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Chardi Kala

by Sonny Singh

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1.
Aisee Preet 03:45
man meh sincho har har naam anadhin kirtan har gun gaam aisee preet karo man mere aat pahair prabh jaano nere kahu nanak ja ke niramal bhaag har charanee taa kaa man laag English translation by Valarie Kaur & Nirinjan Kaur: Water your mind with the name of the beloved. Night and day, sing songs of the beloved’s wonders. Love like this, oh my mind and heart! Eight watches of the day, know the divine is near. Says Nanak, those whose destiny is bright, their mind and heart hold fast to the feet of the beloved!
2.
Chardi Kala 03:34
Chardi kala vich rehnde, chardi kala vich rehnde Bolay so nihaal, sat sri akaal Nanak naam chardi kala tere bhane sarbat da bhala English translation: Live in eternal optimism, with ever-rising spirits Shout aloud in ecstasy, true is the great timeless One Nanak, with Naam (Name) comes eternal optimism, and with your blessings, peace and well-being for everyone
3.
Baaghi hai naam apna I landed here from punjab Coolie pukaarda jag saanu No real home but inquilab Ghadar machao baaghi, ghadar machao! Baaghi hai naam apna Sembrando la semilla El suelo esta temblando La tierra es libertad English translation: My name is rebel I landed here from Punjab In foreign lands they call me "coolie" No real home by revolution Create tumult, rebel, create tumult! My name is rebel Planting the seed The ground is shaking Land is liberty
4.
Uth Farida suteya duniya dekhan ja Shayad koi mil je bakhsheya tu vi bakhsheya ja Dekh Farida jothiya daarhi hoi bhoor Agga nerre aaya pichha reh gaya door Turiya turiya ja Farida, turiya turiya ja Uth Farida sutteya jhaarru de maseet Tu sutta rab jaagda teri dhade naal pareet Uth Farida uzoo saj subeh nivaaz guzaar Jo sir saayin na nivay so sir kapp utaar Turiya turiya ja tu dil vich valna la Ik val painda takle phir sau sau val peh kha Turiya turiya ja tu dil vich valna la English translation (by Simran Jeet Singh): Get up sleeping Farid and go check out the world Perhaps you'll meet a blessed one and you will also become blessed Look, Farid, at what has passed, your beard has become grey. The future has come near and the past is far behind you. Go and wander Farid, go and wander Get up from sleeping, Farid, and broom the mosque. You're sleeping while God is awake, your beloved will awaken your fortune O Farid, wake up and do wudu. sing your namaz in the morning The head that doesn't bow (in prayer) deserves to be cut off.
5.
Mitar pyare nu haal muridhaa dhaa kehinaa Tudh bin rog rajaeea dha oudtan, naag nivasa dhe rehina Sool surahi khanjar piala bing kasaeea dhaa sehinaa Yaararrae dhaa sanu sathhar changa bhat khaerriaa dha rehina English translation (by Harinder Singh): Go tell the Beloved Friend the condition of us disciples. Without You: using a comforter is like being ill, living in the house is like being with snakes. The flask is like a spike, the cup is like a dagger, the separation-pang feels like the butcher’s knife. The Friend’s earth-bed is most pleasing to us; without You, comforting the village-body is like living in the kiln.
6.
Duniya 04:11
Duniya hushiyar bedhaar Jaagat museeat hau re bhaiee Nigam hushiyar peharooaa dhekhat jam le jaiee Neemb bhio aamb aamb bhio neemba kelaa paakaa jhaar Nalayar fal sebar paakaa moorakh mugadh gavaar | Har bhio khaand ret meh bikhreho hasti chunio na jaiee keh kameer kul jaat paat taj cheetee hoi chun khaiee English translation: People of the world, remain awake and aware. Even though you are awake, you are being robbed, oh siblings of destiny. While the vedas stand guard watching, the messenger of death carries you away. You think that the bitter nimm fruit is a mango, and the mango is a better nimm. You imagine the ripe banana on the thorny bush. You think the ripe coconut hangs on the barren simmal tree, what an idiotic fool you are! The omnipresent Divine is like sugar spilled onto the sand ; the elephant can't pick it up. Says Kabir, give up your ancestry, social status and honor; be like the tiny ant -- pick up and eat the sugar
7.
thir ghar baiso har jan piare satigur tumare kaaj savaare dust doot parmesar maare jan ki paij rakhi karataare baadisaah saah sabh vas kar deene amrit naam mahaa ras peene nirabhao hoi bhajahu bhagavan sadhsangat mil keeno dhaan saran pare prabh antarjami nanak ot pakari prabh swaami Those beloved people of the omnipresent Divine, make this thought stable in your heart/mind: the true Guru will take care of all of your affairs. The Divine has killed all your enemies and protects your honor. The people are sovereign, not under the rule of any shahs or emperors. They drink the most Divine tasting nectar. Fearlessly sing the praises of the Divine by being a part of the true beloved community. Nanak has entered the sanctuary of the Divine, the Inner-seeker, the searcher of hearts and grasps that support.
8.
Koi Bol Ram 03:14
koi bolai raam raam koi khudhaae koi sevai gusaeea koi alaahi kaaran karan kareem kirpaa dhhaar raheem English translation of full shabad (adapted by Simran Jeet Singh) Some say 'Ram, Ram', and some say 'Khudaa.' Some serve the Divine as Gusain; others as Allah. The cause of causes is the compassionate Divine, who showers us with grace and kindness. Some bathe at pilgrimage sites, and some make the trek to Mecca. Some worship with pooja, and some bow their heads in prayer. Some read the Vedas, and some the Qur'an. Some wear blue robes, and some wear white. Some are identified as Turk, and some as Hindu. Some yearn for paradise, and others long for heaven. Says Nanak, one who recognizes the Divine Order (hukam) knows the secrets of their Divine Master.
9.
Sanu ik pal chain na aave Sajana tere bina Sada kaliya ji naiyo lagana Sajana tere bina English translation: I cannot find one moment of peace without you, my Beloved
10.
Rebel 02:46
jo koi pooche ke kaun ho tum to kah do baaghi hai naam apna zulm mitaana hamaara pesha ghadar ka karna hai kaam apna yahi hamaari paath pooja bhi sach yahi hai dharam karam sach yahi hai yaaro vahi khuda bhi o ram apna English translation (by Ali Mir): if they ask you who you are tell them that your name is Rebel that your occupation is to wipe out tyranny that your work is to create ghadar (tumult) that this is your namaaz and your sandhya that this is the way you worship that this is your only true religion that this is your khuda, that this is your ram
11.
Rahao 01:36

about

Chardi Kala is the Sikh concept of revolutionary eternal optimism. Even in the toughest of times, Sikhs have spiritual and political obligation to remain in high spirits. This album is a reminder that hope, love, and devotion are crucial to our struggles and our collective survival. Chardi Kala is a musical autobiography, but isn’t specifically about Sonny Singh at all—it’s about what inspires and grounds us in the darkest of times.

Many of the lyrics on this album come from Gurbani (Sikh devotional poetry) and Sufi poetry set to Sonny's original music. While these words were mostly written in the 16th and 17th Centuries, their message of denouncing tyranny, oppression, and dogmatic ideologies, while uplifting oneness and justice resonates deeply today.

credits

released May 13, 2022

Produced by Wil-Dog Abers
Mixed by Patrick Avalon (except tracks 8 & 11 mixed by Wil-Dog Abers)
Mastered by Justin Weis
Assistant engineer - Warren Huang
Cover art painting by Eran Prager
Special thanks to the generous support of Paul Kandhari, Santosh Ravi Rao, and all 239 Kickstarter backers.

Sonny Singh - vocals, trumpet, dhol (tracks 8 & 10), harmonium (tracks 1 & 6)
Wil-Dog Abers - bass, guitar (tracks 4 & 8)
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar (tracks 1-3, 6, 7, 9-11)
Nadav Peled - guitar (tracks 5 & 7)
Michael Dwan Singh - sarangi (track 1)
Dominic Johnson - violin (tracks 2 & 6)
Jake Leckie - acoustic bass (tracks 2 & 6)
Carey Frank - keyboard (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8 & 9)
Anantvir Singh - harmonium (tracks 4, 5, 8, & 9)
Ernest Stuart - trombone (tracks 1 & 8)
Miwi La Lupa - bass trumpet (track 10)
Daro Behroozi - bass clarinet (track 3), tenor saxophone (track 10)
Warren Huang - tenor saxophone (tracks 2 & 8)
Estevan Sanchez - sousaphone (track 8)
Mario Calire - drumset (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8, 10)
Dave Sharma - drumset (tracks 1 & 3), dholki & percussion (tracks 1, 3 & 10), mandolin (track 1)
Neelamjit Dhillon - tabla & kanjira (tracks 2, 4, 5, & 9), alto saxophone (tracks 2, 4, 5, & 8)
Justin Poreé - drums & percussion (track 7)
Ganavya - vocals (tracks 2 & 9)
Roopa Mahadevan - vocals (track 6)
Ria Modak - backing vocals (tracks 4, 6 & 8)
Basim Usmani - backing vocals (tracks 8 & 9)
Ashni Davé - backing vocals (track 8)
Ali Mir - poetry vocals (track 10)
Sham-e-Ali Nayeem - poetry vocals (track 10)

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Sonny Singh Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn-based Sonny Singh has launched a solo project of boundary-defying Punjabi anthems to uplift & ignite. For the last decade, Sonny has brought his fiery trumpet & vocals to audiences around the world as an original member of the bhangra brass band Red Baraat. His debut solo album, CHARDI KALA, came out in May 2022. ... more

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