MUMBAI: British-Indian music producer Bally Sagoo, who created unforgettable albums like ‘Wham Bam’, ‘Essential Ragga’, ‘Star Crazy’, ‘Bollywood Flashback’ and ‘Future Shock’ amongst others, recently, launched a new album titled ‘Cafe Punjab’ under Delhi-based label Duck-U Records.

‘Cafe Punjab’ is an eight-track album, and is a mix of Punjabi sufi and pop. Sagoo claimed that it is a tribute to legends like Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Amar Singh Chamkila, Amarjot Kaur and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The track on the album includes ‘Chhalleya’, ‘Akhiyan Ch Tu Wasda’, ‘Yaadan Teriyan’, ‘Kenu Kenu Dasa’, ‘Tumhe Dillagi Bhool Jaani’, ‘Tutte Dil Da Ilaaj Nahin’, ‘Birds of Prey’ and ‘Ki Jor Gariban Da’.

Talking about his latest release Sagoo said, “‘Cafe Punjab’ is my tribute to Punjab. The album consists of a few old, classic Punjabi songs. These have been re-sung by new singers as I wanted to bring something new to the audiences. It is a deep, powerful sounding album. The title track ‘Chhalleya’ has been sung by a Bengali singer– Sayantani Das, and it sounded really nice.”

The first video from the album, for ‘Chhalleya’ was shot in Pondicherry, and has been directed by popular video director R. Swami. It features Kingfisher model Shibani Suvarna.

It took Sagoo a good two years to put the entire album together, and he believes it is all worth it as he wanted to get the feel of the video right. “The album is a journey to Punjab for me. And while I have been famous for remixes and making covers in India, this album is all about exploring a new side. ‘Cafe Punjab’ is not a Bhangra or a Bollywood style album; it is more sufi and melodic. This is why it took me two years; I had the liberty to work on one track for two months. After all, it is my company and production. I would fly down to India if I needed a flute or percussion,” stated the musician.

The producer has roped in a lot of fresh voices for the album as he believes in giving them an opportunity. “I am interested in working with different singers because of my travelling around the world. As you travel, you meet a lot of new vocalists and musicians. You also feel the need to collaborate with them. India has many good voices and they need a chance. So, yes I auditioned different singers and that is how I got the end result,” he confessed.

Sagoo is currently working on his second video from the album, which in most probability, will be shot in India.