Series name | Asian Dub Foundation |
Description | Nation Records requested Aniruddha Das, Dr Das of Asian Dub Foundation (ADF), to document ADF’s formation early in 1995 when the band first signed to Nation Records. The eight pages which have been digitised here are handwritten by Aniruddha Das, in February – March 1995. It documents the band’s beginnings and provides brief background information on the three core members. |
Date of Creation / Publication | 1995 |
Creator | Asian Dub Foundation |
Associated Person/ Organisation | Nation Records; Das, Aniruddha |
Location | London |
Collection and Reference Number | Nation Records Collection (GB 2661 NR) |
Catalogue Number | NR/OB/ADF/3 |
Copyright | The Creator and/ or associated person or organisation where applicable |
Access to originals | The originals are located at Nation Records Limited |
Series notes | Asian Dub Foundation (ADF) was formed in September 1993, by two tutors: John Pandit and Aniruddha Das and their student, Deedar Zaman at music technology training workshops in the Community Music Centre for Asian youth, London. Today, ADF is one of the most successful British Asian bands in the world. During their short time signed to Nation Records (1994-1996), ADF began to develop a following in almost every country in the world. The core members at the time were a student attending the centre, 15 year-old rapper Deedar Zaman aka Master D, John (Ashok) Pandit (Pandit G), a civil rights worker at the Community Music Centre, guitarist Steve Chandrasonic Saval, Aniruddha Das (Dr Das),a tutor at the Centre and Sun-J, who worked with live technology equipment. ADF quickly cultivated a reputation for their raising live performances, incorporating samples from Indian film and folk music into their hip-hop, house, funk and jungle music. Their politically conscious lyrics covered issues from culture and anti-racism to topical national and international concerns. Since their early days with Nation Records, Asian Dub Foundation have been active campaigners and are well-known for their assistance in securing the release of Satpal Ram. (Satpal Ram was imprisoned after injuring his attacker, who later died, in self-defence.) Through their lyrics, the group continues to create awareness of issues such as domestic violence, asylum, the war on terror and promote religious tolerance maintaining the tradition that music is a vehicle for social commentary. Following recognition from their campaigning work, ADF were granted funding from the then London Arts Board to establish an educational wing: ADFED (ADF Education). ADFED is an independent organisation which promotes and practises the teaching of music and technology to young people, particularly Asian, through workshops in London. ADF's debut and only album to be released on Nation Records in 1995 was Facts and Fictions. Since 1997 they have released three new albums and are currently signed to Labels/Virgin France. |
Collection notes | The material from the Nation Records collection consists of various CD covers, press releases, promotional photography, lyrics and flyers from twelve of the bands signed to the record label since 1989. |