The Bombay Royale [Australia]

1. Describe your music Twitter style, 140 characters or less.
Surf, Disco and Funk music from 60’s and 70’s Bollywood. Psychedelic grooves and rhythms, twangy guitar, massive horns section and haunting indian vocal melodies.

2. First album you purchased?
Soundtrack to Disney’s Aladdin.

3. First gig you went to?
Have seen many acts over the years as I started gigging at the age of 5 with my dad’s band (festivals like Womad, Woodford, the National and Port Fairy Folk Festival). The biggest concert I remember growing up was Michael Jackson’s history tour at Adelaide Oval when I was 11. I watched the concert from backstage as I was on stage for a couple of tracks with him that day .:) Also answer for best stage moment ever!

WOW -Ed

4. Favourite song?
It’s like asking a chef what his favourite dish is. Depends on day, mood, thoughts… right now after thinking about MJ I just want to hear Man in the Mirror or Earth Song. Been listening to the Punch Brothers (new acoustic band from the US) and Kaushiki Chakrabarty is my all time favourite Indian singer.

5. A compelling reason to come see your gig?
You will have never seen anything like it before. It’s a complete aural and visual experience, that is just too much fun to pass up.

6. Your best track?
Don’t know about best, but my favourite is Phone Baje Na. It has a slower funk groove than our other tracks that you can really get immersed in… It’s also the last track of our new album that is having a special pre-release at WOMAD titled “You, Me, Bullets, Love”.

7. Your single biggest musical influence?
My dad and his band The Dya Singh World Music Group.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
I studied Journalism at university, so maybe I’d be that. I don’t really think I had any choice but to be a musician in this lifetime.

9. If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be?
Nitin Sawhney

10. Who are you looking forward to seeing at WOMAD?
Shantala Shivalingappa, dancer from India. I am a massive classical Indian dance fan.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-w0gnT7y70]