Warm Up Recommends: Simian Mobile Disco on Charanjit Singh

In advance of their PS1 Warm Up show this weekend, Simian Mobile Disco tell us why they love Indian electronic pioneer, Charanjit Singh.

August 01, 2014



"I first found one of his records in a charity shop… I felt I'd found undiscovered gold."


Every Saturday throughout New York's long hot summer, MoMA PS1 presents Warm Up, the museum's annual courtyard party that celebrates music's experimental spirit. Each week, The FADER will be speaking to one of the billed artists to find out who they're psyched about playing with. This week, James Ford of British analog duo Simian Mobile Disco recommends Charanjit Singh, Mumbai's legendary guitarist, Bollywood composer and electronic music pioneer.

James Ford: As always the PS1 lineup is really interesting but we are really looking forward to seeing Chanjarit Singh. I first found one of his records in a charity shop over 10 years ago when I was living in Whitechapel in [East] London. It wasn't the Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat one but, nevertheless, I felt I'd found undiscovered gold. It was only later once Ragas was reissued that I found out anything about him and really understood the chronology of it. The fact that he was using 808s and 303s to fuse Indian music and disco was interesting enough, but the fact that he predated acid house and early techno is astounding. He was a real pioneer in every sense of the word. I have no idea what to expect from a live show but I'm sure it'll be pretty special.




Warm Up Recommends: Simian Mobile Disco on Charanjit Singh