Tere Liye: Naya Beats

Cult South Asian New Wave. ‘Tere Liye’ is a highly sought after and impossible to find New Wave album by the unsung pioneers of the British Asian music scene, Pinky Ann Rihal. Carefully remastered and reissued for the first time since its limited 1985 release, the album is as fresh and relevant today as it was 37 years ago. 

South Asian New Wave are four words that you will rarely see together. Pinky Ann Rihal were the brainchild of two London-based Punjabi immigrants and progressive rock musicians – Harry Rihal and Jati Sodhi – at a time in the U.K. when progressive rock musicians were almost exclusively white and Punjabi musicians were almost exclusively making Bhangra. Encouraged by their friend and disco pioneer Biddu (yes, that Biddu!), they cut ‘Tere Liye.’ Complementing the rich, cosmic and layered synths and drum programming and the distorted guitars are the Hindi lyrics of vocalists Pinky and Anne. The result is an amazing one-of-a-kind South Asian New Wave album that can finally take its rightful place as one of the pioneering albums of the Asian underground. Mastered for vinyl by multi Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt at The Carvery.

—

NAYA BEATS

Award-winning music label Naya Beat is beloved for their full-length album reissues, reworks and remixes, and compilations dedicated to uncovering hidden electronic and dance music gems from the overlooked ‘80s and ‘90s South Asian music scene.