The Asian Electronic Music 'scene' originated in the UK in the 1990s with the rise of British Asian musicians such as Talvin Singh, Nitin Sawhney, Ges-e, TJ Rehmi, Badmarsh and Shri, State of Bengal, Osmani Soundz, Aref Durvesh and Asia-dominated record labels such as Outcaste, Nasha, and Swaraj.  It has now spread to San Francisco, Melbourne, Singapore, New York, Mumbai, Delhi and several other metropolitan cities. At its most simplest form, Asian electronic music is characterised by a mix of some of the following: electronic digital manipulation; one or more traditional Indian instruments such as the tabla, sitar, sarangi, shehnai and veena (or samples of them); Asian vocals, lyrics and samples broadly relating to India; samples of Bollywood tracks; and generally a rhythm line similar to drum and bass, downtempo and jungle. These unique combinations place Asian electronic as music that is very distinct and different to say British Bhangra and Bollywood remix. British Asian electronic music has also, in many ways, been an expression of being Asian in the UK - addressing everything from anti-racism to second generation Asian identity.

This music is the focus of my PhD in Sociology (which I am doing at the University of Cambridge).  My research is focussed on the Asian electronic music subculture in London and Delhi.  I am specifically interested in the individuals involved in both scenes as well as the complex links between them such as: technology recommendations (including both software and hardware) made by British Asian electronic musicians to India based ones, how localised sampling by Delhi based Asian electronic artists has directly and indirectly influenced the London Asian electronic music scene and vice versa, the bilateral sharing of musical methodologies and ideas and how artists in the London Asian electronic scene (e.g. Nasha) and the Delhi scene ( e.g. the MIDIval PunditZ) are working with the same classicists in India such as the highly acclaimed sarangi musician Ustad Sultan Khan. Whilst conducting my research regarding the subculture in Delhi, I decided that this vibrant scene and the interesting individuals involved in it would also be an excellent basis for a documentary.

The film Dilli Breakbeat explores Asian electronic music in India’s capital - a city which the vast majority of Delhiites agree has changed remarkably over the last 10-15 years. The film starts from this premise and explores the Asian electronic music scene within its home, which somehow, despite its rapid modernisation, still has deep connections with its rich history.  Perhaps the Asian electronic music scene and the individuals involved are in many ways a reflection of this Delhi? But, on the other hand, are they more than just products of their environment? Dilli Breakbeat attempts to tackle these questions head on, examining the many factors that have given rise to the Asian electronic music scene in Delhi. It explores how the scene has been influenced and continues to be influenced by the UK, the contemporary and cosmopolitan identities of the individuals involved and how the music and the scene can be considered products of cultural globalisation among other things. Through footage from live performances at venues such as Elevate and Fabric and interviews with musicians such as the MIDIval PunditZ and Bandish Projekt, DJs such as Sundeep and Dhruv and a variety of individuals who are involved in the scene, Asian electronic music in Delhi is not only introduced, but these deeper themes are delved into.

Ultimately the film, like my research, considers the meanings of Asian electronic music and the scene surrounding it. Some are passionate about the music, arguing that India has lost touch with its classical musical background and that Asian electronic music manages to beautifully fuse traditional elements such as sitar and tabla with modern and contagious beats such as drum and bass. These individuals claim that the music makes them proud to be Indian. Others, on the other hand, argue that the music is just something to chill out or dance to on a Friday or Saturday night. Regardless of one's opinion, the Asian electronic music scene exists in Delhi and the film tries to find out why.