As a professional musician, composer, and producer, tj Rehmi’s unique and innovative style of music has inspired many around the world. His work includes producing Bhangra and Rap artists, working as a session guitarist, recording 2 ep’s and 5 solo albums and working on numerous remixes.
Born of Asian parents in England, Rehmi has always been a thinker, observer, and a rebel. Raised in a very multi-cultural environment, Rehmi was drawn early towards art and music and began playing guitar in school. But, even at a young age, Rehmi felt the pressures of finding his own Anglo/Asian identity and dealing with the issue of racism and the destructive atmosphere of race riots. Rather than taking a public stance, Rehmi enveloped himself in his music and, despite his parents’ objections, found solace in his music.
With guitar in hand, Rehmi explored the burgeoning bhangra scene as a session player and quickly was in high demand. Session after session, Rehmi became interested in recording and started producing and arranging for some of the top bhangra bands from the mid ‘80s to the early ‘90s. Touring with these bands also gave Rehmi the opportunity of visiting other countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, Holland, Denmark, France and Dubai, providing an ever-growing musical fodder.
Rehmi began to incorporate all of the sounds, rhythms, and styles he heard into his own music. His past musical influences are many. He harbours a deep love for a range of great music from Be Bop to Hip Hop; from world folk music to classical Indian; from Bach to reggae… the list is endless.
“I love to hear good music from a variety of cultures and different periods of time. My mind is like a baby…very inquisitive.”
Trying his hand at composition, Rehmi turned to Afro/Asian and jazz fusionists for inspiration. “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Parker, Miles, Coltrane, McLaughlin and the violinist
L Shankar… they’ve all ‘got it’ and I was learning from them through their music.” |
