Watching newcomer Amarjit Singh Dhanda [aka A. DH] onstage to the rhythm of beating dhols and funky tumbi’s, he looks like a typical Bhangra star, with a tough attitude and raucous voice. Typical in every way but one. With a jump in his step, the Birmingham-bred Punjabi is a musical act tightly compartmentalized by tradition and cultural values.
What started out as a side project has grown into an obsession for Amarjit Dhanda, and the proof of his desires was his debut eight-track album I Want It All. The track Mirza (Ready Or Not) gained notoriety across all music channels for its classy imaging and the song itself proved to be a popular DJ choice. Released on the Nachural Records label, Dhanda has chosen his initials as the moniker for his stage name, A. DH. “Why not keep it original?” Produced by Manjit Singh from the Untouchables camp, the CD also features an enhanced video of the Mirza song.
A. DH started his career by joining the Bhangra team Gabhru Panjab De in 1997, taking harmonium and singing lessons from Ustad Pritam Singh. Firstly as a backing singer, A. DH progressed to become the lead singer for the Bhangra troupe and went onto perform with the team at the World Championships of Bhangra 2000 in Toronto, Canada. As luck would have it, Gabhru Panjab De won the prestigious award and A. DH’s path to the bigtime began.
His first venture into the recording studio was for the compilation album The Unsigned singing cover versions of Sadha Munda and Bari Khol Ke before he started work on his solo project. A. DH has been influenced by the music of Punjab since an early age and his debut album is a collection of his own songs and some that lean heavily on all-round Punjabi folk classics.
A. DH is an exceptional Bhangra popstar in the making. His words and his music are exciting and his live performance eye-catching. It has been an exciting journey to get this far and the future holds a great promise for the man known simply as A. DH.
