Along the Dusty Road, the much anticipated debut solo album from British Asian artist  Niraj Chag, now has a confirmed release date of 3rd July. Two tracks from the album, Bangles and Kwhaab, have been gaining critical acclaim and airplay on BBC and local stations in the UK, with Kwhaab being described as ‘one of the most sensuous, soulful and beautiful tracks I’ve heard since joining Radio 1’ by Radio 1 DJ, Nihal.

Niraj is a second-generation British Asian whose music explores his roots. On the album’s thirteen tracks, he uses an unusual and remarkable variety of South Asian music styles, from ghazals to qawwalis and beyond, and vocals in six languages. Although traditional Indian musical instruments are used to create haunting melodic lines, the beats and production are contemporary, in Niraj’s trademark cinematic style.

The album has been three years in the making. Niraj describes the idea behind it: “I had been speaking to my grandmother a lot and I was really blown away by her story. She’d traveled three continents, from Asia to Africa to Europe. I wanted to capture all the emotions of this kind of life in one album.”

He describes the album as “a very personal project, an evolution of all the music I’ve done  before in its emotional power.” Along the Dusty Road has been described as very different to work he has previously produced as one half of dance outfit Dum Dum Project.

Tracks from the album were first played live in a set by Niraj at the London ‘BritAsia festival’ in June 2005. No further live dates are yet scheduled, although Niraj is in the process of developing the songs for live performance.

For more information, and to hear full length tracks, visit http://www.nirajchag.com.