Trickbaby

Based around the song writing partnership of Saira Hussain and Steve Ager and the musicianship of Jeevan Rihal (harmonium/keyboards and additional vocals), Vikaash Sankadecha (percussion) and Emre Ramazanoglu (drums), Trickbaby has evolved into a genuinely unique band. Described as an East/West soundclash, Saira cites influences from modern dance music through to Bollywood movie classics. It is this unique blend of inspiration, and contemporary use of classic Indian instruments alongside modern production values that provide the basis of the Trickbaby sound.

Trickbaby's debut single, 'Indi-Yarn' received massive mainstream media attention. It reached *46 in the British national chart, was the first Hindi language single to be playlisted at Radio One and was their morning show’s record of the week for a record three weeks. At this point Trickbaby jumped off the conveyor belt and evolved the Trickbaby sound on their own creative terms, playing live in Europe and the US, and setting up their own label, Chachaman Records.

Alongside writing, recording and mixing tracks for ‘Hanging Around’, regular live excursions have become a major part of the Trickbaby armoury. They played at the BBC's Mega Mela at Birmingham NEC in front of 30 000 people, the 'Malai' festival at Sound in Leicester Sq, which was broadcast on BBC2, and have played regularly in the UK and Europe. BBC Radio 4 has even broadcast a 30 min documentary about Trickbaby. Trickbaby music appears on Jenson Button's website, is used by Sky Sport's cricket coverage, BBC 1, BBC 2, Channel 4, MTV, Virgin Radio and BBC Radio 1 and 2.

Following massive media support for Neelaa after its inclusion on Outcaste’s Asian Flavas album, particularly at Radio One, Trickbaby released their debut album ‘Hanging Around’ on their own Chachaman label. 5 stars in OK, Mojo, Eastern Eye and great reviews in The Times, Observer and in all the main Asian press resulted in Trickbaby signing licensing deals around the world, including EMI’s Far East head office in Hong Kong. Immediately MTV in the SE Asia region made Trickbaby artist of the month on their Alert programme and have subsequently playlisted the band’s self produced Slipping Through Your Fingers video (which features members of the GB synchronised swimming team). In 2004 Trickbaby appeared on BBC2’s Desi DNA, Saira started a regular column in Eastern Eye’s entertainment section and 3 Trickbaby songs were used in the Indian movie Hyderabad Blues 2. Virgin UK will released a compilation album ‘Asian Beat Bazaar’ devised and compiled by Trickbaby and the band toured India in October, including a performance at MTV’s prestigious Style Awards.

2005 proved to a big year for Trickbaby as Rohan Sippy asked the band for songs for his movie Bluffmaster, starring Abishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, which has gone on to become one of the biggest Indian movies of recent times. The title track, Sabse Bada Rupaiya/Bluffmaster – a new Trickbaby track based around the original 1970’s Mehmood song became the title track and a huge hit in India. Neelaa, Indi Yarn and a reworked Hindi version of Nine Parts Of Desire also all had key roles in the film.

2006 and Trickbaby’s love affair with Bollywood continues as they have just completed the title song to Ashok Thakeria’s new movie ‘Pyare Mohan’ (out in April), starring Esha Deol, Amrita Rao, Fardeen Khan and Vivek Oberoi. The band have almost completed their long awaited second album, which will also include a remix of Nine Parts of Desire with a video produced by Ramesh Sippy, directed by Rohan Sippy and starring Abishek Bachchan….watch this space, its coming soon…

Saira Hussain – vocals
Steve Ager – guitar/bass/keyboards/programming
Jeevan Rihal – Harmonium/keyboards/bv's
Vikaash Sankadecha – tabla/percussion
Emre Rramazanoglu – drums/percussion