It was a festive and exciting night at The UK AMAs Nominations Party at Gatecrasher in Birmingham tonight! Not surprising to us, was Navin Kundra’s nomination as Best Male Artist and Best Alternative Act! You can hear what we mean by going to his Official Website and listening to his amazing new dance track Mehbooba, his beautiful love song Tere Liye and his other great tracks too.

Other nominees/categories are:

Best Male Artist
Imran Khan
Jay Sean
Jaz Dhami
Mumzy Stranger
Navin Kundra

Best Album
Des C – First Flight
Imran Khan – Unforgettable
Jay sean – All or Nothing
Jaz Dhami – JD
Sukshinder Shinda – Collaborations 2

Best Club DJ
Dj H
Dj Kayper
Dj Vix
Jags Klimax
Panjabi Mc

Best Desi Act
Des C
Imran Khan
Jaz Dhami
Malkit Singh
Sukhshinder Shinda

Best Female Act
Amar Dhanjan
Hard Kaur
Karen David
Natasha Khan – Bat for Lashes
Sophie Choudry

Best Nomination
Aron B
JK
Young Archie Assignment

Best Urban Act
AG Dolla
Jay Sean
Mumzy
Sef Naqvi
ZeeKay

Best Producer
Aman Hayer
Punjabi By Nature
RDB
Rishi Rich
Sukhshinder Shinda

Best Radio Show
Bobby Friction – BBC AN
Mr Kay – Buzz ASIA
Neev – Kiss 100
Nihal – Radio 1
Noreen – BBC AN

Best Alternative Act
Bat for Lashes
Engine Earz
Navin Kundra
Niraj Chag
Shiva Soundsystem

Best International Act
Kaka Bhaniawala
Ms Pooja
Outlandish
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Roach Killa

Best Video
Imran Khan – Amplifier
Jay Sean – Down
Mumzy Stranger – Showgirl
Sef ft Des C Dboy – Need A Hero remix
Sukhshinder Shinda – Ghum Sum

Best International Act
Adnan Sami – Ek Ladki Deewani Si
Bohemia – Da rap star
Jaswinder Daghamia – Yaar Nai Labhde
Ms Pooja – Romantic jatt
Outlandish – Sound of a Rebel

Award night is March 11, 2010 at the legendary Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank and B4U Music will once again record and broadcast the main event to a worldwide audience. It is an event that you won’t want to miss.

Abs Shaid, CEO of UKAMA says: “This year we are raising the bar again. Year on year the UK AMA strives to be in touch with the British Asian music industry and 2009 has been yet another important year for British Asian artists in the UK. From hitting the charts in America, to signing to major record labels, our artists have once again proved that they are capable of huge achievements. The UK AMA will continue to
celebrate and acknowledge these amazing achievements.”

B4U International Head of Sales and Marketing Kevin Rego says: “As the leading Asian channel in the UK, B4U Music is delighted to be presenting the UKAMA once again. B4U Music has been a strong supporter of the UK’s Asian music artists and as a channel we are constantly looking at ways to integrate the Asian music scene into
the mainstream market. We have identified the constant growth in highly talented Asian artists this year, and being a part of the UK AMA yet again will allow us to further celebrate this success and continue to promote Asian music on a global scale.”

Lebara Mobile’s UK Managing Director, Russell Atkinson, commented: “Lebara Mobile is delighted to be working with the UK Asian Music Awards as the title sponsor. Music brings people together through a universal language and this partnership will allow us to further connect with Asian communities, who remain one of our key target audiences in the UK. We look forward to working closely with the UK Asian Music Awards to celebrate and promote Asian culture and achievements.”

Mark Strippel, Head of Music at BBC Asian Network says: “For the first time BBC Asian Network will be giving multi-platform coverage to the UK Asian Music Awards, across Radio, Online and Interactive TV. Our decision to be broadcast partner reflects the emergence of these Awards as one of the key events in the British-Asian music
calendar.”

About Lebara Mobile
Lebara Mobile’s vision is to be the leader in providing low-cost, high quality international mobile services. Lebara Mobile was founded in 2001 as part of the Lebara Group. Lebara was ranked as the UK’s fourth fastest-growing private company in the Sunday Times ‘Fast
Track 100 listing’ in 2006, was voted Best Newcomer at the Mobile Industry Awards in 2008, and was recently recognized as delivering the Most Innovative Service at the 2009 Mobile News Awards.

About B4U Music
Launching in 1999 B4U MUSIC is the primary channel to showcase the very best in Bollywood hits, Bhangra, Hindi pop and desi remixes. From the most recent videos to the golden oldies and entertaining music based shows, B4U Music caters to a diverse audience of all ages.

(The above quotes and About information are courtesy of the official UK AMA press release)

Voting begins NOW, on the UK AMA website

Newly appointed Bollywood singer for Akshay Kumar in Kambakkht Ishq Navin performed for the very first time in live, unplugged, acoustic sets on BritAsia TV on Saturday, February 14, 2009. There were three songs and an interview that were taped on this special night. All videos are the courtesy of BritAsia TV
Read the full story

Navin's Saavy New Look

Due to his whirlwind lifestyle, it has been some time since we have been able to catch up with Navin. Busy promoting his new chart-busting club song ‘Love Thing’ is only one of the many projects he has on his plate at present.  His loving and supportive fans recently nominated Navin as a contender for the prized UK Asian Music Awards in the Best Newcomer category (held on Thursday, March 5, 2009).

If that were not enough to set his world on fire, the news of filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala choosing him to be the playback singer for Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar in his new film ‘Kambakkht Ishq’ (Incredible Love), in which Kareena Kapoor plays opposite Kumar, sealed the deal. It is a romantic comedy. An Indian stuntman takes Hollywood by storm but he cannot find true love.

Definitely a dream come true for Navin, as in the very first interview I conducted with him almost 2 years ago, he said, “I have grown up listening to playback singers all my life and that is how I developed my singing and love for music. If the opportunity for playback singing came my way, I would definitely consider it.” Well now, he is having his cake and eating it too, as they say.

ICB – Please tell us how ‘Love Thing’ was created.

NAVIN – I remember being introduced to producer Mushtaq by my manager earlier last year and one of the first pieces of music he played for me was an instrumental draft of the track which we developed into ‘Love Thing’.  We created a fusion using the famous Bollywood sample ‘Bindiya Chamkegi’ with a heavy urban beat and I started writing to the track straight away.  It was summertime here in the UK so I was in a feel good mood and wanted the track to reflect the same.

I knew that after ‘Tukde Tukde’ and ‘Zinda Hoon’, which were well appreciated, I had to come back with something different. Working with a different producer helped me achieve that new sound.  Lyrically I wanted to mix Punjabi and English while riding the famous Hindi sample.  It was important that both the Punjabi and English parts were performed authentically on the track. That is perhaps why everyone keeps asking me ‘who is singing the English part?’ Laughs!  It’s an interesting mix of influences blended into one track and I am really pleased with the way it turned out.

ICB – Response toward this song?

NAVIN – So far the response has been fantastic!  I was nervous before exposing the song because I thought that the people who heard ‘Tukde Tukde’ really would not expect me to switch it up and come out with a track like this … and I was right!  Nevertheless, I have gained more exposure to new audiences with ‘Love Thing’, particularly younger music lovers, and that has broadened my fan base.  I have also been performing the track nationwide and the response has been brilliant.  There are some new remixes for the single coming out too, so keep a lookout for them!

ICB – How does it feel to be chosen as the playback singer for Akshay Kumar and how did this come about?

NAVIN – It feels awesome!  I have grown up listening to Bollywood music and I am a big fan of Akshay Kumar, so to be given the opportunity to sing for him still feels somewhat unreal.  This came about through producer Rishi Rich. Rishi was working with Bollywood music director Anu Malik and he played a song that I had recorded for my new album.  Anu Malik liked my voice, so Rishi rang me up and casually said, “Come down to the studio. Anu Malik is here and wants you to record for Akshay Kumar on his next Bollywood movie.”  I was like … what???” I thought he was playing a prank on me but it was for real and it was an awesome experience recording with them!  I hope that you will hear the soundtrack soon.

ICB – What other future hits can we look forward to in the near future – Club? Classic?

NAVIN – A mixture – I could never just do one type of music because it would get boring after a while for both the listeners and myself.  I love experimenting with new sounds and using different influences to keep my music fresh, innovative and contemporary.  I believe that people love listening to all kinds of songs, but they only get to hear what is accessible to them.  I want to give them access to a broader range of music, while challenging myself as a singer to stretch my voice further and write quality songs.

ICB – How do you decide which genre of songs to do? Any specific method?

NAVIN – There is no real method. It all depends on time. My mood and the inspiration at that moment also play a huge role.  I do not really sit down and think “now I’m going to compose a track for the clubs.” To be honest, I quite often end up forgetting that the tracks I am working on are going to be released to the public. I just enjoy the creative process.  My manager Nyrone Persaud has also been a key factor in guiding the shape of my new music.

ICB – Is your album coming out anytime soon so that all your fans can start lining up at the various music stores around the globe?

NAVIN – It is coming out this year but I do not have a release date yet. As soon as I do, I will let you all know!

ICB – International worldwide tour in the near future?

NAVIN – Absolutely! We are already in talks with companies about an international tour – so all in good time!  I love performing live and meeting the people who I make the music for!

ICB – Over 100,000 hits on your myspace musician’s page (http://www.myspace.com/NavinKundra), with ‘Love Thing’ being played almost 6,000 times! What do you say to that?

NAVIN – It is brilliant and I am really pleased with the support from my fans.  I am always updating my website with new material so they come across something new every time.

ICB – Your debut song ‘Tukde, Tukde’ has been played over 20,000 times and your second hit ‘Main Ha Tere Naal’ over 13,000 just on your site, not to mention the hits generated on You Tube, Facebook, and several desi music sites. Amazing! Besides this, you have been nominated for Best Newcomer on the UK Asian Music Awards 2009 (http://www.theukama.com/). Way To Go!

ICB – How can your fans help with this?

NAVIN – It is all about representing, supporting and votes!  They all need to log onto www.theukama.com, select voting, register and submit their vote for me under the Best Newcomer category.  The more friends and family they can get to vote for me, the more chance we have of winning. It is quick, free, and every vote counts, so please make your voice heard and while you are there, vote for your favorites in the other categories too.

ICB – Speaking of your fans … Do you have a personal message that you would like to share with them?

NAVIN – I just want to say that you are awesome! The reason I am here doing what I do is because of YOU!  Thank you so much for all your love and support and I hope 2009 brings you all much happiness, love and success!

ICB – Anything else you what to add?

NAVIN – Just a reminder to please vote for me on the UK AMA website. It is because of my fans that I am up for this award so I really feel that we are in this together.  If we win, it will be something for us all to be proud of … it is all in your hands now.

ICB – Thank you so much Navin for taking the time to be with us. We wish you all the best and much success from all of us here at I Crave Bollywood!

NAVIN – Thank you Simran.

Download Love Thing now on iTunes.

Check Out Navin’s New Music Video ‘Love Thing’ – Right Here!

Navin Kundra

UK’s singing sensation Navin Kundra is on his way to Bollywood! He will be the playback singer for none other than Akshay Kumar in his new film entitled ‘Kambakht Ishq’ (Rishi Rich Productions).

The announcement was made at Tiffin Bites restaurant in the UK.