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| caption =
| caption =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[East End of London|East]] [[London]], [[England]]
| origin = [[East End of London|East End of]] [[London]], [[England]]
| genre = [[alternative music|Alternative]], [[dub music|dub]], [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]], [[electronica]], [[acid house]], [ [techno]], [[trance music|trance]], [[funk]], [[dance music]]
| genre = {{flat list |
* [[alternative music|Alternative]]
* [[Dub (music)|dub]]
* [[Hip hop music|hip hop]]
* [[electronica]]
* [[acid house]]
* [[techno]]
* [[trance music|trance]]
* [[funk]]
* [[Dance music|dance]]
}}
| years_active = 1983–present
| years_active = 1983–present
| label = [[Rhythm King Records]],<br>[[Realworld Records]]
| label = {{flat list |
* [[Rhythm King Records|Rhythm King]]
| associated_acts =
* BPM
| website = {{URL|http://realworldrecords.com/artists/joi}}
* [[Nation Records|Nation]]
* Transglobal
* [[ZYX Music]]
* [[Realworld Records|Realworld]]
}}
| associated_acts = {{flat list |
* [[Susheela Raman]]
* [[Vik Sharma]]
}}
| website =
| current_members = Farook Shamsher
| current_members = Farook Shamsher
| past_members = Haroon Shamsher (1983–1999)
| past_members = Haroon Shamsher (1983–1999)
}}
}}


'''Joi''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[alternative music|alternative]] [[dub music|dub]]<nowiki>/</nowiki>[[dance music]] [[Disc jockey|DJ]] team of [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]] origin, originally composed of London brothers Farook and Haroon Shamsher. Haroon died in 1999, and the remaining brother has continued Joi alone.
'''Joi''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[alternative music|alternative]] [[dub music|dub]]<nowiki>/</nowiki>[[dance music]] [[Disc jockey|DJ]] team of [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]] origin, originally composed of brothers Farook and Haroon Shamsher. Haroon died on 8 July 1999, and the remaining brother has continued Joi alone.


==Background==
==Background==
Joi were brothers Farook and Haroon Shamsher, born to a [[Bangladesh]]i father and an [[India]]n mother their passion for music developed at a young age as their father was an musician, a flute player. Joi was formed, originally working under the banners 'League Of Joi Bangla Youth Organisation' and 'Joi Bangla', a collective set up in 1983 to promote [[Culture of Bengal|Bengali culture]] to kids in their local area [[East End of London|East London]]. Fusing Asian influences with Western beats were fusing the sounds of traditional [[Music of Bengal|Bengali music]] with [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] and contemporary dance styles.<ref name="britbangla">{{cite web |url=http://www.britbangla.net/successprofiles.html#joi|title=British Bengali Success Stories|publisher=BritBangla|date= |accessdate=15 May 2011}} Joi: Farook Shamser</ref>
Joi were brothers Farook (born 24 October 1968) and Haroon Shamsher (14 November 1965 – 8 July 1999), born in [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]], [[England]] and brought up in the [[East End of London]].<ref name="independent1">{{cite news |last=Perrone|first=Pierre|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-haroon-shamsher-1106287.html|title=Obituary: Haroon Shamsher|work= |location= |publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=14 July 1999|accessdate=1 September 2015}}</ref> to a [[Bangladesh]]i father and an [[India]]n mother. Their passion for music developed at a young age as their father was<ref name="britbangla">{{cite web |url=http://www.britbangla.net/successprofiles.html#joi|title=British Bengali Success Stories|publisher=BritBangla|date= |accessdate=15 May 2011}} Joi: Farook Shamser</ref> a professional flautist who had a shop in [[Brick Lane]] selling saris and musical instruments he imported from India. He also had Hindi, Indian classical and traditional [[Music of Bengal|Bengali music]] records,<ref name="independent1"/> and ran a traditional music shop.<ref name="independent2">{{cite news |last=Cornwell|first=Jane|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/pop-one-and-one-is-one-joi-simplify-the-maths-1086019.html|title=Pop: One and one is one: Joi simplify the maths|work= |location= |publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=9 April 1999|accessdate=1 September 2015}}</ref> Their father would organise sessions and record with [[Baul]] artists,<ref name="independent1"/> and sell the tapes.<ref name="independent2"/>

Farook and Haroon grew up watching Indian musicians record in a makeshift studio in their father's retails store.<ref name="Rock Obituaries2">{{cite book |last=Talevski|first=Nick|title=Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DykffzkFALoC&pg=PA585&dq=Joi+One+and+One+Is+One&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDAQ6AEwA2oVChMIr9uVs9u6xwIV6GvbCh3TkAlQ#v=onepage&q=Joi%20One%20and%20One%20Is%20One&f=false|year=2010|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|page=585|isbn=978-1846090912}}</ref> They grew up listening to people such as [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], and were influenced by [[reggae]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[Soul music|soul]].<ref name="independent2"/> They fused Indian and Pakistani rhythms with modern dance grooves.<ref name="Rock Obituaries2"/>

Joi was formed, originally working under the banners 'League Of Joi Bangla Youth Organisation' and 'Joi Bangla', a collective set up in 1983 to promote [[Culture of Bengal|Bengali culture]] to children in their local [[East London]] area.<ref name="britbangla"/> They started out in the context of community work and events and subsequently became active members of a growing Asian dance scene in England.<ref name="exclaim">{{cite news |last=Ramani|first=Vinita|url=http://www.exclaim.ca/Music/article/joi-we_are_three|title=We Are Three|work= |location= |publisher=''[[Exclaim!]]''|date=1 May 2001|accessdate=1 September 2015}}</ref> Out of this<ref name="Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture">{{cite book |last=Wood|first=Andy|title=Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VfdpdZ9DwH0C&pg=PA161&dq=Bangladesh+Nation+Records+Joi&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAGoVChMIgKjPnILNxwIVEFnbCh3paAx4#v=onepage&q=Bangladesh%20Nation%20Records%20Joi&f=false|year=2001|publisher=[[Routledge]]|page=161|isbn=978-0415169899}}</ref> a Bengali youth movement<ref name="exclaim"/> came the Joi Bangla sound system formed by Farook and Haroon Shamsher,<ref name="Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture"/> fusing Asian influences with Western beats were fusing the sounds of traditional Bengali music with hip hop and contemporary dance styles.<ref name="britbangla"/> The spun records in local youth clubs around the Brick Lane area of London.<ref name="independent1"/><ref name="Technicolor">{{cite book |last1=Nelson|first1=Alondra|last2=Tu|first2=Thuy Linh N.|last3=Hines|first3=Alicia Headlam|title=Technicolor: Race, Technology, and Everyday Life|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=s93SFzmc2psC&pg=PA97&dq=Farooq+and+Haroon+Shamsher&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAGoVChMIy6uI3IOYxwIV6CvbCh1RXAiF#v=onepage&q=Farooq%20and%20Haroon%20Shamsher&f=false|year=2001|publisher=[[New York University Press]]|page=97|isbn=978-0814736043}}</ref>

In 1983, they mixed these elements together and began Djing at clubs as the Joi Bangla Sound System, before becoming the more dance-oriented Joi six years later. Bolstered by [[Arts Council of Great Britain|Arts Council]] funding and aiming to promote Bengali youth culture.<ref name="independent2"/> After 10 years as club DJs, the pair began recording their own material in their father's studio.<ref name="Rock Obituaries2"/> In July 1999, Farook told ''[[The Independent]]'', "We're about politics, race, religion, and music all-in-one".<ref name="independent1"/>

==Recording==
In 1988, Joi's white label single "Taj Ma House" was released and they began introducing their own their own material into Joi Bangla sets. In 1992, they released their debut single "Desert Storm,<ref name="Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture"/> which was named single of the week in ''[[NME]]''.<ref name="independent1"/><ref name="Rock Obituaries2"/> In 1993, they set up the Joi club night in London.<ref name="Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture"/> In 1994, they appointed Charles Cosh as their manager.<ref name="independent1"/>

In 1996, they released the ''[[Bangladesh EP]]'' on [[Nation Records]] and performed at that year's [[World of Music, Arts and Dance]] (WOMAD) festival.<ref name="Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture"/> where they caught the attention of [[Peter Gabriel]], during a set at WOMAD in 1996 and signed to his [[Real World Records|Real World]] label the following year.<ref name="womad">{{cite web |url=http://womad.org/artists/joi/|title=Joi|publisher=WOMAD|date= |accessdate=15 May 2011}}</ref> They remixed "Sweet Pain", a track by [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], for inclusion on the ''[[Star Rise]]'' tribute album in 1997.<ref name="independent1"/> They released the limited-edition single "Fingers" in December 1998. A [[Justin Robertson]] remix was popular on the club scene and paved the way for the follow-up, "Asian Vibes", issued in 1999.<ref name="independent1"/> The debut album ''[[One and One Is One (album)|One and One Is One]]'' was released<ref name="Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture"/> in March 1999.<ref name="independent1"/>

On 8 July 1999, Haroon died unexpectedly of a heart-attack at the age of 34.<ref name="independent1"/> He succumbed to heart failure after a week-long illness and suffered a heart attack during a hospital examination. Despite being ill, he had performed the night before.<ref name="Rock Obituaries2"/> Two months before his death, Haroon visited Bangladesh for a month<ref name="Rock Obituaries1">{{cite news |last=Van Vleck|first=Philip|title=RealWorld Releasing Joi In January|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TxEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=We+Are+Three+Joi&source=bl&ots=dF_ilhaXOC&sig=URBx-zhzCmewuJxksJO0uqbOiQE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBzgKahUKEwiMzOvt6rPHAhUMSRoKHbuZCF0#v=onepage&q=We%20Are%20Three%20Joi&f=false|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''|date=23 December 2000|page=27}}</ref> and made a series of field recordings which Farook used as the basis for ''[[We Are Three]]'', which was released in October 2001.<ref name="Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture">{{cite news |last=Wood|first=Andy|title=Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VfdpdZ9DwH0C&pg=PA161&dq=Joi+Bangladesh+Nation+Records&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAGoVChMIldvJtcG4xwIVgio-Ch2ndwde#v=onepage&q=Joi%20Bangladesh%20Nation%20Records&f=false|year=2001|publisher=[[Routledge]]|page=161|isbn=978-0415169899}}</ref>

In January 2007, Joi's third album ''[[Without Zero]]'' was released.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |last=Patterson|first=Louis|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/z89x|title=Review of Joi - Without Zero|work= |location= |publisher=''[[BBC Music]]''|date=19 March 2007|accessdate=15 May 2011}}</ref>


==Performance==
==Studio and performance==
In between working in the studio, Joi had been taking their sound system to clubs around London, as well as supporting [[Spiritualised]] on their '98 British tour. Their sound system helped promote their fusion ethic regardless of trends within the music industry. Over the years the duo worked with various other artists and DJs, including [[Asian Dub Foundation]], Athletico, [[Mixmaster Morris]], [[Plaid (band)|Plaid]] and [[Spring Heel Jack]].<ref name="womad"/> The Joi Sound System have played at clubs and gigs, including [[The End (club)|The End]], The Complex, [[Return To The Source]], and the [[Ministry of Sound]].<ref name="womad"/> By 1998, Joi had performed at over 1,500 gigs as a sound system.<ref name="independent1"/>
Catching the attention of [[Peter Gabriel]], during a set at [[World of Music, Arts and Dance]] in 1996, Joi signed to his [[Real World Records|Real World]] label the following year, leading to the release of their debut album, ''One And One Is One'' in the UK in March 1999. Later that year, Haroon died unexpectedly of a heart-attack on 8 July 1999 at the age of 34.


They developed a live act and put on a full live show with the addition of the vocalist [[Susheela Raman]], the guitarist [[Vik Sharma]] and the percussionist Bongo Paul. They used traditional instruments like tabla, sitar and flute on top of driving techno rhythms.<ref name="independent1"/> The performed at [[Tribal Gathering]], [[Whirl-Y-Gig]], [[World of Music, Arts and Dance]], [[The Big Chill (music festival)|Big Chill]], [[Wembley Conference Centre]], Swaraj as well as others around Europe taking them as far afield as Bucharest, Rome, Madrid and Geneva.<ref name="womad"/> They also performed live radio sessions with [[Andy Kershaw]] ([[BBC Radio 1]]), [[XFM]] and [[BBC London 94.9|Greater London Radio]].<ref name="womad"/>
In between working in the studio, Joi had been taking their sound system to clubs around London, as well as supporting [[Spiritualised]] on their '98 British tour. Their sound system helped promote their fusion ethic regardless of trends within the music industry. Over the years the duo worked with various other artists and DJs, including [[Asian Dub Foundation]], Athletico, [[Mixmaster Morris]], [[Plaid (band)|Plaid]] and [[Spring Heel Jack]].


Joi is co-managed by Charles Cosh and Ben Batson of London-based Molosha Management Ltd. Sam Kirby of New York-based Evolution Talent Agency handles its bookings.<ref name="Rock Obituaries1"/>
The Joi Sound System has played at clubs and gigs like [[The End (club)|The End]], The Complex, [[Return To The Source]], and the [[Ministry of Sound]]. Joi also developed a live act and put on a full live show - incorporating sitar, guitar, tablas, and vocals by [[Susheela Raman]], performed at such events such as [[Tribal Gathering]], [[Whirl-Y-Gig]], [[World of Music, Arts and Dance]], [[The Big Chill (music festival)|Big Chill]], [[Wembley Conference Centre]], Swaraj as well as others around Europe taking them as far afield as Bucharest, Rome, Madrid and Geneva. They also performed live radio sessions with [[Andy Kershaw]] ([[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]]), [[XFM]] and [[BBC London 94.9|Greater London Radio]].<ref name="womad">{{cite web |url=http://womad.org/artists/joi/|title=Joi|publisher=WOMAD|date= |accessdate=15 May 2011}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
Line 37: Line 72:
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1993
| rowspan="1"| 1993
| ''Desert Storm''
| "Desert Storm"
| ''[[NME|NME magazine]]''
| Single Of The Week
| Single of the Week
| [[NME|NME magazine]]
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1999
| rowspan="1"| 1999
| ''One and One is One''
| ''[[One and One Is One (album)|One and One Is One]]''
| [[BBC]]
| [[BBC]]
| Asian Music Award<ref name="globalvillageidiot">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalvillageidiot.net/Joi.html|title=Joi|publisher=Global Village Idiot (UK)|date= |accessdate=9 July 2005}}</ref>
| Asian Music Award<ref name="globalvillageidiot">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalvillageidiot.net/Joi.html|title=Joi|publisher=Global Village Idiot (UK)|date= |accessdate=9 July 2005}}</ref>
Line 51: Line 86:
| Farook Shamsher
| Farook Shamsher
| [[UK Asian Music Awards]]
| [[UK Asian Music Awards]]
| “Commitment to Scene”<ref name="desihits">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.desihits.com/news/view/desi-hits-the-uk-amas-london-2006|title=Desi hits the UK AMA's|location=London 2006|work= |publisher=''Desi Hits''|date=1 January 2007|accessdate=24 August 2010}}</ref>
| Commitment to Scene<ref name="desihits">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.desihits.com/news/view/desi-hits-the-uk-amas-london-2006|title=Desi hits the UK AMA's|location=London 2006|work= |publisher=''Desi Hits''|date=1 January 2007|accessdate=24 August 2010}}</ref>
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
Line 58: Line 93:
==Discography==
==Discography==
===Singles===
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center"
! Year
! Title
! Label
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1988
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single
| ''Taj Mahouse''
| rowspan="2"| BPM Records
! scope="col"| Chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Label
|-
|-
!
| ''Funky Asian''
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1992
! scope="row"| 1988
! scope="row"| "Taj Ma House"
| ''Desert Storm''
|
| Transglobal
| scope="row"| BPM Records
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1996
! scope="row"| 1988
! scope="row"| "Funky Asian"
| ''Spiritual Get-Together''
|
| [[ZYX Music]]
| scope="row"| BPM Records
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1998
! scope="row"| 1992
! scope="row"| "Desert Storm"
| ''Fingers''
|
| rowspan="3"| [[Real World Records]]
| scope="row"| Transglobal
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1999
! scope="row"| 1996
! scope="row"| "Spiritual Get Together"
| ''Asian Vibes''
|
| scope="row"| [[ZYX Music]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 2001
! scope="row"| 1998
! scope="row"| "Fingers"
| ''Deep Asian Vibes''
|
| scope="row"| [[Real World Records]]
|-
! scope="row"| 1999
! scope="row"| "Asian Vibes"
|
| scope="row"| Real World Records
|-
! scope="row"| 1999
! scope="row"| "Deep Asian Vibes"
|
| scope="row"| Real World Records
|-
|-
|}
|}


===EP===
===EP===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|-
|- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center"
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album Title
! Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details
! Title
! scope="col"| Peak chart positions
! Label
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
|-
!
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Bangladesh EP]]''
|
*Released: 1988
*Label: [[Nation Records]]
*Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]]
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1988
| ''Bangladesh''
| [[Nation Records]]
|}
|}


===Albums===
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center"
! Year
! Title
! Label
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1999
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details
| ''One and One is One''<ref name="realworldrecords">{{cite web |url=http://www.realworldrecords.com/catalogue/one-and-one-is-one|title=One and One is One by Joi|publisher=[[Real World Records]]|date= |accessdate=9 July 2005}}</ref>
| rowspan="3"| Real World Records
! scope="col"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
|-
!
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[One and One is One (album)|One and One is One]]''
|
*Released: 12 April 1999
*Label: Real World Records
*Formats: CD, [[Music download|Digital Download]]
|
|-
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[We Are Three]]''
| rowspan="1"| 2000
|
| ''We Are Three''<ref name="geocities">{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.ws/jim3424/joi.html|title=joi|publisher= |date= |accessdate=15 May 2011}}</ref>
*Released: 25 September 2000
*Label: Real World Records
*Formats: CD, Digital Download
|
|-
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Without Zero]]''
| rowspan="1"| 2007
|
| ''Without Zero''<ref name="bbcmusic">{{cite news |last=Patterson|first=Louis|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/z89x|title=Review of Joi - Without Zero|location= |work= |publisher=''[[BBC Music]]''|date=19 March 2007|accessdate=15 May 2011 }}</ref>
*Released: 18 February 2007
*Label: Real World Records
*Formats: CD, Digital Download
|
|-
|-
|}
|}


===Collaborations and contributions===
===Collaborations and contributions===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center"
! Year
! Year
! Title
! Title
Line 133: Line 202:
| ''Goddess''
| ''Goddess''
| [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]]
| [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]]
| Eastern Uprising
| ''Eastern Uprising''
| [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]
| [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]
|-
|-
| ''India''
| ''India''
| Various Artists
| Various Artists
| Global Explorer
| ''Global Explorer''
| Zip Dog
| Zip Dog
|-
|-
Line 144: Line 213:
| ''Sweet Pain''
| ''Sweet Pain''
| Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
| Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
| [[Star Rise]]
| ''[[Star Rise]]''
| Real World Records
| Real World Records
|-
|-
| ''Shanti''
| ''Shanti''
| Various Artists
| Various Artists
| Further East-Westercisms
| ''Further East-Westercisms''
| Law And Auder
| Law And Auder
|-
|-
Line 160: Line 229:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=joi-mn0002146839|label=Joi}}
*[http://www.realworldrecords.com/joi Joi page on Real World Records]
*{{Discogs artist|artist=575-Joi|name=Joi}}
*[http://www.realworldrecords.com/joi Joi] on [[Real World Records]]
*{{Youtube|user=JoiVid|Joi}}
*{{Youtube|user=JoiVid|Joi}}


Line 170: Line 241:
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1983]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1983]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British Muslims]]
[[Category:English Muslims]]
[[Category:British people of Bangladeshi descent]]
[[Category:English people of Bangladeshi descent]]
[[Category:British people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Real World Records artists]]
[[Category:Asian Underground musicians]]
[[Category:Asian Underground musicians]]
[[Category:Sound systems]]
[[Category:Sound systems]]
[[Category:Sibling musical duos]]
[[Category:Musical groups from London]]
[[Category:Musical groups from London]]
[[Category:Real World Records artists]]

Revision as of 00:39, 1 September 2015

Joi
OriginEast End of London, England
Genres
Years active1983–present
Labels
MembersFarook Shamsher
Past membersHaroon Shamsher (1983–1999)

Joi is a

Bangladeshi
origin, originally composed of brothers Farook and Haroon Shamsher. Haroon died on 8 July 1999, and the remaining brother has continued Joi alone.

Background

Joi were brothers Farook (born 24 October 1968) and Haroon Shamsher (14 November 1965 – 8 July 1999), born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and brought up in the East End of London.[1] to a Bangladeshi father and an Indian mother. Their passion for music developed at a young age as their father was[2] a professional flautist who had a shop in Brick Lane selling saris and musical instruments he imported from India. He also had Hindi, Indian classical and traditional Bengali music records,[1] and ran a traditional music shop.[3] Their father would organise sessions and record with Baul artists,[1] and sell the tapes.[3]

Farook and Haroon grew up watching Indian musicians record in a makeshift studio in their father's retails store.[4] They grew up listening to people such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and were influenced by reggae, hip hop and soul.[3] They fused Indian and Pakistani rhythms with modern dance grooves.[4]

Joi was formed, originally working under the banners 'League Of Joi Bangla Youth Organisation' and 'Joi Bangla', a collective set up in 1983 to promote Bengali culture to children in their local East London area.[2] They started out in the context of community work and events and subsequently became active members of a growing Asian dance scene in England.[5] Out of this[6] a Bengali youth movement[5] came the Joi Bangla sound system formed by Farook and Haroon Shamsher,[6] fusing Asian influences with Western beats were fusing the sounds of traditional Bengali music with hip hop and contemporary dance styles.[2] The spun records in local youth clubs around the Brick Lane area of London.[1][7]

In 1983, they mixed these elements together and began Djing at clubs as the Joi Bangla Sound System, before becoming the more dance-oriented Joi six years later. Bolstered by Arts Council funding and aiming to promote Bengali youth culture.[3] After 10 years as club DJs, the pair began recording their own material in their father's studio.[4] In July 1999, Farook told The Independent, "We're about politics, race, religion, and music all-in-one".[1]

Recording

In 1988, Joi's white label single "Taj Ma House" was released and they began introducing their own their own material into Joi Bangla sets. In 1992, they released their debut single "Desert Storm,[6] which was named single of the week in NME.[1][4] In 1993, they set up the Joi club night in London.[6] In 1994, they appointed Charles Cosh as their manager.[1]

In 1996, they released the

Justin Robertson remix was popular on the club scene and paved the way for the follow-up, "Asian Vibes", issued in 1999.[1] The debut album One and One Is One was released[6] in March 1999.[1]

On 8 July 1999, Haroon died unexpectedly of a heart-attack at the age of 34.[1] He succumbed to heart failure after a week-long illness and suffered a heart attack during a hospital examination. Despite being ill, he had performed the night before.[4] Two months before his death, Haroon visited Bangladesh for a month[9] and made a series of field recordings which Farook used as the basis for We Are Three, which was released in October 2001.[6]

In January 2007, Joi's third album Without Zero was released.[10]

Performance

In between working in the studio, Joi had been taking their sound system to clubs around London, as well as supporting

Return To The Source, and the Ministry of Sound.[8] By 1998, Joi had performed at over 1,500 gigs as a sound system.[1]

They developed a live act and put on a full live show with the addition of the vocalist

Greater London Radio.[8]

Joi is co-managed by Charles Cosh and Ben Batson of London-based Molosha Management Ltd. Sam Kirby of New York-based Evolution Talent Agency handles its bookings.[9]

Awards

Year Work Award Category Result
1993 "Desert Storm" NME magazine Single of the Week Won
1999 One and One Is One BBC Asian Music Award[11] Won
2006 Farook Shamsher UK Asian Music Awards Commitment to Scene[12] Won

Discography

Singles

Year Single Chart positions Label
1988 "Taj Ma House" BPM Records
1988 "Funky Asian" BPM Records
1992 "Desert Storm" Transglobal
1996 "Spiritual Get Together" ZYX Music
1998 "Fingers" Real World Records
1999 "Asian Vibes" Real World Records
1999 "Deep Asian Vibes" Real World Records

EP

Album Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
Bangladesh EP

Albums

Album Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
One and One is One
We Are Three
  • Released: 25 September 2000
  • Label: Real World Records
  • Formats: CD, Digital Download
Without Zero
  • Released: 18 February 2007
  • Label: Real World Records
  • Formats: CD, Digital Download

Collaborations and contributions

Year Title Artist Album Label
1997 Goddess Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Eastern Uprising
Sony
India Various Artists Global Explorer Zip Dog
1998 Sweet Pain Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Star Rise Real World Records
Shanti Various Artists Further East-Westercisms Law And Auder

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Perrone, Pierre (14 July 1999). "Obituary: Haroon Shamsher". The Independent. Retrieved 1 September 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c "British Bengali Success Stories". BritBangla. Retrieved 15 May 2011. Joi: Farook Shamser
  3. ^ a b c d Cornwell, Jane (9 April 1999). "Pop: One and one is one: Joi simplify the maths". The Independent. Retrieved 1 September 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1846090912
    .
  5. ^ a b Ramani, Vinita (1 May 2001). "We Are Three". Exclaim!. Retrieved 1 September 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0415169899. Cite error: The named reference "Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page
    ).
  7. ISBN 978-0814736043
    .
  8. ^ a b c d e "Joi". WOMAD. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  9. ^ a b Van Vleck, Philip (23 December 2000). "RealWorld Releasing Joi In January". Billboard. p. 27. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Patterson, Louis (19 March 2007). "Review of Joi - Without Zero". BBC Music. Retrieved 15 May 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Joi". Global Village Idiot (UK). Retrieved 9 July 2005.
  12. ^ "Desi hits the UK AMA's". London 2006: Desi Hits. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)

External links

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