In the late 90s, London was home to a growing network of DJs, producers and promoters pushing club music in new directions. Blending drum ‘n’ bass, breaks, house and big beat with sounds rooted in South Asia, they helped define what would become known as the Asian Underground.
At the heart of the movement was Swaraj, the influential club night founded by Ash Chandola in 1997. Running until 2010, it became a vital space for this emerging scene, bringing together artists and audiences around a shared musical vision.
Pathaan was there from the beginning, working alongside Chandola and becoming one of Swaraj’s resident DJs as the night grew from an intimate East London gathering into an internationally recognised institution. His own musical journey stretched from discovering David Bowie as a teenager to raving through the early 90s and finding his home as a DJ in London’s club scene, building a reputation for eclectic sets that would eventually see Bowie invite him to warm up a 16-date UK and Italy tour.
Recorded especially for this two-part series, Pathaan’s mix recreates the atmosphere of his classic Swaraj sets from 1997–99. Featuring music from artists including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Talvin Singh, State of Bengal, Gaudi, Cornershop, The Dhol Foundation, Joi, Nitin Sawhney, Asian Dub Foundation, Bally Sagoo, Ananda Shankar and A.R. Rahman, capturing the spirit of a scene that continues to inspire today.
You can catch Pathaan behind the decks at Swaraj Returns on Friday 24 July at 93 Feet East.
Read our profile on Swaraj here, and listen to a mix from DJ Priya, a DJ representing the next generation of Swaraj, here.
Who: Pathaan.
Where: London.
What: Eclectic outernational beats.
When: This mix is for slowly moving through the gears, warming things up to near boiling point, and setting the tone for the later slots. It’s an important mix – to my mind anyway – and I didn’t want it to sound like a compilation. I wanted it to sound like a vibe from back in the day. Hopefully I’ve done that.
Why: I find DJing is not only closely related to the joy of discovering music, but adding another layer of passing that discovery on. It’s rewarding in that it isn’t necessarily about showing off rare records or demonstrating expertise. It’s about sharing and enjoying that moment, a cycle of musical generosity, if you like. Spending time searching, someone else experiences the joy of discovery, and then they go off searching on their own. The music keeps moving from person to person, carried by enthusiasm rather than an algorithm.
Swaraj – Rewind & Reload: Pathaan
Swaraj – Rewind & Reload: Pathaan
In the late 90s, London was home to a growing network of DJs, producers and promoters pushing club music in new directions. Blending drum ‘n’ bass, breaks, house and big beat with sounds rooted in South Asia, they helped define what would become known as the Asian Underground.
At the heart of the movement was Swaraj, the influential club night founded by Ash Chandola in 1997. Running until 2010, it became a vital space for this emerging scene, bringing together artists and audiences around a shared musical vision.
Pathaan was there from the beginning, working alongside Chandola and becoming one of Swaraj’s resident DJs as the night grew from an intimate East London gathering into an internationally recognised institution. His own musical journey stretched from discovering David Bowie as a teenager to raving through the early 90s and finding his home as a DJ in London’s club scene, building a reputation for eclectic sets that would eventually see Bowie invite him to warm up a 16-date UK and Italy tour.
Recorded especially for this two-part series, Pathaan’s mix recreates the atmosphere of his classic Swaraj sets from 1997–99. Featuring music from artists including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Talvin Singh, State of Bengal, Gaudi, Cornershop, The Dhol Foundation, Joi, Nitin Sawhney, Asian Dub Foundation, Bally Sagoo, Ananda Shankar and A.R. Rahman, capturing the spirit of a scene that continues to inspire today.
You can catch Pathaan behind the decks at Swaraj Returns on Friday 24 July at 93 Feet East.
Read our profile on Swaraj here, and listen to a mix from DJ Priya, a DJ representing the next generation of Swaraj, here.
Who: Pathaan.
Where: London.
What: Eclectic outernational beats.
When: This mix is for slowly moving through the gears, warming things up to near boiling point, and setting the tone for the later slots. It’s an important mix – to my mind anyway – and I didn’t want it to sound like a compilation. I wanted it to sound like a vibe from back in the day. Hopefully I’ve done that.
Why: I find DJing is not only closely related to the joy of discovering music, but adding another layer of passing that discovery on. It’s rewarding in that it isn’t necessarily about showing off rare records or demonstrating expertise. It’s about sharing and enjoying that moment, a cycle of musical generosity, if you like. Spending time searching, someone else experiences the joy of discovery, and then they go off searching on their own. The music keeps moving from person to person, carried by enthusiasm rather than an algorithm.
