A COVENTRY-based music producer is hoping to scoop a national music prize later this month at the UK Bhangra Awards.
Raj Jassal, better known as Desi Dark Child, is one of several artists shortlisted for the Best Album award at the ceremony hosted in Birmingham’s Regency Suite.
Based in Radford, Raj has been a music fanatic since his childhood and first discovered his love for making tracks when attending Fredrick Birds school in Upper Stoke.
From there, Raj went on to study at Sidney Stringer College before collaborating with numerous artists to ignite his music career on a global scale.
And his work appears to have paid off as Raj is hoping to celebrate his birthday in style with what could be the biggest achievement of his career so far.
Speaking to The Observer, Raj said: “I have played with many mainstream bhangra acts throughout my music career and have also received huge support from Panjabi MC, who’s my main music idol, and The Specials.
“I have always listened to Bob Marley’s work and my work is influenced by him.
“I’ve had some amazing experiences in the music industry so far and to win the Best Album award would be fantastic.”
Raj’s nomination in the Best Album category comes after his album Reggea Feast was listed in the World iTunes Charts for several weeks and was aired on BBC Radio for a month.
With the ceremony just days away (November 19), Raj is calling for Coventry residents to back his album and pledge their support.
He said: “I didn’t expect to reach the charts, to know the album has been selling globally and we’ve been played on BBC Asian Network is just phenomenal.
“It can be difficult to sell CDs nowadays with so much music being listening to online and on smartphones.
“People have to go out of their way to buy a CD now – music all comes from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.”
