The Raj Kaul Podcast

Get the Book: Organizing Your Creative Career (2020 Revised Edition) In this episode of the Raj Kaul Podcast , I’m joined by the legendary Sheila Chandra , a true pioneer who bridged the gap between East and West long before "World Music" was even a category. We dive deep into her meteoric rise at just 16 years old with the band Monsoon and their global smash hit "Ever So Lonely&quo...

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 depre...

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 clarifi...

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 mento...

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 abandone...

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 s...

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 de...

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...

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...

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 talent The harsh economics of live gigs, bands, and promoters The d...

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 father Seeing Sabar Koti more as a legendary artist than a parent Learning t...

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 Hollyw...

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...

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 obs...

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 hype How ego and money can quietly kill cre...

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 Wolverha...

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-Sk...

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 ren...

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 truth...

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. Discov...

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 months Building a band from scratch with zero contacts Why perfectionism kills music careers How he accidentally became a top-tier son...

In this powerful episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast , Raj sits down with singer, composer, and producer Sanj V , whose voice has graced major Bollywood films like Sultan , Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari , and more. From humble beginnings in Punjab to training under legendary music director Jaidev Kumar , Sanj V shares:** His early musical journey and family legacy Struggles breaking into Mumbai’s music scene...

In EP35 of The Raj Kaul Podcast , Raj sits down with UK Bhangra keyboard legend Harry Matharu —a musician who’s played with Ashoka Group , XLNC , Safri Boys , and most recently, joined Diljit Dosanjh’s world tour . 🎹 From growing up in Handsworth surrounded by music to performing live with a 100-person tour crew, Harry reflects on: His musical roots in the Ashoka Group The golden era of UK Bhangr...

In this episode of the Raj Kaul Podcast, Raj sits down with the legendary Punjabi artist Amrit Saab. They discuss his musical journey from Punjab to the UK, how he unexpectedly became a singer, and the story behind his famous albums like Mindro and Kabza . Amrit reflects on the mentorship he received from the iconic Sabar Koti and shares insights into his lyric writing, including songs like Kangna...

On this episode of The Raj Kaul Podcast , Raj sits down with electronic music producer and DJ Vizano , whose journey from investment banking to global music stages is as inspiring as it is unexpected. They explore how Vizano transitioned from DJing at weddings to producing genre-blending electronic music, the importance of structured learning, and why having a clear vision and goals is vital in to...