Indo-Canadian Composer Mixes It Up At ReelWorld & CBC

On the heels of a dozen artists showcased at this year’s Canadian Music Week, all of whom were produced by Vikas Kohli, this homegrown composer is having another great month. Known for his expertise fusing musical genres, Kohli will now have his talents showcased at the ReelWorld Film Festival, CBC and Showtime.

Bollywood music fans will get to hear his title track "Dil Yeh" for the film Shanti Baba Ram and the Dancers of Hope, set to screen at this year’s ReelWorld Film Festival running April 7th-11th 2010. Rock music fans at ReelWorld will get to hear "Inside", the music video and first single from jsin’s debut album Born, which was produced by Kohli at his studio Fatlabs.

The Reelworld Film Festival, which prides itself on showcasing diversity, is certainly highlighting the diversity of composer Vikas Kohli, drawing attention to his work as a film composer and his work with artists of every musical genre. "Having my work in genres as far apart as hard rock and Bollywood pop both showcased at ReelWorld is a testimony to how the festival is a platform for all cultures," says Vikas Kohli, music producer of FatLabs.

Kohli produced "Dil Yeh", which is an upbeat Hindi pop tune for the Canadian Film Centre’s Shanti Baba Ram and the Dancers of Hope. The film is about a jaded food photographer who fights to save his relationship after his idealistic girlfriend invites a charismatic charity leader and nine dancing slum children into their apartment. Directed by Steven Rosenberg and produced by Heidi Tao Yang the film has screened at the Montreal Film Festival, Atlantic Film Festival and has recently been picked up by CBC as well as Showtime. The film will air on CBC beginning April 11th.

Kohli also produced and co-wrote rock artist jsin’s debut album Born, of which the first single and music video is the song "Inside". jsin was featured at this year’s Canadian Music Week, playing to a sold-out house at Revival. "Born sounds like Trent Reznor from NIN and Thom Yorke from Radiohead after drinking a bottle of Night Train," comments Kohli in front of a backdrop of guitars and Indian tablas at his FatLabs studio.

About ReelWorld

This year will mark the 10th anniversary of the ReelWorld Film Festival, a five day festival that screens features, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos from Aboriginal, Asian, Black, Latino, Middle Eastern, South Asian and other communities. This unique Canadian based film festival aims to truly reflect the racially diverse cultures of the World around us.

About Vikas Kohli

Now a sought-after music producer, Kohli is well versed in music across a variety of genres from punk, jazz, and hip-hop, to country, metal, and Bollywood pop. Kohli has been profiled on CBC, The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Star, The Hindustan Times, MSN, AOL, Yahoo, Zee News and is known internationally for his extensive repertoire, and his expertise at fusing musical genres. His accolades include: Composing for the major motion Bollywood film Mission Istaanbul and upcoming Bollywood film Tom, Dick and Harry Rock Again; Producing multi-million album selling Bhangra artist Mika Singh; Producing The Responsibles’ punk album The FatLabs Sessions, which charted in the top 20 across Canada (!earshot charts); and collaborations with Cappadonna (Wu-Tang Clan), Moka Only, Deva Bratt and Justin Nozuka.

Born in Nepean (Ottawa), Kohli started playing guitar and studying painting at fine arts school. Kohli received his Honors Degree in Mathematics & Philosophy from the University of Toronto, his MBA from the Schulich School of Business and his CFA. Kohli now lives in Mississauga, Canada where he runs FatLabs.

For more information and Kohli’s music portfolio, please visit www.fatlabs.com.