Various Artists
Naya Beat Volume 2: South Asian Dance And Electronic Music 1988-1994

Naya Beat Records reveals Volume 2 of its critically acclaimed series dedicated to South Asian dance and electronic music. Label founders Turbotito and Ragz have curated an exceptional 13-track compilation with a focus on an overlooked era of house and electronic music released between '88 and '94.

Daytime disco pioneer, remixer and Poolside founding member Filip Nikolic aka Turbotito and acclaimed DJ and record collector Raghav Mani aka Ragz have lovingly curated a second scintillating selection of South Asian house, street soul and downtempo cuts that delight and surprise at every turn. This has been an ongoing process over the last four years as part of a passionate mission to uncover and champion overlooked but pioneering artists and music from the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora.

Taken from endless hunts through dusty records, rare cassettes and unreleased studio tapes, no stone has been left unturned to ensure this is an authoritative selection. While Volume 1 explored early 80s Balearic, synth pop, and disco, Volume 2 uncovers lost or forgotten future dance classics from the late 80s and early 90s. The compilation spotlights a unique era of fertile cross-cultural collaboration in diasporic communities in cities like London and New York when acid house, New Beat, and dub were infused with South Asian sounds.

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. But now these unsung heroes get their deserving moment in the spotlight. From the house meets Eurodance club banger 'Bass Fire (On And On)' featuring Asha Puthli, to the 90s Balearic anthem 'Calling' by the late Sangeeta via a bit of Bappi Lahiri street soul, or the organ-fuelled house romp by The Jets Orkhestra, this double album is a treasure trove of never before reissued and previously impossible to find holy grails.

Cut to vinyl by Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt from The Carvery, the release comes in an incredible gatefold package with Naya Beat’s trademark stunning artwork and exhaustive liner notes.

Naya Beat Records is focused on uncovering foundational dance and electronic sounds from the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora through reissues, remixes and compilations. Success came immediately with the Naya Beat Volume 1, which was named Vinyl Factory’s number 1 reissue of 2021, and has been followed up with more fascinating releases such as a reissue of Pinky Ann Rihal’s 1985 Hindi New Wave album, the superb Bollywood compilation Awaaz Series 1, and a two-part remix project with disco-jazz legend Asha Puthli.