Suns of Arqa

Suns of Arqa
Suns of Arqa
Background information
Genres	Ambient/Dub/Electronica World
Years active	1979-present
Labels	EMI Arka Sound Antler/Subway Rocksteady Red Rhino Records Virgin Records Bop Cassettes
Associated acts	John Cooper Clarke Gâyan Uttejak Orchestra Prince Far-I Professor Stanley Unwin Adrian Sherwood[1]
Website	The Ark MySpace
Members	Michael Wadada (1979-present) Angel Eye (1995-present) Johar Ali Khan (1995-2011) Raghunath Seth (1992-2010) Kadir Durvesh (1987-2006) Marek Miczyk (1982-2006) Dhevdhas Nair (1992-2006) Sandeep Popatkar (1992-2006) Delroy 'Sticksman' Walker (1992-2006) Wayne Worm (1982-2006) Kalu Zeria (1983-95) Youth (1992-2009) Durga Dugie (2001-2009) David Hendry (2011) Maren Lueg (2011) Chas Whitaker (2011) Steve York (2011) DJ Guapo (2009) Michael Ormiston (2009) Candida Valentino (2009) ......
Past members	Garbi Armii (1995-2003) Kwasi Asante (1995-2006) Anton Behrendt (1982) Moot Beret (1980-7) Reba Bhaduri (1995-2006) Sumit Bhaduri (1995-2006) Big Red (1983) Daniel Broad (1987) Alan DeCampos (1996-2006) Frank Celest (2006) Doctor Himadri Chaudhuri (1984-5) Cod (1999) John Cooper Clarke (1987) Steve Cyclepath (1983) Danny Boy (1985) Shaun Davies (2001-2006) Dids (1987) Clare 'Ireti' Durrant (1996) Arif Durvesh (2006) Doreen Edwards (1985) Kendal Ernest (1987) Gayan Uttejak Orchestra (1999-2003) OB Glen (1984) OB Gray (1984) Ian Green (1980) Steve Hopkins (1987) Laszlo Hortobagyi (1999-2001) Shahbaz Hussain (1999-2002) Agnieszka Jablonska (2003) Lamin Jassey (1996) Brian Jones (1982) Bryn Jones (1999) Chris Joyce (1983, 1992) Srirangam S Kannan (1995) Kasha (2003) Khalid (1987) Khaya (2003) Marcel King (1982) Sanyogita Kumari (1987) The Legendary Leperds (1983) Keith 'Lizard' Logan (1983-7) Denyse MacNamara (1987) Madastra (1984) N Magriel (2001) Joe McGill (2003) Allan 'Lion Man' Martin (1996) Nicolas Magriel (1992) Graham Massey (1987) Abu Mustafa (1996) Mustaphafakir (1982-3) Thierry 'Lion Man' Negro (1996-2006) Lyne Okey (2001) John Perkins (1987) Prince Far I (1982-3) Prince Hammer (1982-7) Doctor Q (1995-6) Eric Random (1984-7) Country Rankin (1995-6) Damon Reece (2003) Rick 'The Switch' Turner (1995-2006) Mick Ripsher (1992) RM (1983) Roly (1995) Keshav Sathe (1982) John Scott (1983) Style Scott (1980) Danny Sheals (1982-7) Geshela Ngaqang Sherap (2001) RJ Simms (1999) Amar Singh (1983) John 'JJ' Slater (1983) John Snelson (1995-2006) Snuff (1982) Gita Sparkle (2005) Becky Spellar (2006) Spliff (1982-3) Stalwart (1985-7) Cliff Stapleton (1987) Mark Stone (1980) Tony Sullivan (1980) Eric Trochu (1996) Feso Trombone (1985) Tony Trundel (1982) Professor Stanley Unwin (1985-7) Vocal Harders (1985) Cat Von Trapp (2006) Helen Watson (1982-7) Tim Wheater (1989) Sarah Wildwitch (1987) Clive Wills (2006) Wizard (1996) Colin Wood (1987) Roly Wynn (1995-2006) James Young (1987) Aziz Zeria (1983-5) Papu Zeria (1983) .....

Suns of Arqa are a World Music collective founded in 1979 by Michael Wadada. Since the group's formation, over 200 people from around the world have played and recorded with them, and in many cases these were like-minded musicians Wadada met as he travelled the world.^[2][3][4] Pioneers of World Beat, Ambient, Downtempo and Electro-Dub, Suns of Arqa draw inspiration from around the world, interpreting indigenous, tribal and classical folk traditions. They have created an impressive legacy and earned worldwide recognition.^[5]

Early days

Suns of Arqa started out in the World Music scene in 1979, recording their debut album Revenge of the Mozabites which was produced by Adrian Sherwood, who later became known for On-U Sound Records. In 1982, they were invited to play at the first WOMAD Festival by Peter Gabriel. They performed with Prince Far-I at his last concert before his death in 1982.^[2] Since then, they have gone on to work with a variety of musicians and performers, such as John Cooper Clarke, Professor Stanley Unwin, flautist Tim Wheater, Adrian Sherwood, singer Helen Watson and a great many others.^[3][4][5]

The 1990s and beyond

In the early 1990s, Wadada started his own Arka Sound label, and started re-issuing the group's older vinyl albums on new compilation CDs.^[2][3][4] One of these, 'Land of a Thousand Churches', was a compilation featuring collaborations with artists such as James Young, Helen Watson and Feso Trombone. His combination of Hindu and Celtic traditions at a musical level became a trademark that ultimately became identifiable as his musical style. A few years later, Suns of Arqa worked with artists such as 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, John Leckie, Zion Train, Muslimgauze, Youth and Astralasia. The results were a fusion of dub, drum and bass, and the existing styles which Suns of Arqa were associated with.^[5]

Live

Throughout their career Suns of Arqa have played at various major music festivals, including the Glastonbury Festival, Phoenix Festival and the first WOMAD Festival.^[6] By the mid 1990s, the Suns of Arqa live setup added Scottish bagpipes, Indian strings, reggae percussion, and a variety of other instruments and sounds.^[5] They have released three live albums to date, Musical Revue (later reissued as 'Live with Prince Far I'), 'Animan', and 'Big and Live'.

Media

NME have described Suns of Arqa albums as "definitely the most unusual records of all time", and added that "Some might call it ‘genius’; most will just settle for the word ‘insane’. Either way, the result is fascinating", while East West Journal (USA) have said ”I’m not at all certain how this band manages to so cohesively merge rhythms no other group in the world has dared to mix, I only know that their music is reverent, humorous, profound, disorientating, terrifying and fantastic all at the same time.”. Rick Anderson of All Music Guide wrote that ”Many bands claim to deal in global fusion music, but few have as firm a claim on the genre as the Suns of Arqa ... Big & Live documents several recent live performances and shows Wadada and his cohorts in top form, delivering everything from Celtic-reggae fusion ‘Om Kaaraaya’ ... to Asian meditational sounds ... and sounds in between, such as ‘Majhi Ra’, which adds the keening tones of the shenai to the Celtic-reggae mix. There are fine vocal performances by Angel Eye, Reba Bhaduri and Cat Von Trapp ... some listeners will find this music immediately delightful, while other will probably be mostly puzzled.”^[5]

Discography

Albums

Remix Albums

Re-issues

Singles

Compilations

Video

Discography Data sources ^[1][3][10]

References