Re-mixing Identities

The first question asked of both Bally Sagoo and Radical Sista was their "origins" or background in relation to music. They each discussed what kind of music they grew up with, and how they both rooted themselves in and diverged from the styles they were so accustomed to. I find it interesting how, in Sagoo's life, there was already a presence or blending of both Western and Asian music, due to the differing interests of his father and mother. His father was in a pop band in the early sixties that resembled the Beatles and performed popular film tunes. He therefore embodied Western music for Sagoo in Sagoo's early life. On the other hand, Sagoo's mother was a priest in a temple who played religious music which was heavily Indian-based. Both styles influenced Sagoo early on in his life, so it was no surprise when he took this blend and carried it on into more modern styles, fusing them more closely into each other. Radical Sista, on the other hand, was not into Asian music at all. Initially she preferred Punk and Disco, until her interests shifted towards Hip-Hop and Breakdance. It is interesting how historical and cultural changes (such as the shifting role of young Asian women from housewives to college students) moved both Sagoo and Radical Sista towards the "re-mixing" of their musical styles as well as their own personal identities.