DJ Ritu

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DJ Ritu has been a key figure in the British club scene as a DJ and radio presenter for more than 24 years. Specialising in Bollywood, bhangra, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, and 'world' sounds, plus a hefty dose of western underground and pop styles since the 60's, DJ Ritu has performed in over 30 countries and is the ultimate musical chameleon!

East London born DJ Ritu began her career as a 'pop' music DJ in 1986 quickly attracting the attention of new 'global beats' club 'ASIA' in Islington propelling her into the 'world music' scene.

With an increasing reputation in the early nineties as an 'Asian music' expert Ritu began touring abroad, becoming the first DJ to introduce Asian sounds in many countries, while guesting at legendary clubs in the UK such as The Mambo Inn.

In 1994, Ritu co-founded Outcaste Records signing Nitin Sawhney and Badmarsh (&Shri). She instigated 'Club Outcaste' and compiled the label's first two CDs Untouchable Beats Vol 1 & Vol 2 and became resident DJ at the UK's first ever weekly Asian club - Bombay Jungle at The WAG Club in London.

After performing at world music conferences like WOMEX in the nineties, Ritu was commissioned to create her first band, Asian Equation - a 'live show' centred around the DJ's soundscape, with dancers, musicians, and visuals. Musically Ritu played Asian fusion spiced with elements of bhangra and bollywood, drum n bass, trip hop, and techno. 

The first five shows were in Berlin in 1996 with an audience of over 25,000 people. Ritu hand-picked a team that included rapper jc001 (fastest rapper in the world), the then unknown Nitin Sawhney, Shri, Aref Dervish and Johnny Kalsi (pre Dhol Foundaion). The performances were groundbreaking, and Asian Equation went on to become a huge phenomenon. This then led to a band with a stronger female focus called Sister India gaining a cult following worldwide.

With solo DJ bookings and intense band activity Ritu has toured from Istanbul to Cape Town and performed at venues from the Royal Festival Hall to Hyde Park and international festivals such as Sfinks, Roskilde, Womad, St Etienne, Amsterdam Roots,.. to name a few.

Ritu presents her unique Asian music show for BBC 3 Counties Radio which is now nearly 20 years old! It is syndicated in Germany and Turkey. In 2006 she started presenting A World In London every Saturday night on BBC Radio London. A two-hour global grooves show highlighting new music and classics from every continent on the planet. Some of the star-studded guests interviewed in-depth on the programme include Tarkan, Femi Kuti, Natacha Atlas, Bassekou Kouyate, Esma Redzapova, Mahala Rai Banda, AR Rahman, Mayra Andrade, Ojos De Brujo, Sierra Maestra, and Angelique Kidjo. A World In London is available on-line at bbc.co.uk/london/radio, attracting listeners in Hawaii, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and other far-flung places! Ritu has also contributed to BBC World Service, Radio1 & 3, BBC Asian Network, Kiss100 and Club Asia.

Ritu manages three London club nights; Kuch Kuch (2000 +) – the UK’s original and leading Bollywood club, Club Kali (1995+) and Hoppa (2000) - all pioneering nights dedicated to Asian, Middle-Eastern, North African, Turkish and Greek sounds with a healthy dose of pop thrown in for good measure!

She has compiled numerous albums for The Rough Guides and contributes to various publications - Songlines, Eastern Eye, Rough Guide To World Music books. Her career has been one of many firsts and DJ Ritu remains a pioneer in every respect.

“Dropping shuddering funky drummer breaks over lush Bollywood strings, Ritu cuts up a dizzying collage of hip-hop, bhangra and, best of all, stunning drum ‘n’ bass that recalls prime-era Kemistry & Storm. Her seven sisters (technically four sisters, two brothers and a whirling loon dressed as a cat) pitch in with percussion, guitar, violin, vocals and dance; all performed with irresistible joy. In lesser hands the wilful genre-hopping on display here could prove worthy and dull; tonight though is simply giddy and thrilling. Make no mistake, Sister India are a fantastic family affair.” 
NME

“This remarkable woman has done more to promote Asian music internationally via clubs, festivals and radio - when it ‘wasn’t fashionable - than all ‘the boys’ put together, thus creating the ‘Asian scene’ we now have today...”
Eastern Eye

DJ Ritu –‘Visionary Sister indeed...’ – Time Out Mag

“If it’s techno, hip hop, drum ’n’ bass, bollywood, house, or bhangra you’re after, rolled into one bomb-diggety joint, then queue this way!” 
Asian Woman Magazine

“…(DJ Ritu’s) music collective went down a storm…” WOMEX ‘97

“Elle a impose la fievre de Bombay au Coeur de Londres…star de l’Asian Music!! - Reunion Island Le Journal

ACHIEVEMENTS / TIMELINE
• 1986 Starts DJ-ing at small clubs in Islington, playing Michael Jackson, Madonna, and other pop tunes
• 1988 Becomes resident at ASIA. Meets Don Tyler who becomes her ‘world music’ mentor introducing her to music by Chaba Fadela, The Bhundu Boys, etc...culminating in her first visit to the infamous London African music shop, Sterns!
• 1989 Joins the team of guest DJs at The Mambo Inn working alongside ‘greats’ like Rita Ray, Max Reinhardt, John Armstrong, Sue Steward, Dave Hucker, etc..
• 2006 - present day Producer/ presenter for BBC London 94.9 ‘A World In London’
• 2002 – 2004 Created & presented ‘The Mix’ for the newly national BBC Asian Network
• 1997 – 1999 Guest reviewer BBC Radio 1
• 1995 – 2005 Created/managed/performed world-wide with her innovative live music projects Asian Equation and Sister India
• 1995 – 1997 Produced and presented several Asian music series for BBC World Service and still continues to contribute to BBC Radio 3.
• 1995 - Established Club Outcaste, London’s first regular Asian Underground club night.
• 1995 - Signed Nitin Sawhney and Badmarsh
• 1994 – 1999 First Asian DJ ever to play on London’s KISS 100 FM
• 1994 – 1997 Co-founder Outcaste Records label. Headed A&R department.
• 1993 – 1995 Resident at the world’s first weekly Asian club night – ‘Bombay Jungle’ at The Wag Club in London
• 1992 - present day - produces and presents ‘DJ Ritu Show’ for BBC 3 Counties’ Radio, syndicated in Europe
• Has also presented for Club Asia, Brazen Radio and Fem FM.
• First and only Asian DJ to be featured as Record Mirror/Music Week’s ‘Jock on the Box’