j4jumpy.net Interview's Bohemia

2007-04-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

Jumpy [Underground Media] - : Hello how you doing Bohemia?

Bohemia: By the grace of God, I’m doin well thanks.

Jumpy: First of all tell us what’s the meaning of your name? This is your real name or media name?

Bohemia: Bohemia is a name given to me because of its meaning; you call someone a bohemian if they don’t follow anyone else’s footsteps and creates their own path for the rest to follow you feel me?

Jumpy: As your songs/lyrics are really matching with our Pakistani culture but what about the videos why these videos different from the songs/lyrics?

Bohemia: My first video sahara from the album ‘Pesa Nasha Pyar’ won about 5 film fare awards and the new video kurti is still up in the top ten on MtvDesi and I’m really thankful to all my fans and the supports of the desi-hip-hop movement for that. It’s good to see that people recognize the fact that my music exposes them to a new culture so many of young desi kids like me live out abroad.

Jumpy: How long you have been involved in media?

Bohemia: I’ve been writing poetry since I was very little; my favorite poet of all time is still Mirza Ghalib. My dad introduce me to playing harmonium at a very early age and ever since I’ve been fascinated by music being a form of self expression.

Jumpy: What had inspired you in making music?

Bohemia: I feel the culture and the lifestyle that many south East Asians live out here (in America) is a lot different than desis living back home and with my music I hope to expose this to the world. I feel that there’s not enough media representation of this fact and by the time we as a community will catch up to these issues, it will be too late for our youth and we wont be able to do much to save them from the out side influences and from the late of education they have about there own culture. Hopefully when they hear my music, they will be worried and will get up and do something about it (laughs out loud).

Jumpy: How has your experience with Pakistani media been so far?

Bohemia: It’s been great and I look forward to talking to more Pakistani media and introducing desi-hip-hop.

Jumpy: What about your music education?

Bohemia: Like I mentioned, my music education started with my first guru my dad who introduce me to the magic of music. After that, the rest of what I do and know is self tough. I look up to artists like Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Madam Noor Jahan and pop pioneers like Vital Signs, I’m real proud to have lived in their era.

Jumpy: Tell us about your recordings (describe your style and every recording)?

Bohemia: My recordings are really straight forward. I write all my lyrics and produce most of my beats. When I’m writing its real important for me to be honest with my listeners, and when I’m recording, I like doing one take recording so you hear what I felt as I felt it, without rehearing it and making it up, you know what I mean?

Jumpy: What we can expect from Bohemia in the future?

Bohemia: Have you chalked out an entire plan? If so, please do share it with us. I haven’t chalked out an entire plan at all. I’m a free soul and I like to keep it that way, know what I mean? I am back in the studio recoding for my new album ‘Punjabi Rap Star’ with Universal Music Group. I hope to stay true to my name and keep writing. I have a lot of young desi kids looking up to me and I can’t let them down.

Jumpy: What are your views on J4jumpy.NET work for the upcoming bands/artists. Any message for our E-Zine?

Bohemia: Keep supporting the fresh new talents and keep giving young leaders a chance to speak. A lot of desi media is controlled by old timers with ego trips and that gets in the way of a lot of young artists trying to get out to their fans.

Jumpy: Would you like give any message for your fans and upcoming bands

Bohemia: To my fans and friends, everybody hitting up my home on the web www.thepunjabirapper.com I’d like to thank you all for the support and love and I only hope to stay alive and pay you all back with my music. To all up and coming bands and artist I say, keep it real, be honest to your fans and leave the rest up to God. Much love and respect - Bohemia

www.thepunjabirapper.com

Rap artist Bohemia denied entry to Canada

2006-12-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

Rapper Bohemia, who was scheduled to appear live at the Croatian Cultural Center in Vancouver, was refused entry to Canada on Friday and detained for 8 hours in a holding cell by Immigration Canada, said the concert promoter.

"The version we got from Immigration Canada was vague because of their confidentiality and privacy laws," said Jhind of Dream Time Records LA, who was accompanying The Punjabi Rapper

"Bohemia and his entourage arrived Friday at 10 a.m. from Oakland. Every member of his entourage was allowed in except him. All the paperwork was fine.

"Bohemia felt he was waiting too long. You could tell he was getting aggravated," Jhind said

"He was asked a few questions by the immigration officer and was detained and put under watch. Then he was escorted out at 7:00 p.m. the same night."

Through an unconfirmed source, The Punjabi Rapper might have been denied entry into Canada because a criminal charge was laid against him two years ago in the United States.

An official at Immigration Canada said he could not discuss the specifics of individual cases, but confirmed the rapper was denied entry into the country.

"Normally, someone coming here as an entertainer is referred to us," said Jean Edmonds, manager of Immigration Canada for Vancouver. "I can't comment on whether he has (a criminal record) or not, but individuals with a criminal record would have problems entering unless they had prior consent."

Officials would not comment on whether the rapper was detained at the Vancouver airport, but they confirmed, "individuals who are denied entry are sometimes held until the next available flight."

At the Croatian Cultural Center in Vancouver where the much anticipated debut appearance was to take place, an announcement was made for the crowd, followed by tracks from Bohemia's latest album blasting through the loud speakers. The Punjabi rapper's follow up Sunday performance in Edmonton was also cancelled.

Jhind said Bohemia was arrested two years before he tried to enter Canada, but was not sure what he has been charged with.

"It appeared as it the Canadian Officials had his whole Rap Sheet -- it had all his charges listed on it -- I guess they were holding him on that and questioning him on that.

They kept him in the immigration interview for a few hours."

The 26-year old Bohemia is widely recognized as the pioneer of 'Desi-Hip-Hip'. His latest album 'Pesa Nasha Pyar' [Money, Drugs, Love] under the Music Mogul Universal Records India and Ishq Records UK was released in April 2006 and remain in the Top Ten for 7 weeks in India.

Many recent performers brought to the city from the U.S. by local promoters have faced hassles at the Vancouver International Airport, including Eminem and DJ Clue.

"Bohemia's management is in contact with the Canadian promoters in efforts to organize a makeup date," Jhind said. "However, I firmly believe there is a red flag on Bohemia's name. He may not get into Canada even with a minister's pardon due to heighten security by Immigration Canada and given his [Bohemia] record.

Many eager fans paid the VIP $65 looking forward to meet the king of Punjabi Rap in-person.

BOHEMIA UPDATES

j4jumpy.net Interview's Bohemia

Rap artist Bohemia denied entry to Canada