Cornershop

Cornershop released their current single Wop The Groove featuring Rowetta's (ex Happy Mondays and X Factor) poweful vocal talents, earlier this month. It's their first release since 2002's Handcream For A Generation, and harbours their trademark eclectic style with substance and groove. Music-News caught up with Tjinder Singh.


MN: Who were your earliest musical influences?

TS: My earliest influences came from Sikh devotional music and Punjabi folk music, including Bhujangy Group & Nasrut Fateh Ali Khan. Then reggae stepped forward, was big on Yellowman, Scientst & Lee Perry. Also being from the Black Country head metal was much on the agenda.

MN: When did you realise that a career in music was for you? What was your route?

TS: I never realised a career in music was ever for me. However got into doing music because there were so many bad bands about that I couldn't do much worse.

MN: In your opinion is the British Asian music vibe in a healthy position?

TS: I believe that British Asian music is basically non-existent, another sound is dying.

MN: Who today are you musically inspired by?

TS: Nowadays, there seems to be a two way motorway of manufactured acts, together with white & black R&B in one lane. Going North white guitar bands – I dig the 1990's and Artic Monkeys, and deeply dig that I have a vinyl collection of days of yore.

MN: Have you any/many unfulfilled musical goals?

TS: I do my best in staying out of musical goal.

MN: Which of your works are you especially proud of, not including your most recent stuff? And why?

TS: I'm especially proud of Jullandar Shere because it is so well received, can't be done again, and has been accepted by a white audience, and the last album Handcream For A Generation, because I still think it has legs and its nice to hear it now and then in a shop or restaurant.

MN: Did the massive mainstream success of Brimful of Asha have any profound affect on you as an artist?

TS: It was good that it did well, and keeps going, but other than that no. If it did then I would have tried to do some more songs like it.

MN: When is the film Wop the Groove due for release and can you give us a brief summary of it?

TS: The film is a low budget view of people in the music industry, with a view to document a certain time, before the Net goes Glocken (it was filmed in 2002). It is about to be finished in the editing stage, ready to drop in the year 2012 – this part has not actually be finalised.

MN: Have you recorded any other tracks with Rowetta (the collaboration
appears to work well)?

TS: No we have not done any more collaborations with Rowetta, but hope to collaborate with Jeanette – a Spanish icon of the late 70's.

TS: Many thanks, hope that's OK, Tjinder.

MN: Tjinder, Music-News would like to wish you all the very best for your musical future and thank you for your time.
Rob Barnett, Music News

For more info visit www.cornershop.com