DJ Sanj

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DJ Sanj is DJ, promoter, music producer, radio presenter, mentor and remixer. He has been working in the music business since he began DJing in 1982. Born in Nairobi and brought up in the United Kingdom.

His early influences are Bollywood, Electro, Soul, Funk, Disco and Hip Hop were his diverse choices to mix DJ sets.

[edit] DJing

Inspired and encouraged by Pete Anderson's Nytro Express, DJ Sanj collected records from the age of 14 with visions of becoming a DJ oneday. By 1980 Sanj started to DJ with his mentor Pete Anderson and found himself part of the house party culture. By 1984 Sanj launched X-zecutive Soundz giving young Brit-Asians something different, the fusion of Bhangra with Electro, Disco, Hip Hop and Funk was born.

Not being fully content, Sanj wanted a bigger slice of the cake and also ventured into promoting events. Joined by his brother Amit by 1985, the duo were in demand and appearing at famous London clubs - Hippodrome, Regals, Hammersmith Palais, Empire and more, this reulted in Sanj DJ'ing in Europe for 6 months in 1987 and on his return he parted from Onyx Promotions and also his brother Amit.

Sanj and his X-zecutive Soundz would go onto being in demand in the Midlands alongside his brothers newly formed Badd Company. Always thinking ahead, it was now time to fulfill another dream, Sanj released a 12 inch single on white label during 1988, this fired the passion to remix and produce music.

By 1990 Sanj alongside Amit was signed by Multitone Records to remix the vast bac catalogue of bhangra and Indian film songs.

With the success of the pioneering Extra Hot and Garma Garam remix series Sanj of Xzecutive was in demand internationally, taking the trend setting brand to Canada, U.S.A, India and more.

By the mid 90's Sanj began to play more and more Bollywood songs in his sets which eventually changed his direction to becoming a specialist Bollywood DJ, creating a niche San-J Sanj has set up Bollywood club nights and tours the globe with his special sound

[edit] As promoter

Sanj and his partner from Senator Promotions were the first to hold a Daytimer outside of the University circuit, held in December 1984 Onyx events were larger, first at Regals, Uxbridge, then by coach trips to Margate and, by 1986, organising day-timers at the Hammersmith Palais. San-j took coach loads of clubbers - and bands like Heera and Holle Holle - to Birmingham, Manchester and Bradford for the first time. Much later in 2005, San-j's Drop it like it’s Garam and 2wice as Spice nights would become successful on the London Bombass (Bollywood remix) scene. San-J moved from club to radio DJ, first at BBA and Westside then to Club Asia, playing Bhangra and Bollywood alongside R 'n' B and Garage. After a brief stint on the BBC Asian Network he returned to Club Asia in 2005 where he currently does the popular Central Show.

Sanj also became in demand as a remixer; reworking Multitone Records' backlist for the innovative Extra Hot series, and Bollywood songs with Garam Garam 1 & 2 The success of these albums in the USA, Canada and India brought him international recognition, and Sanj is currently working on a series of production and remix projects. For the Soho Road to the Punjab exhibition Sanj is the Bhangra Champion for London.