Raghav is a young member of the new multiculturally rich world. The 23 year old first generation Canadian (his family originally from Uttarpradesh in India), was brought up in a trilingual community and speaks English, French and Hindi fluently (if with the subtlest hint of Canadian). Raghav studied Indian classical music with Guru Nishi Kant Bali from the tender age of five, grew up singing in his local temple and, in school, excelled in the local choirs and performing in musicals, leading to school years crammed not only with study but also national tours of Canada and international tours of Europe.
Raghav began writing music when he was 15, heavily influenced by the pop R&B music filtering across the border from America. One of his early compositions won an award for top original song from the National Songwriters Association of America. He was 16.
Understandably, Raghav went on to receive offers of scholarships from many music schools across America but chose, at 17, to move to L.A on his own to study with the great Seth Riggs, vocal coach to, amongst others, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.
For the last 3 years he has made his home in the UK, studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and working with diverse musicians, djs and producers, fine honing his own sound. During his time in college he joined R&B band 11/7 which was nominated for a Mobo for best unsigned artist. 11/7 did not win, but the nomination was enough to bring Raghav a communal heads up from the watching music types and led to a solo management deal and an introduction to the highly influential Sly & Robbie and British R&B producer Mushtaq.
It was when Raghav began working with Sly & Robbie and Mushtaq that he finally began to settle on the sound and style that has become his own, embracing the myriad of musical styles and cultures that have come his way.. R&B, Asian, a little bollywood and a little rapEnglish and Hindi lyrics blending into a magnificent multicultural jamboree a fusion of the best of his influences into his own unique sound.
Soon after, he signed with A&R Records whilst simultaneously working with the inspirational DJ producer, 2play, co-writing and performing on two singles It Cant Be Right (Inferno Records) and So Confused and releasing his own debut Cant Get Enough. All three tracks headed straight into the UK top ten. With a minimum of mainstream fanfaring and a maximum of underground buzz, Raghav has already spent a total of 8 weeks in the top 10 and gained a huge urban following nationwide.
Dont believe the hype, believe the proof. Raghav is already a star and hes only just starting out.
Raghav recently was one of the first artists ever to perform on the newly erected Brasian Stage at Glastonbury and is headlining the UK-wide, arena-filling Melas this summer.
New single Lets Work It Out is out on A&R/V2 Records on August 23rd and Raghavs long awaited debut album follows on 6th September.
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