Anyone who is familiar with popular Indian music is also familiar with the chart bursting song ?Oh Baby don't break my heart?, sung by Stereo Nation. But how many know the people behind this song. etc, India?s most preferred music channel, presents Taz, the lead singer of Stereo Nation.The viewers can catch Taz, talking about himself and his music on etc on Wednesday February 6, 2002 at 8 p.m. and repeat on Saturday February 9 at 8.00 p.m.

For last two decade United Kingdom has produced a numbers of musicians of Indian origin, who have created a new trend of music by mixing Indian melody and western sound with the help state-of- art recording technology. Stereo Nation is one of the finest exponents of this genre of music, which started Biddu in 80s. Combining bhnagra with reggae was something new, which separated Stereo Nation from hundred Punjabi pop singers based abroad. Tarsem Singh, alias, Taz is the father of this unique technique.

So what transformed Tarsem Singh from a Punjabi family of London into Taz of Stereo Nation? Hear it from the man himself, ?Music was not something that my parents wanted me to follow. They wanted me to be a doctor or an architect. I remember whenever I told people that I want to be a pop singer they took it as a joke. But that never discouraged me. Today the same people congratulate me for my success in music. My love for performing art began with theatre,? he continues, ?but music was my passion. By the virtue of growing up in London I was influenced by a different kind of form which is reflected in my music.?

It was in mid 90s that Stereo nation became a household name in India but Taz got his first break in 1989 with an album called Hit The Deck. However his success story in India started with ?Don?t break my heart?, which was a part of the album called I?ll Be Waiting. Since then Taz has come a long way with a numbers of HIT songs and even an opportunity to do playback in the film Tum Bin. Of late, Taz has come with his latest album Taz Mania, which according to him is, ?a collection melodious and rhythmic songs.?

Someone who never looses touch with the elements and prefers love to money, Taz likes to describe himself as a romantic person. His biggest wish in life is to make a hospital in Jalandhar, his hometown. Ask him about his biggest nightmare and he answers, ?To loose my voice because I don?t know anything but music.? An avid admirer of noted pop singer George Michael, Taz?s favourite Indian musician is Asha Handle who, according to him, ?symbolize India?.

- Reviewed: Sarb Dhesi ( Thu Feb 24 06:19:19 2005 )