Balraj Samrai

Facilitator

Musician, DJ, facilitator and project coordinator (Balraj) Samrai is one of the founding members of Manchester’s Swing Ting party and record label – profiled by the Guardian, Resident Advisor, FACT magazine and Bandcamp Daily. He's also the co-founder of SEEN Magazine created by global majority and marginalised communities which aims to celebrate unheard voices and stories. Balraj sits on Musicians Union’s North Committee and co-chairs the Climate Emergency working group.

He has been a guest on BBC Asian Network, Radio 1, 1Xtra and BBC 6 Music as well as co-hosting a radio show on NTS Live. He's released music on record labels such as Unknown to the Unknown, Don’t Be Afraid, Keysound, Niche N Bump, Night Slugs and Fat City, performing, recording and delivering workshops all over Europe as well as in Armenia, Canada, Colombia, Jamaica, India and Thailand. He has been commissioned to create musical works exploring social justice themes for Manchester Museum, Season for Change, Opera North and Manchester International Festival.

In 2023 Samrai released his debut solo project "Work & Roti" on his new imprint Sangha Industries featuring an array of talented collaborators. It had support from The WIRE, Mixmag, Crack Magazine, DJ Mag and Mixmag with plays across NTS live, Rinse FM and BBC Radio stations.

Following on from this in late 2023 he released ‘Bhangbow’ combining Bhangra, Dancehall and Dembow elements as well as producing 'End the Occupation Now' with Rizmi and 'GAZA' with Mr Scruff as part of the Mcr4Pal and Brum4Pal solidarity initiatives. The latter tracks have received support from Los Angeles to Auckland with spins on radio, in clubs, at protests and arms factory blockades.