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.