KD Playlist 002: Diaspora Dance Queen
Diaspora Dance Queen is an homage to the dance beats that were lost to the mainstream club scene in America. At 27 years old, this mix makes me wish I was 21 in 2005!
Artists like Bombay Rockers and Raghav really could have disrupted the club scene if they were not so ahead of the times. Hindi/South Asian music has the bones for producing incredible dance music, with beats that integrate SO well with hip hop, Spanish, R&B and dancehall. I really hope we start hearing this kind of music again. Especially UK artists, who I think gain a little more traction in Europe than the diaspora artists do in the states.
Unfortunately, it seems that overproduced Bollywood dance is on the rise. I enjoy a movie soundtrack just as much as the next South Asian person but instead of feeling like I’m at a big desi wedding, it would be nice to hear grittier club beats at a bar or party that prove South Asians have the talent and appeal to be successful in the scene.
If a bunch of (white) non-native speakers can dance till the sun comes up to k-pop and reggaeton, I think there’s a chance for South Asian music to take up space on the dance floor, too.