As those really paying attention will know, I first came across Bishi at Bestival, which is as good a place as any for discovering your new favourite artists. She only did a short PA set at the festival - in the Bollywood Bar - but she impressed nevertheless with her quirky mix of bhangra, folk and pop beats, and some mean sitar playing which makes her show as entertaining to watch as listen to, even though her show was just her, the sitar and an amp. Bishi has been building a fanbase throughout 2007, partly by touring with Patrick Wolf and Bat For Lashes, and the love for her in the Bollywood Bar that afternoon showed that some of those fans (including Wolf himself) had made an extra special effort to catch her set. That fanbase has continued to grow since the festival season, not least thanks to the arrival of her self-released debut album 'Nights At The Circus' which offers a brilliantly eclectic mix of tracks - some of which take you down a more bhangra route, others that have a real folky vibe, and others that belong on the dancefloor of any quality pop or disco night. With the album launched just down the road from CMU HQ, with a three night residency at a specially decorated for the occasion Shoreditch Church, we've become even bigger fans of this talented songstress as each week goes by, and are now crossing every finger we own that 2008 really proves to be her year. So get on the bandwagon before this year is out, and get in there before the crowds. And start by tracking down a copy of 'Nights At The Circus' and discovering for yourself why this is one of CMU's albums of the year. We'll be interviewing Bishi shortly and you'll be able to read more at...
http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/albumsoftheyear