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Niraj Chag, commissioned by Arts Depot

About the commission

Composer Niraj Chag will explore his cultural heritage pinpointing a date in history and taking front pages of newspapers from East Africa, India and the UK. It will be the inspiration for a new multi-art form commission incorporating live music, image and dance.

“I am thrilled that the project has been selected for New Music Biennial. My family history is inextricably tied to the Commonwealth as my family made the journey to England from India via Africa and for that reason this is a very personal work for me.” Niraj Chag

“Niraj is one of the most exciting young composers of today and we’re thrilled to support this cross art-form commission pinpointing moments in history across India, East Africa and the UK as part of New Music Biennial. The final piece will also headline our 10th anniversary programme later in 2014.” Arts Depot

More about the composer

Niraj’s documentary soundtracks have reached a worldwide audience and brought emotional depth to some of the most compelling stories of today. He has composed for Emmy and Bafta winning The Power of Art, The Age of Terror (2008) and a sweeping orchestral soundtrack for Darwin’s Dangerous Idea (BBC2, 2008). In contrast to this, Niraj produced a dance-oriented piece for Sex and the City (HBO 2003), while Origins of Us (2011) gave him the opportunity to create an electronic-tinged score. Having embraced technology, Niraj will be using these techniques to create the music for one of the biggest stories of all – The Story of the Continents (2013 release).

Niraj’s debut Along the Dusty Road (2006) featured plaintive and uplifting songs in six languages and won him a considerable fan base as well as an Asian Music Award as ‘Best Underground Artist’. The album led to a Maida Vale session and atmospheric live set at the Roundhouse as part of the Electric Proms. Single ‘The Nomad’ went on to be selected as itunes single of the week. Many of Niraj’s projects are achieved through working with unusual and challenging combinations of musicians. In 2008 he worked with opera singers, a 40-piece brass band and 600 vocalists to create a piece for the official Olympic Torch event on London’s South Bank.

In 2012 he composer for the West End musical Wah! Wah! Girls and this followed a run of work on successful shows including Olivier Award winning Rafta Rafta (Royal National Theatre, 2007) and over 20 scored dance productions including Shobana Jeyasinghs Classic Cuts (Royal Opera House, 2012).