Bollywood meets Beyoncé: 'Brown artists can be mainstream too' - BBC News

British south Asian artists have historically been overlooked but now they are becoming mainstream.

1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Aiyush Pachnanda Image caption, The south Asian underground music scene is rapidly growingBy Yasmin RufoBBC NewsScroll through TikTok or go for a night out at the weekend and you could easily be left with the impression that South Asian music is booming. But despite seemingly being so popular, it is struggling to make an impact on the mainstream.

It is a Saturday night in a club in west London, and sounds, cultures and beats are being fused together by South Asian DJs who are going head-to-head in a musical showdown.

"This isn't just music, this is a celebration of my culture and identity," one young man shouts over the music.

As revellers dance to remixes of global chart-toppers, iconic Bollywood songs, bhangra beats and a whole host of other sounds, DJ D-lish says she is "pushing the boundary of what south Asian music means".

The 25-year-old, real name Alisha, is just one of many South Asian artists trying to make their music mainstream.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67913510

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