raging into the early hours of the morning. They proved their worth as musicians and as performers. Perhaps more importantly, these hometown heros showed a few hundred Vancouverites a really, really good time. - the Snipe News

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Sleigh Bells cancelled in #Vancouver tonight because of illness. # 2012/04/09

http://t.co/eUOZ4MdR The best autobiography I've read.... # 2012/04/08

http://t.co/OCj7tpdD Harley Quinn flashmob at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con. # 2012/04/08

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Recent Comments

* robweeve: more cowbell
* travelling.col: What a fantastic tale of the family adventure of a comic con! Congrats on your success, coolest parents ever!
* Douglas Brown: Anything that includes Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Neil Gaiman gets my vote,. even if delivered in 1890...
* Andre Gel: My favorite track on Seamonsters, Dalliance
* izikavazo: Damn. That might have been the only chance I had to see Garbage and no Vancouver date.

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Copyright © 2010
Guttersnipe Magazine

designed by:
beautiful garbage
? Review – Vivian Girls
Here comes Priest! Plus: Thor vs critics ?
Review – Delhi 2 Dublin
Published On: May 9, 2011 - 5:17 am
Share on facebook Share on google_plusone
More Sharing Services 0
Delhi 2 Dublin at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, May 7 2011. Tamara Lee photo

Delhi 2 Dublin at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, May 7 2011. Tamara Lee photo
Delhi 2 Dublin at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, May 7 2011

- review by Jacqueline Ronson/photos by Tamara Lee

Delhi 2 Dublin has made a name for themselves over the past few years with their high energy live performances. The band first played together at the Vancouver Celtic Fest in 2006 in what was supposed to be a one-time gig. But the fans couldn’t get enough of their fusion style that is part Bollywood wedding, part Celtic kitchen party, and all electronic dance fest. Last night’s show at the Commodore was both a homecoming celebration after a long tour that took them all the way to Bali, and a CD release party for their latest remix album, Planet: Electrified.

With six band members, the band ensured there was a lot going on to keep the audience’s attention. The musicians moved up and down and across the stage while performing Bollywood-style dance moves and engaging each other in instrumental battles. Andrew Kim played the electronic sitar wearing only a kilt and skate shoes. Sara Fitzpatrick looked like a sultry Celtic pirate as she engaged the audience with her no-holds-barred fiddle performance. Each member was alluring and charismatic in their own way, and no one stole the stage from the others. In fact, lead vocalist Sanjay Seran was the most generic-looking of the bunch.

While exciting, the full force of the band’s performance verged at times on chaotic. The most interesting parts of the evening were when only select members were on stage, revealing the full extent of their skill and musicianship. A drum set featured Ravi Binning on the dhol and Tarun Nayar along with two guest percussionists on tabla. The rhythm and energy wowed the crowd. As if that weren’t cool enough, fiddle player Jaron Freeman Fox joined Nayar on stage to reprise the drum set using their voices alone. The sounds of seven drums and four drummers were captured convincingly by two sets of vocal chords. Awesome.

Apparently the band felt the second percussion set later in the evening wouldn’t be enough to keep the audience’s attention alone, so they sent Seran crowd surfing into the crowd in a spacesuit. It felt a tad gimmicky for a band that really doesn’t need to resort to the bizarre to sell their live performance.

Delhi 2 Dublin kept the party raging into the early hours of the morning. They proved their worth as musicians and as performers. Perhaps more importantly, these hometown heros showed a few hundred Vancouverites a really, really good time. - the Snipe News

If you missed Delhi 2 Dublin, it very well could have been due to the “SOLD OUT” sign hung in the Buffalo’s front window by 9:15. The Endorfins may be a young band–in all aspects of the description–but they are incredibly skillful musicians. Their sound blends funk, reggae, and heavy doses of rock that amped up the energy in the packed venue. They warmed up the crowd so well that all thoughts of the frigid weather outside were lost. The Endorfins set was a perfect combination of mellow-sway and dreds-thrashing rock. Hopefully, everyone will pick up a copy of their EP.

Delhi 2 Dublin brought an incredibly diverse crowd to the Wild Buffalo. The band’s music is a mixture of traditional Celtic and Bhangra melodies, but elements of club beats give the music an incredibly urban vibe. On paper, it doesn’t seem like it would quite work, but the group of six musicians have assembled a sound as diverse as their members. Delhi 2 Dublin is a true melting pot–if that pot was also used to make complex, beautiful music.

Their show at the Wild Buffalo was the first of their 2011 tour as well as the debut performance of their new fiddle players, Jaron Freeman-Fox and Sara Fitzpatrick. The Vancouver-based group sold out the venue with good reason: their live show is energetic–the members never seem to stand still for a moment of the set.

Singer Sanjay Seran was most definitely the best dancer in the house, and female fans showered him with adoration; at one point even stroking his ankles when he was standing on top of a monitor. I was incredibly impressed with band member Ravi Binning who it seemed never stopped drumming on his neon-tasseled Dhol–a Bhangra Energizer Bunny. Sitar/guitar player Andrew Kim must have quite some balls to have braved below-freezing temperatures in a utility-kilt. Tarun Nayar’s outfit may have been straight off of page three in the latest Urban Outfitters catalogue, but his DJ-ing skills and ability to connect with the crowd were undeniable. As for the newest members of the band–Jaron and Sara were incredibly skilled musicians who seemed to have always been permanent fixtures in the band. In fact, you might well have mistaken the fiddle for a guitar since Jaron wailed on it like an axe. The most entertaining part of watching these musicians perform isn’t necessarily when they’re playing it up for the crowd, but in the moments where you are able to witness the close bonds they have to each other and the music they’ve created.

The band played favorites “Celtic Dub,” “Dil Nachde,” “Raise it Up,” and “Tommy,” and finished with “S.O.S.” during their encore. The crowd was insane, making use of what little space they had to dance along. The applause at the end of the set was definitely louder than the music had been, giving evidence to why Sanjay Seran remarked upon how much they love playing for the Bellingham crowd. The band will be releasing a new album, Planet: Electrified, this upcoming May. - What's Up! Magazine

What do you get when you mix a dhol drummer with a celtic fiddler and 12 Irish dancers? Either a great gimmick, or a triumphant new musical experience that celebrates all that’s good about being Canadian.

Delhi 2 Dublin gives you both. A two-year-old collaboration between five established world music artists – tabla-player Tarun Nayar, Celtic violinist Kytami, dhol drummer Ravi Binning, guitarist Andrew Kim and vocalist Sanjay Senar – Delhi 2 Dublin fuses the traditional sounds of North India and Ireland together with cutting edge dance rhythms and DJ aesthetics.

While venerable CBC host Peter Mansbridge flubbed the group’s name during this year’s massive Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Delhi 2 Dublin’s exuberant live performances have made it very much a band in demand on the West Coast festival scene.

Next Thursday, the band releases its first, full-length, self-titled CD, and hopes to bring its musical innovation to a wider audience.

The CD is mixed by Adham Sheikh and plays with reggae, break beat, drum n bass and hip hop influences.

According to vocalist Seran, Delhi 2 Dublin didn’t set out to change the sound of club music. All the group wanted to do was make music they could dance to.

“Teran is convinced the best dance music in the world is a combination of Indian and Irish music,” he says. “We basically took two heavy-drinking cultures and put them together, and this what we got. It’s a big mash-up of high energy styles that we draw from wherever, really. Yes, it’s fusion, but we like to stay away from the trendy meaning of the word.”

Whether they intended to or not, by bringing their innovative mix of Punjabi and Celtic music to the public, Delhi 2 Dublin has forged a movement away from cultural constrictions and towards a greater appreciation for music without borders.

“I’ve had someone tell me that this is what Canadian music is supposed to be like,” adds Seran. Now if only Peter Mansbridge can get their name right.Thu Dec 13 at The Red Room (398 Richards St). 9pm. Tix $15/10. - Asian Pacific Post

Marke Andrews, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, December 13, 2007

As the band name suggests, this Vancouver quintet mashes together North Indian, Celtic and electronic music into a surprisingly palatable meal.

Mind you, the members of the band are no strangers to cross-culture sensibilities. Tabla player and electronics whiz Tarun Nayar has a Punjabi father and a mother whose roots are in Ireland, violinist Kytami was trained in classical music, and Andrew Kim's genealogy is Korean, yet he plays the sitar, an Indian instrument. The other members are vocalist Sanjay Seran and tabla and dhol player Ravi Binning.

Composing as a group, the band runs through a dozen tracks, most of which cross genres. Apples begins with electronics and an Indian beat, but then the violin plays a Celtic dance pattern. Stage 5 has sitar and fiddle bridging the two cultures. Dil Nachde sets the table with moody electronics before breaking into the full Celtic press, with Punjabi vocals and a dance beat that would be suitable for a rave.

And if that isn't enough fusion for you, check out African Odyssey, where the band members appear to have relocated to Mali.

- Delhi 2 Dublin perform a CD release concert tonight, 9:30 p.m., at the Red Room, 398 Richards Street.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastlife/story.html?id=ebbb850c-e782-45f2-bf79-fc64fd37a4d5 - The Vancouver Sun

In the community - The snippets
December 28, 2007

They originally came together for a oneshot performance for Vancouver’s Celtic Fest in March 2006, but they were such a big hit that these five musicians decided to form a band of their own. Thus was born Delhi 2 Dublin, and for the first time, they are releasing their full length CD, Delhi 2 Dublin, which features eight original songs and two remixes.]

Says Tarun Nayar, one of the five band members, “Two and a half of us are Punjabis. I am a classically trained tabla player and am half Punjabi, half Irish/Scottish.

Sanjay Seran, the singer, and Ravi Binning, the dhol player, are also Punjabis.” They call themselves Delhi 2 Dublin because they mix up the musical styles of Ireland and north India. Violinist Kytami, who was trained in classical music, and Andrew Kim, who is a Korean who plays the electric guitar, form the fourth and fifth members of the group.

Influenced heavily by Punjabi music, infused with Celtic sounds, their songs contain not only bhangra beats, but also Punjabi vocals. “Most of the lyrics to our songs are in Punjabi. Sanjay, our vocalist, also writes the lyrics with help from members of the Vancouver Punjabi community,” says Nayar.

“Some are boliyan, others are specifically written for our tracks. On some of the tracks, such as Nighstep, we’ve tried to really step outside the scope of traditional Punjabi lyrics and write about some new things, a little bit more metaphysical in nature.

Another one of our songs is sung in Hindi, and is based on a bhajan. Guest vocalist Tanya Jacobs, who has trained in Kolkata, based the piece on a traditional composition.”

For more, visit their website at www.delhi2dublin.com

http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2975&issueid=34&sectionid=20&secid=33 - India Today

In my hippie days during my first few years of university, I was introduced to Celtic music through the compositions of Loreena McKennitt. I chatted with friends, sipped coffee and listened to music that buzzed with the frenetic energy of the bagpipe and fiddle, softened with the lilt of the harp and floated with the spaciousness of the flute.

The only brown person of Punjabi extraction, I felt quite comfortable among the Scots and the Irish. Or did I? I never would have thought to play a Hindi or Punjabi song, music which I relegated to the private space of my home with my parents.

But thanks to Delhi 2 Dublin's Celtic-bhangra fusion, I can now have the best of both worlds. When I came across this new Vancouver-based band recently, it brought back the Celtic in me.

Delhi 2 Dublin discovered itself by accident when a collective of DJs, Beats Without Borders, was asked to play at Vancouver's Celtic fest in 2006. "None of us had any Celtic stuff," recalls Tarun Nayar, the lead tabla player. "We thought, ‘Let's start making some Celtic electronica.' Myself and Adrian Blackhurst got in touch with some fiddle players and then decided to contact Sanjay Seran from Signia, to overlay some bhangra vocals.

"We had never practised together before the gig and we had come up with only two songs. When we performed the two Celtic-Punjabi fusion songs, the crowd went nuts, the electricity was pulsating." Since then, the band has evolved into a steady group of five: Nayar, Seran, Ravi Binning, Andrew Kim and Kytami.

Alongside Seran and Nayar, the band consists of dhol and fiddle players and an electric guitarist. While none of them can claim an Irish link, Nayar says he comes closest to being an actual Delhi 2 Dublin. His Canadian mother has Irish ancestry and his father is Punjabi.

Like most second-generation South Asians, Nayar battled with cultural esteem. "Though I played tabla since I was a little kid, my Indian friends knew about it but not my white friends. Growing up in Montreal, I didn't have a whole lot of pride being of Indian extraction. But with Delhi 2 Dublin, I have a chance to go back to my roots and at the same time have fun."

If you're still trying to twist your mind around the Irish-Punjabi fusion, you will be astounded by the band's cultural mix. The guitarist, Kim, is of Korean descent. And Kytami, the fiddle player, is a Japanese Filipina who discovered Celtic music out of necessity while bartending in an Irish pub in Whistler, B.C. Trained as a violinist, Kytami taught herself the fiddle.

Delhi 2 Dublin boasts a crossover fan base. South Asians love the upbeat bhangra feel to the tracks "Supafunkadholic" and "Nachde" while the non-South Asians like the Hindustani ambient backdrop of "Apples" and "Get on the Bus."

The crossover didn't come without some nervousness, however. Nayar explains: "I've been living in B.C. for 10 years now and there is a bit of cultural isolation that happens. Brown people tend to party with brown people." Delhi 2 Dublin's music bridges the gap and draws both a hard-core Punjabi crowd and a hippie crowd.

You can feel the excitement in Nayar's voice when he says, "We became a band by default." There has been such publicity and demand for the band's music that the members are now dedicated to playing full-time and touring. Though they would like to keep the original Dublin-Punjabi mix, the band is also experimenting with Punjabi dance hall and hip-hop as well as Afro- Celtic beats.
http://www.thestar.com/DesiLife/article/489928 - The Toronto Star