earthtribe originated as a live sound system in the UK well before it manifested itself into a recording act. The original creative core revolved around the production duo, Coco Varma (T.A.S. - The Altered States) & Sanjeev Rupal, then evolving from the studio to the stage with a four-piece live show, including regular members Sanjay Varma on percussion & MC Daddy E plus an ever-changing line up of special guest artists. 

 

earthtribe were formed before the genre Asian Underground had arisen and remained at the core of the British Underground Dance scene for many years. But their style has always been as much about the West as it is the East - intricate rhythms of Indian percussion, Jazz, Reggae, Funk, Rave and Breakbeat against a groove friendly Techno backbone. Simplifying earthribe’s sound as global music would be an injustice. It’s a treasure trove of unchartered dance music that isn’t about thumping a few switches, but a virtuosic combination of machines, real instruments and wild imagination. Timeout best described the earthribe sound as “it doesn’t matter what kind of music whether it’s House, Techno, Trip Hop or the obligatory Drum ‘n’ Bass, because it can all be brought together under one roof”.  

 

The long delayed earthtribe album release, was due to their extensive touring schedule, having played continents from Europe to as far as Australia spreading a rhythmical message of one earth, one tribe preferring to road-test their tunes to a massive audience.  A steadfast commitment to providing a live alternative to the DJ experience has seen earthtribe collaborate on stage with the likes of Aziz Ibrahim, Shahin Badar, Mark Gilmour and Lee Scratch Perry.  

 

The album One Earth One Tribe Vol.1 formed naturally from these live excursions as did a plethora of remixes for the likes of Nitin Sawney, the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, Ravi Harris, Ray Charles, Moodswings and Transglobal Underground. They were also commissioned by Sony Music's Higher Ground label at the time, to curate their compilation album, Eastern Uprising Dance Music From The Asian Underground.

 

In the seminal underground days of Anokha at Hoxton Square’s Blue Note club they played the first 50 nights.  earthtribe’s uniquely exciting, open-minded sound means that they can settle into almost any surrounding having toured many festivals and stages: Glastonbury, Sydney Opera House, Tribal Gathering, Ministry Of Sound, Dog Star, The Big Chill, Return to the Source, Heavenly Social, CREAM, WOMAD, Brixton Academy, Fabric, Paleo, Ososphere, Whirl-E-Gig, Escape from Samsara and Outcaste.

 

But like the Chemical Brothers in the days of the Heavenly Social, the best place to catch earthtribe was at their homemade residency Sitarfunk which had guests as diverse as Squarepusher and Matrix, Spring Heel Jack, Barry Ashworth, Shut Up and Dance and Project 23 to name a few. A historic highlight being a sell out crowd at Shepherd’s Bush Empire for The Big Mash up featuring live performances from earthtribe, Transglobal Underground, the late State of Bengal and sitarist Nilandri Kumar with the innovative guest spot filled by the first ever orchestral Drum ‘n’ Bass outfit Mao Orchesteral.  Sitarfunk also as a record label, released a collection of grooves from Sitarfunk’s club night regulars including, TJ Rehmi, Mo Magic, Bi-Polar, Indian Ropeman and other artists who shared their vision like Up, Bustle & Out. Earthtribe launched household club nights, Sitarfunk, Anokha, Outcaste, Swaraj, Eaststatic, Akaash, Club Indus, Aahtma and Shaanti.