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PODCAST

The Raj Kaul Podcast

I’m Raj Kaul, a singer and musician from Birmingham, UK. My professional journey began in 2008 with the release of my single "Tere Na Te Glassy," and over the years, I’ve navigated the highs and lows of the industry—from chart success to rebuilding my sound as a self-produced artist. This podcast is my personal laboratory. I am on a relentless pursuit of musical excellence, and I’m taking you backstage with me. I sit down with world-renowned musicians, legendary mentors, and industry titans to

music music interviews

All Episodes

01:19:41

EP56: Peter Ware (Part 4) | Tinnitus, Robotics, and...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/04/15

In the fourth and final installment of this series, Peter Ware returns to answer burning questions from the community and share a side of his life that many of his musical collaborators have never seen. We pick up the timeline in 2015, as Pete reflects on a devastating period of tinnitus and hyperacusis that nearly ended his professional life. He shares the raw reality of falling into a deep depression and the mental shift required to move from "suffering" to "living" with the condition.Pete also

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01:07:58

EP55: Raj Kaul (Part 1) | From Handsworth Roots to...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/04/01

In this special episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast, the tables are turned as host Raj Kaul is interviewed by his wife, Ruby. This is Part 1 of an honest deep dive into the early years, the local legends of the West Midlands, and the hidden influences that shaped a #1 artist.Inside the Episode:The Geography of a Journey: While deeply connected to the "Aston Massive" through family roots, Raj clarifies his upbringing in Lozells and his pivotal move to Handsworth around age 11.The Saturday Ritual: A look

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01:00:45

EP54: Parry & Rekha | From Indian Idol to the...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/03/18

In this episode of the pursuit of musical excellence, I sit down with the incredibly talented duo Parry and Rekha to trace their high-stakes journey through the UK and Indian music circuits. They pull back the curtain on the grueling reality of Mumbai talent shows and the "brutal honesty" required to transition from a self-taught singer to a refined professional under a world-class mentor.KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:🎤 THE REALITY OF REALITY TV: Rekha reveals the mental hurdles of being

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01:01:07

EP53: Peter Ware (Part 3) | Adapting to a New Era of...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/03/03

In this third installment of our deep dive into musical excellence, I sit down again with Pete Ware to trace his high-stakes migration from the UK to Spain . Pete pulls back the curtain on how he adapted to a new era of digital recording, engineering over 50 albums for the Indian and Canadian markets from a tiny garden studio .KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:🚀 THE DIGITAL COCKPIT: Why Pete abandoned 15-foot analog desks for an ergonomic "spider in a web" computer setup to future-proof his

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01:06:55

EP52: Peter Ware (Part 2) | Engineering the Midlands...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/02/17

In this second installment of our deep dive into musical excellence, I sit down again with Pete Ware to trace the high-stakes migration of Bhangra from London to the Midlands. Pete pulls back the curtain on the "Golden Age," revealing the technical grit and creative freedom that defined a generation of British-born Indian artists.KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:🚀 THE BIRMINGHAM REVOLUTION: Why the shift to the Midlands created a "golden move" for Pete as the London scene began to feel stale.🥁 THE

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01:07:09

EP51: Peter Ware | The Architect of Modern Bhangra...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/02/03

In this landmark 51st episode, we are joined by a true pioneer who redefined the sound of a genre: Peter Ware.As the producer and orchestrator behind the music that took Bhangra into the mainstream, Peter’s influence on the industry is immeasurable. In this rare and deep-dive conversation, we explore the origins, the technical precision, and the incredible journey of the man behind the mixing desk during the genre's most transformative era.In Part 1, we explore:The "Essex Boy" Roots: Peter reflects

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00:41:38

EP50: KYSN - Mentored by Legends: From Rishi Rich’s...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/01/20

In this landmark 50th episode of the Raj Kaul Podcast, I sit down with KYSN, a talented producer and rapper who is quickly making waves in the UK music scene. KYSN shares his incredible journey of being mentored by the legendary Rishi Rich, from learning the "old school" way of production on Studio One to shocking the veteran producer by recording his tracks in just one take .We dive into his early influences, his experiences around icons like Hunterz and Panjabi MC, and how he is blending

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01:25:57

EP49: Simon Singh - From Darlaston to the World...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2026/01/06

What does it take to go from tapping on a school desk with a pencil to playing on stage with the biggest Bhangra stars in the world?This week, Raj Kaul is joined by dhol maestro Simon Singh. Simon shares the incredible story of his self-taught career, beginning in the small town of Darlaston and leading to international tours across Dubai, Australia, and the USA.In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the evolution of the UK Bhangra sound, the intense discipline of the DCS live sessions, and

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01:22:43

EP48: Harvey Sahota (Part 2) – Timing, Talent &...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/12/23

Episode 48 continues the powerful conversation with Harvey Sahota, diving deeper into the realities of the Bhangra and Punjabi music industry — from early success and industry setbacks to reinvention, live musicianship, and finding relevance in a fast-changing digital world.Harvey opens up about:Why timing can matter as much as talentThe harsh economics of live gigs, bands, and promotersThe difference between studio singers and true live performersBuilding (and losing) bands — and why excellence has

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00:54:03

EP47 – Danish Veer: Becoming an Artist in the Shadow...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/12/09

In this emotional and revealing episode, Raj Kaul sits down with Danish Veer, the youngest son of Punjabi music icon Ustad Sabar Koti, to share a powerful story of identity, loss, resilience, and finding his voice as an artist. Danish Veer opens up about:Being raised by his aunt in Amritsar and growing up away from his fatherSeeing Sabar Koti more as a legendary artist than a parentLearning tabla in a gurdwara and developing his craft through self-guided trainingReconnecting with music after his

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01:35:52

EP46 – Apache Indian: The Q&A Special | Real Talk,...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/11/25

This episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast is brought to you by Apache Indian Brands 🍹Use code BOOM4U at checkout to get a special discount — valid until 31st December!In this exclusive Q&A Special, UK legend Apache Indian returns to The Raj Kaul Podcast to answer YOUR questions — unfiltered and straight from the heart.From Boom Shack-A-Lak to Om Namah Shivaya, from Handsworth roots to Hollywood soundtracks, Apache reflects on his journey, legacy, and the state of the UK Asian music scene.🗣️ Topics

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01:39:15

Ep45 – Lightnin MC: The First Punjabi Rapper? Legacy,...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/11/11

In this explosive episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast, Lightnin MC sits down with Raj to share his untold story — from his early days in the UK Bhangra scene to his claim of being the first Punjabi rapper.He opens up about the early RDB days, the evolution of Punjabi rap, his creative rivalries, and the personal reinvention that’s brought him back to music today.🎙️ Expect honesty, controversy, and nostalgia as Lightnin MC reflects on a journey that shaped UK Punjabi music before it became global.👇

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01:16:21

Ep44 – Harvey Sahota: Obsession, Craft & the Pursuit...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/10/28

Raj Kaul sits down with Harvey Sahota to unpack what true musical excellence looks like in practice. From being an East London kid obsessed with UK Bhangra to befriending and learning directly from the Sahotas, Harvey shares how his fixation on sound, rhythm, and feel turned into mastery.They explore his early influences, the discipline behind recreating the Sahotas’ legendary sound, and how obsession can fuel artistic growth. A must-listen for musicians chasing perfection, authenticity, and heart

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00:54:43

EP43 – Jason Bavanandan: Staying True When the Hype...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/10/14

In Episode 43, Jason Bavanandan returns to The Raj Kaul Podcast for one of the realest and most honest conversations about the music industry yet.From working with Calvin Harris, Usher, and Noel Gallagher to reflecting on fame, family, and purpose — Jason reveals what most artists never admit out loud.🎙️ In this episode:The truth about life after the hypeHow ego and money can quietly kill creativityWhy the UK scene lost its sparkThe importance of honesty, imperfection, and familyThe new era of

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01:16:27

EP42 – Devinder J: From Bedroom Beats to Reggae...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/09/30

From handing out demo CDs on buses in the 90s to becoming an in-house producer for Apache Indian, Devinder J’s story is pure resilience. In this episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast, Devinder opens up about being rejected by record labels, the struggles of the UK Bhangra scene, and how persistence finally led him to producing reggae and Punjabi fusion hits alongside legends.We dive into:His Wolverhampton roots & early inspirations from The SahotasThe struggles of breaking into the Asian music

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01:15:46

EP41 – Sharni (Time Productions): First Ever...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/09/16

Sharni (Time Productions) joins Raj Kaul for his first ever interview on The Pursuit of Musical Excellence.In this powerful conversation, Sharni opens up about his Handsworth roots, family influences, and the journey that shaped him into one of the UK Bhangra scene’s most respected producers. From learning dhol as a kid to recording with legends like DCS, Kanwar Grewal, Moneyspinner, and Tru-Skool, Sharni shares stories of Birmingham’s golden era, his studio philosophy, and why respect and

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01:05:19

EP40 – Chirag Rao (Bollywood & Jazz Singer): From...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/09/02

In this episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast, Raj sits down with Chirag Rao – a UK-based Bollywood and jazz singer with a remarkable journey. From growing up between London and Nashville to training under legendary maestros in Mumbai, Chirag shares how his unique upbringing shaped his artistry.The conversation dives into:His family’s musical legacy and early influences 🎶Training in Mumbai with renowned gurus and the challenges of Indian classical learning 🇮🇳The evolution of Bollywood music from Rafi

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01:40:24

EP39 – Apache Indian: From Handsworth to Global Icon...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/08/19

Apache Indian joins The Raj Kaul Podcast for a powerful and unfiltered conversation about his journey from Handsworth, Birmingham to becoming a global music icon.We dive into:His early influences from reggae, Punjabi, and multicultural Handsworth.The story behind Movie Over India, Chok There, and Boom Shack-A-Lak.Touring the world, seven UK Top 40 hits, and Hollywood placements.Hard truths about the Asian music industry, radio gatekeeping, and award show politics.His vision for unity, a Handsworth

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01:05:32

EP38 – Luke Victor: From Punk Bands to Purpose-Driven...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/08/05

In this episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast, Raj sits down with multi-instrumentalist, producer, and mentor Luke Victor to unpack a truly unique musical journey. From classical piano at age 6 (with no TV in the house!) to punk bands, DJing in London, and launching a full-time studio in Leicestershire, Luke’s story is one of raw passion, deep faith, and relentless pursuit of musical excellence.Discover how Luke's experience in bands pushed him into production, why he walked away from the DJ scene, and

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01:18:40

EP37 – Jason Bavanandan: From GarageBand to Calvin...

The Raj Kaul Podcast ·

2025/07/01

In this must-listen episode, Raj Kaul speaks with the brilliant Jason Bavanandan—UK songwriter, producer, and mentor who's worked with global icons like Calvin Harris, Diana Ross, and Noel Gallagher.Jason opens up about:Getting a 6-figure record deal within 6 monthsBuilding a band from scratch with zero contactsWhy perfectionism kills music careersHow he accidentally became a top-tier songwriting mentorThe rise of AI in music and what it means for artistsWhy GarageBand is more powerful than most

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