Silent Tears By Simon Nandhra - Xclusive Review

Now and then, every music industry needs a producer to break away from the mould and do something distinctive. Something that will make people sit up and take notice. Something …..out of the norm. However, it is never easy to do this. Qualities such as being extremely innovative, having the ability to express themselves musically and, most of all, being able to be creative are crucial in order to make such an album. Simon Nandhra checks all the aforementioned boxes.

Simon Nandhra is the prime example of a man in possession of the much sought after qualities that distinguish the leaders from the followers. In a little under 4 years, his maturity as an artist has unquestionably seen him create a glowing reputation for himself in the Bhangra Industry. When he entered the music world in 2002 he was eager to impress but not naïve. Musically speaking, he learnt how to crawl before trying to run; a mistake we see too many artists make. Now his time has come to showcase his talents to the world.

‘Silent Tears’ is the brainchild of a man with a mission. To understand the mission is simple enough. Achieving it, however, is another matter. With this double E.P, Simon Nandhra aims to display his depth as a producer. He doesn’t want to be pigeon holed as just a Bhangra Producer. It’s about so much more. This double E.P features six songs, each having two different versions offering people a diverse choice.

The opening track , ‘Doli Vichon Heer’, features Sanjeev from India. Simon always has had the knack of picking the right singers for the right song. Sanjeev is no exception. His vocals carry off this heartbreaking track that will tug at the heart strings of all the romantics out there. The moving story of Heer crying out for Ranjha as she is being taken away is told here as it has never been told before. A great blend of western beats with the unambiguous sounds from the east gives this a wonderfully tepid ambience.

The second track ’Na Jaeo Pardes’ is equally as remarkable as the first. The song is performed delightfully by Sanjeev once again. The music arrangement impressed me most here, which has a enticing piano playing in the background. This one will definitely be a incalculable favourite with the older generation. It’s a track that is lyrically profound, aided once again by Simon’s refined production. A stark reminder to the people that foreign places are not always what they are made out to be. A polished, expressive tune.

Next, Simon delves into the Hindi market and digs out the classic ‘Bari Mastani’ from the Bollywood movie ‘Jeene Ki Rah’ which hit the screens in 1970. To pull off a song like this you the perfect voice. In Tariq of Legacy, Simon has found it. The first version (The Ride or Die Joint) is a more vibrant number bringing this exemplary mantra into the 21st century. The way Simon presents this song gives it a whole new dimension. I can see this track doing big things in India. While this one is a more on a Hip-Hop tip, the alternative version gives it a more traditional vibe which is a certainly to be played at weddings.

‘Par Langar Deh’ (No, not a cover of the Safri track) showcases another India based vocalist in Arvinder Singh. The U.K is uncharted territory for this sparkling singer and judging from this track, you can expect to hear a lot more from him. ‘The Streets Mix’ also features the MC known as Kingsly. The track has a almost Latin feel to it with dashes of Rap. The ’Across The Rivers Mix’ has a superb composition prominently demonstrating Simon’s growth as a producer.

Also featured on the E.P are Kuldip Manak’s ‘Sarwan Bacha’ and Master Rakesh’s ‘Sadaya Paran’ (A implausible song) , both of which were featured on Simon’s debut album ‘Out Of The Box’. However, Simon has added two further mixes here. A haunting Acoustic mix of ‘Sadaya Paran’ and a stop, start R’N’B mix of ‘Sarwan Bacha’. It doesn’t stop there as a fascinating Rock ’n’ Roll mix of ‘Doli Vichon Heer’ and a hard hitting house mix of ‘’Na Jaeo Pardes’ also appear!

In all honesty, I’m pushed to think of anything done by anyone that boasts such varied flavours on one CD. When an artist usually says “there is something for everyone” on the album, more often than not it’s said in hope. However, when Simon says it about ‘Silent Tears’, it’s a statement. A statement that is backed up by this inconceivable double E.P. He is not aiming for an easy market. But then very few artists have had the fortitude to even try. One of the obvious criticisms levelled at this E.P will be “It’s not Bhangra”. But it’s not meant to be, so that could easily be seen as a positive. It is safe to say that the Bhangra industry has never quite seen anything like this before.

Simon Nandhra’s conspicuous talents are set to open up a chapter in his career. ’Silent Tears’ is just the first paragraph.

Review By Kam Gill