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28 March 2024

David Guetta and T-Pain, now Salman and Shah Rukh next for RDB

RDB's latest hit, ‘We Doin’ it Big’ features 34 artistes from the Asian music scene, including Juggy D, Apache Indian, Jazzy B, Panjabi MC and many more, as a tribute to fallen RDB member, Kully, who succumbed to cancer earlier this year. (SUPPLIED)

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By Bindu Suresh Rai

Straight off, Surjeet Singh is adamant that no secrets will be spilled in this phone interview.

Twenty minutes later and with a page full of hush hush celebrity collaborations that are covertly in the works – including ones with David Guetta and Grammy winner T-Pain – the youngest brother of the RDB duo sits back a little stunned, asking: “Are there spies on your payroll?”

Currently lapping up the success of their latest hit, ‘We Doin’ it Big’, the monster track debuted at the number one spot on the official Asian Download Charts, with its official video crossing one million views on YouTube in one week.

“Big is getting bigger these days, and the feedback to our latest song has been phenomenal,” said Surj (as he’s popularly called), in a phone chat from the UK.

Featuring Smooth and Raftaar on the single, the video is a first, roping in 34 artistes from the Asian music scene, including Juggy D, Apache Indian, Jazzy B, Panjabi MC and many more, as a tribute to fallen RDB member, Kully, who succumbed to cancer earlier this year.

“The video was shot is in memory of my brother Kully, who died of brain tumour this year,” said Surj. “All the artistes involved very readily stepped up to perform as a tribute act to him.”

Kully’s death following intensive chemotherapy in Houston even had Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar shaken up, who has been an integral force behind the bhangra band’s Bollywood journey over the years.

Talking about returning to the recording studio after Kully’s demise, Surj admitted that the experience has been an emotional, gut wrenching one.

“He was my big brother, always emitting a positive vibe wherever he went. But Manj and I have decided to look at RDB future as a positive chapter, and taking the legacy that Kully had created into a bigger dream,” he said.

He added: “I wouldn’t wish this dreaded disease on anyone, and I won’t deny that we haven’t been personally affected, not hearing his voice, not seeing him in the recording studio.

“But we are motivated to keep his name alive with our fans and RDB is working hard to live up to Kully.”

Bollywood calling

Quiz him about their four years in the making album  ‘Worldwide’ and Surj goes: “Has it really been that long?”

Err, yes.

To this he laughed and said: “Oh, I blame Bollywood for this. It’s them producers and directors who’ve been busy snatching away all our hit tracks from that album.”

In the past few years, RDB has been responsible for some of the biggest Bollywood hits including a collaboration with Grammy winner Ludacris, for ‘Shera Di Kaum’ from ‘Speedy Singhs’, along with another with music heavyweights Snoop Dogg, Elephant Man and Public Enemy for ‘Singh is Kinng’.

“We had created nearly 40 songs for our album but they have all wound their way into films over the years,” he said. “But Bollywood gave us that platform to work with the likes of Ludacris and Snoop. How can we complain?”

So, is it true that RDB is working on its first full-fledged Bollywood album?

“Who told you?” came the stunned response, adding: “But yes, we are working on a Sajid Nadiadwala film and that’s all I can tell you.”

While it could be another Akshay Kumar film, Surj just laughed at the speculation, saying: “Akshay is like a big brother with us. He has been a great support in helping us get a foothold in Bollywood.

“But that doesn’t mean we only limit ourselves to one actor. I would love to have Salman Khan or Shah Rukh Khan to dance to our tunes.”

The back story

RDB, short for Rhythm Bass Dhol, burst onto the UK music scene back in 2001. But not many know that the three brothers have been singing in front of a live audience since they were children.

The trio, with Kully, Manj and Surj, grew up performing in the local Gurdwaras in Bradford, UK where they grew up.

Said Surj: “Dad is very religious and still performs at the Gurdwaras even today. We have him to credit for our musical talent.

“However, few know that he is also our lyricist at times. In fact, it was dad who penned the song, ‘Om Mangalam’ from ‘Kambakkat Ishq’.”

The youngest family member says that his parents have always been supportive of the trio, and their sister-in-law, Nindy Kaur, in their musical endeavours.

“Dad was our first investor, gave us a platform to pursue our dreams,” admits Surj. “Now, we want to pay this forward with our own label, Three Records, and give new talent a stepping stone to make their dreams come true.”