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{{Short description|British Asian bhangra band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Premi
| image =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = United Kingdom
| genre = [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]]
| occupation =
| instrument =
| years_active = 1981–present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| current_members = Johal Premi <br> [[Kuljit Bhamra]] <br> Pali Cheema
}}
'''Premi''' is a [[British Asians|British Asian]] [[Bhangra (music)|bhangra]] band from Southall originally founded by singer/poet Johal Premi in 1981, with toombi player and poet Pali Cheema, with [[Kuljit Bhamra|Kuljit Bhamra MBE]] producing and also on keyboards and percussion.<ref name=":1" /> The band recorded their first album ''Chhammak Jehi Mutiar Da'' in 1983. The group's songs, Tina O Tina, Giddha Pa Nikkiey and Nachdi di Gooth Khulgaye are still enjoyed on some British South Asian wedding dance floors.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Premi |url=https://kedarecords.com/artist/premi/#1487737663838-886b7f01-3bb2 |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=Keda Records |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== History ==
Premi was formed in [[Southall]] in the early 1980s by singer and lyricist Johal Premi, with poet and [[tumbi]] player Pali Cheema also taking part in the group’s beginnings. Their first album, ''Chhamak Jehi Mutiar Da'', came out in 1983 with music arranged by [[Kuljit Bhamra|Kuljit Bhamra]]. Immediately after mixing, Johal Premi took a cassette tape of the songs to show his singer-friend Kumar Heera, who lived nearby (he was setting up [[Heera Group UK|Heera Group]].<ref name=":1" />

Premi's catalogue includes several songs that continue to be played more than three decades later at weddings and community events.<ref name=":1" />

Radio 1 DJ [[John Peel]] saw the band play live at the [[Institute of Contemporary Arts|ICA]] in June 1987, stating that Premi played a "blinder" in particular highlighting the "storm of rhythm" around the [[Dholak|dholak drum]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Peel |first1=John |title=The Olivetti chronicles : three decades of life and music |date=2009 |isbn=9780552157049 |url=https://archive.org/details/olivettichronicl0000peel/page/46/mode/2up?q=%22Premi%22+}}</ref> Later that year in August 1987 the band were invited to record a [[Peel Session]] for broadcast on [[BBC Radio 1]].<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 04/08/1987 Premi |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1980s/1987/Aug04premi/ |website=[[BBC]] |access-date=20 September 2025 |date=4 August 1987}}</ref> Band member Raju cited the recording as his "biggest highlight" while in the group.<ref name="eye">{{cite news |title=A concert not to be missed |work=Eastern Eye |date=25 January 2019|id={{Proquest|2259305028}}}}</ref>

According to ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper, Premi are one of the "most famous" UK bhangra acts, selling significant quantities of records but not attracting mainstream media attention.<ref name="guard">{{cite news |last1=Chaudhary |first1=Vivek |title=The big bhangra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/aug/15/shopping.popandrock |access-date=21 September 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=15 August 2003}}</ref> In 2013 the [[BBC Asian Network]] ran a poll to find the ''50 Greatest Bhangra Anthems''. Premi track "Nachdi Di Gooth Khul Gaye" was listed at number 42.<ref>{{cite web |title=50 Greatest Bhangra Anthems |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5pQQSJB6LRG7CvVNhBNc0gq/50-greatest-bhangra-anthems |website=[[BBC]] |access-date=21 September 2025 |date=2013}}</ref> In an [[Allmusic]] album review the group was called a "pioneer of pop bhangra", and in 2019 the ''[[Eastern Eye]]'' newspaper stated Premi were "Legendary".<ref name="eye"/><ref name="AM10"/>

As of 2019, the band continues to perform. The line-up, although changing over the years, includes original members Jaswinder Singh Matharu and Harmesh Singh Johal.<ref>{{cite news |title=‘Difference in our voices made us gel together’ |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=136452912&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |work=[[Eastern Eye]] |date=17 May 2019}}</ref>

=== Johal Premi solo career ===
Johal Premi gained recognition with songs such as ''“O Tina O Tina”'', which continues to appear on streaming platforms. He has also performed under the name '''Premi Johal''', releasing singles including ''“Tu Meri Sardarni”'' and appearing in radio and video interviews discussing his music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Akshay's Urban Podcast - The legendary Punjabi singer Premi Johal joins Akshay to chat about new track 'Tu Meri Sardarni' produced by Popsy|url=http://sabrasradio.com/player-podcasts/urban-star-interviews-with-akshay/episode/premi-johal1/ |website=sabrasradio |access-date=22 September 2025 |date=1 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bhangra legends Premi on the show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c9gps |website=[[BBC]] |access-date=22 September 2025 |date=22 February 2012}}</ref>

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* Chhammak Jehi Mutiar Da (1983, Not On Label)
* Mein Tere Hogayee (1986, Multitone Records)
* I Love ❤ Premi ~ Nachdi Di Gooth Khulgaye ~ The World Favourite (1987, Multitone Records)
* At The Front Line (1988, Multitone Records)
* World Favourite Premi No. 1 (1988, Multitone Records)
* Strikes Again (1989, Multitone)
* Nalai Manidhan (with Srini) (1989, Nahata)
* Record Breaker (1990, Multitone)
* Around the World (1991, Multitone)
* IndiFuse 1 (with Bindu) (1991, Multitone)
* Dior Da Viyah (1991)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=John Storm |title=Dior Da Viyah Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dior-da-viyah-mw0000934864#review |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref>
* The Super Power (1993, Multitone)
* Let’s Dance (1993, Magik Roundabout)
* Bhangra Ten Years On (1994)<ref name="AM10">{{cite web |last1=St. Pierre |first1=Raissa |title=Bhangra Ten Years On Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bhangra-ten-years-on-mw0000921003#review |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref>
* Julie (1995, Multitone)
* Untitled (1999, Audiorec)
* Bhangra Mania X (date unknown)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{Allmusic}}
* [https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/SADAA/id/5354/ Nachdi Di Gooth Khulgaye, by Premi - LP Sleeve] at [[VADS (organisation)|VADS]]
* [https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/SADAA/id/431/ Chhamak Jehi Mutiar, by Premi - Cassette Sleeve] at [[VADS (organisation)|VADS]]

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Bhangra (music) musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1981]]
[[Category:British Asian musical groups]]

Premi (band) - Revision history

AlizaHyder840: Starting A Article - done