Bangladeshi born producer and DJ Sam Zaman has died of cardiac arrest.
He was 50.
Zaman was the frontman of the iconic British-Asian band State of Bengal.
To fans and colleagues alike he was known for big laugh and big heart.
The music he created was far bigger than all that.
Its far-reaching influence is heard in American hip-hop to Bollywood songs.
His most successful track IC 408, which begins with an Indian Airlines flight announcement (sampled from a Hindi film soundtrack), went on to become a hugely successful anthem.
It sold widely and played incessantly across venues around the world.
IC 408 was at the very heart of a paradigmatic cultural shift in the UK of the mid-’90s.
It signaled the confidence of a young, vibrant, politically-engaged community of Asian-origin artists who adroitly, and justly, claimed a British-ness through their mixed heritage and the art, literature, and music they created.
They celebrated their Asian flavours but rejected the hackneyed exoticisation of their art and identity.
They staked a global claim through a bold, new musical idiom. Sam Zaman, a pioneer and instigator, was at the very epicentre of this change stationed at the seminal club Anokha, in London’s East End, fronted by Talvin Singh and managed, promoted by Sweety Kapoor.
IC 408 was the anthem of Anokha and the music style that came to be known as Asian Underground, taking its title from the seminal album.
Sam Zaman’s tunes and DJing style caught the attention of Björk, who frequented the club, which had become a rage by then.
The bond they formed resulted in a friendship, a remix track, and a live tour. He also signed on to her iconic record label One Little Indian.
Several other musicians forged creative bonds with Zaman, including Massive Attack, Tricky, Ronnie Jordan, Cheb i Sabbah, to name a few.
A memorable live collaboration with Afrika Bambaata in Anokha harked to Zaman’s own ethic and background (and record collection).
Zaman was born in Karachi and spent part of his childhood in Turkey, Jordan and Bangladesh.
He influenced a wide range of people, mentored many successful rappers and musicians, including his brother Deedar, former rapper of the band Asian Dub Foundation.
His sound opened the doors for countless others. That will remain an important element of his legacy: it was not all about him – it was as much about those around him.
His best tunes came from his heart; it was there that he held them.
Sam Zaman is survived by his young son Sage.