Tigerstyle

Tigerstyle are a bhangra group from Glasgow, Scotland, active since 1997. The group is made up of brothers Amritpal Singh Burmy and Kulraj Singh Burmy, who come from a British Punjabi background. Their music sits within bhangra, and they draw on Punjabi folk traditions as well as Indian classical and popular music.

Background and formation

The brothers are trained in classical tabla, gurmat sangeet and several forms of Punjabi folk music and instrumentation. They grow up in a Sikh family with a traditional upbringing and learn instruments from a young age so they can perform at their local temple. Their early musical background includes Punjabi folk music from the late 1970s and early 1980s, with artists such as Kuldip Manak and Surinder Shinda, alongside Bollywood music.

Tigerstyle begin their music career in 1997 as DJs, when they create Desi Bombsquad Sound System. The project is intended to support and develop the bhangra scene in Scotland, which they feel lags behind the English bhangra scene.

Style and influences

Alongside bhangra and Punjabi traditions, Tigerstyle also list rap, hip hop, R&B and drum and bass among their influences. They cite artists such as Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, and their name comes from the Tiger Style of Shaolin Kung Fu. The name also reflects their Sikh warrior background, including Gatka, and the meaning of Singh as lion.

Record label and releases

Tigerstyle sign to Nachural Records, the label associated with the wider breakthrough of Panjabi MC. At that point they prepare a debut single and debut album for worldwide release.