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Shahin Badar is a singer and songwriter who is best known in Europe and North America for her vocals on The Prodigy's single Smack My Bitch Up. It earned her a Double Platinum award.[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Accomplishments 3 Awards and nominations 4 Discography 5 Collaborations 6 External links

[edit] History

Born in Colchester, England to parents from Bangladesh, Shahin Badar spent her formative years growing up in Kuwait. From a tender age, she showed a natural vocal talent for music. Inspired by her mother and encouraged by her teachers, she developed a powerful blend of Arabic and Indian vocals. This genre is reflected in her music today.

With a sound that has now become her trademark Shahin sings in several^[which?] Anglo-Indo-Arabic languages.

[edit] Accomplishments

Her vocal contributions feature in over 50 international film and TV soundtracks including several^[which?] major award award winning films.

Badar has worked with musician's and producers such as A. R. Rahman, Liam Howlett, Tim Deluxe and Fraser T. Smith.

Several of Badar's collaborations have charted in the UK Charts top ten singles, Independent, Dance, Radio and Bhangra charts with inclusions on 3 The Prodigy UK No.1 albums: The Fat of the Land, Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned, and Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005.

Badar's vocal and written work has featured in adverts for Scottish Widows, Tongue's on Fire and ZEE Cine Awards.

Her vocals have also featured on showing such as the UK Music Hall of Fame, Yuva, Zubeidaa (Bollywood films), the theatrical trailer for Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life), Charlie's Angels, Nikita, and Sky News broadcasts.

Badar has headlined various UK festivals, and has performed in countries such as Switzerland, Singapore, Sweden, France, Belgium, Norway, Russia, Ireland, India, and at events such as Radio One Live, Creamfields, Oxegen, Glastonbury Festival, Ibiza, Global Gathering, Womad, Respect Festival, Essentials Festival, and Mystery Land in Holland.

She was the face of Europe's biggest mela, the Bradford International Festival 2002 and headlined the UK's biggest one day carnival, the Luton International Carnival 2000.

Badar has launched special events and endorsed charitable causes such as London's first Children's Hospice Week for the Richard House Trust in Canary Wharf. She was one of the Asian celebrity faces for the NSPCC's Asian Child Helpline in addition to being the Asian celebrity support for the RNID Don't Stop The Music campaign (for the deaf and hard of hearing).

[edit] Awards and nominations

Shahin has received recognition of her work from various awarding bodies through short-listings and nominations, in addition to this her performance and written work is also included in projects that have secured major awards(*).

2006

• Asian Achievers Award - Nomination

2005

• Desi Xpress Artiste of the Week
• Asian Achievers Award - Shortlist

2004

• BBC Radio 1 Pete Tong: Essential Selection Tune Of The Week - Mundaya
• BBC Asian Network: Tune of the Week - Queen of OPunjab
• BBC Asian Network: Tune of The Week - Yeh Rog

2002

• Alhamra Award for Excellence: Short-listed finalist (Muslim news)
• Asian Women Of Achievement Awards Arts & Culture: Short-listed finalist

2000

• Asian Pop Awards: Best Female vocalist
• NetAsia: Shortlist nomination

1999

• Ethnic Multicultural Media Award - Best Newcomer - Nominated finalist
• Asian Women of Achievement Awards: Nominated finalist

1998

• Asian Pop and Media Awards: Best Female nomination

1997

• Mercury Music Prize nomination
• The Prodigy's album The Fat of the Land went to No. 1 in the UK and received a double platinum award. Badar received a copy of the award for her contribution to the album.
• Mundaya: Dance chart top 10 (2004)
• 4 The Muzik: UK Bhangra No. 3 Gal Lagja (vocal performance)-(2005)
• Jind Meriyeh: UK Bhangra No. 4

[edit] Discography

• Jind Mariye
• Destiny (1996)[2]

[edit] Collaborations

• 66 Meters - performed by Indian Ropeman. Written by Shahin Badar and Indian Ropeman.
• Mundaya - performed by Tim Deluxe.[3] Written by Shahin Badar and Tim Deluxe.
• Smack My Bitch Up - written and performed by The Prodigy. Contributing vocals by Shadin Badar.
• Get Up Get Off - performed by The Prodigy. Written by Shadin Badar, Twista and Juliette Lewis.
• Hayati - performed by Jah Wobble. Written by Shahin Badar.

[edit] External links

• Shahin Badar official homepage
• discogs.com: Shahin Badar -- Discography listing.