Explore the rise of Punjabi UK garage in this new film

Drawing on archival footage and interviews.

A new documentary – called The Birth of Punjabi Garage — tells the story of the rise of Punjabi garage in the UK.

Co-produced by Yung Singh and Ministry of Sound’s Cameron Barnfield, The Birth of Punjabi Garage explores the genre’s rise during the late ’90s, focusing on its development up until the present day.

The short film brings together archival footage from the late ’90s and early ’00s, as well as a variety of interviews with key figures, produced in tandem with Yung Singh.

“The documentary has a wealth of unseen archive footage showing exactly how it was in the garages and studios of the young Bradford and Manchester lads from the beginning, to the events, weddings and festivals that marked their success,” shares the filmmakers.

The Birth of Punjabi Garage is “bookended by Yung Singh and his iconic Boiler Room, giving credit to the elders who paved the way for the continuation of South Asian presence in British dance culture.”

It marks “the first documentary to explore the genre. Documentaries have covered Bhangra, the ’80s Daytimers and the Asian Underground, but the South Asian diaspora’s involvement in the early 2000s Garage scene has never been covered and we are therefore proud to bring this to you!”

Singh himself notes that The Birth of Punjabi Garage is not “a definitive history”, but instead aims to “provide an insight into how things got started”.

Watch The Birth of Punjabi Garage in full above.

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Photo by: Yushy