Raaginder

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | image = Raaginder Image.jpg | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name = aaginder Singh Momi | alias = Violinder <small>(former)</small> | birth_date = November 27, 1992 | birth_place = Bangkok, Thailand | origin = Hayward, California, U.S. | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = {{flatlist| *Hip Hop *Bhangra *Classical * Indian Classical * Pop * Rap }} | occupation = {{flatlist| *Songwriter *Music producer *Violinist *Singer *Composer<ref>{{cite web |last1=Janiak |first1=Lily |title=Too many parts in 'The Parting' |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/performance/article/Too-many-parts-in-The-Parting-12512733.php#photo-14913329 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=SF Chronicle |access-date=4 August 2021}}</ref> }} | instrument = Violin · Vocalist · Producer | years_active = 2011–present | label = Dream Oasis · Universal India | website = {{URL|raaginder.com/}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''Raaginder Singh Momi''' (/ɹɔɚɡdɝ/; born November 27, 1992), better known by his stage name '''raaginder''', is a Union City, California–based violinist, music producer and songwriter of Punjabi descent. His professional music career began in 2011 when he released his first mixtape ''Take One...'' on December 11, 2011, following up with his debut studio album ''Beach Chair'' on October 29, 2014, and later his first EP, ''escape'' released December 28, 2017.

==Early life and career==

Born into a musical family, Raaginder's father being a professional sitar player and his mother being a vocalist,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Radio|first1=Vinyasoul|title=Vinyasoul Interview Sessions: Raaginder|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqlhy2TIPSM|via=YouTube|publisher=Vinyasoul Radio|access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref> Raaginder was exposed to different types of music.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kaurista|first1=Miz|title=THEY CALL ME VIOLINDER|url=http://www.kaurista.com/2011/12/14/they-call-me-violinder/|website=kaurista.com/|publisher=kaurista.com|access-date=April 17, 2016}}</ref> He first started playing violin when he was 11 years old. Later in 2004, he became a disciple of a renowned Indian classical artist, Sisirkana Dhar Chowdhury after his father found an ad of her in India Currents Magazine and discovered she was teaching in Fremont, California, becoming Chowdhury's pupil, Raaginder has been under her guidance ever since. Being exposed to different types of music, Raaginder has experimented and tried playing different genres of music such as Hip-Hop, Punjabi, Indian classical and more. After high school, Raaginder began producing beats and infusing genres to create his sound. Doing covers, he would post his covers to download sites like MediaFire until encouraged to post on YouTube. He cites YouTube as helping to jump start his career.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Des1 Media|first1=Product of Culture|title=1Des Media: Raaginder Interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXuTVhWU6as|via=YouTube|access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref>

Raaginder has also played the United States national anthem for the Los Angeles Clippers<ref>{{cite web|title=Next up at #ActToChange is our final performer @violinder|url=https://twitter.com/WhiteHouseAAPI/status/668205472642695168|publisher=Twitter|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=October 2019}}<ref>{{cite web|title=WATCH @raaginder played national anthem to 19,000 at @LAClippers game + TV viewers. Sikh Awareness Month|url=https://twitter.com/sikh_coalition/status/796820060862054400|publisher=Twitter|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=October 2019}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Clippers Host Second Annual Sikh Awareness Basketball Game|url=http://www.india.com/lifestyle/los-angeles-clippers-host-second-annual-sikh-awareness-basketball-game-716846/|website=sikhnet.com|publisher=India|access-date=April 17, 2016}}</ref> and played at the White House on numerous occasions.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pancholy|first1=Malik|title=Engaging Artists, Community Leaders, and Youth to #ActToChange Against Bullying in Los Angeles|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/12/04/engaging-artists-community-leaders-and-youth-acttochange-against-bullying-los|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=White House Performance(Excerpt)- Raaginder "Violinder"- Raag Bhairavi|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD1RZxkApF8|via=YouTube|access-date=April 17, 2016}}</ref> In the wake of the 2016 elections, Raaginder also stated his opinion on the outcome.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ding|first1=Kevin|title=Not Easy for NBA Players to Focus on the Game in Wake of Stunning Election|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2675233-nba-players-trying-to-find-and-offer-escape-from-election-through-their-work|website=bleacherreport.com|publisher=Bleacher Report|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref>

==Music== In an interview with NBC News<ref>{{cite web|title=From Classical Music to 'Hotline Bling,' Meet the Sikh American Violinist Creating 'Universal Music'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/classical-music-hotline-bling-meet-sikh-american-violinist-creating-universal-n672696|website=NBC NEWS|publisher=NBC NEWS|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Asia, Raaginder stated about his musical sound, "Music can be interpreted in any way. I try to make music that's universal to every aspect ...the one obvious message is my identity. I want my identity to be known with my music. This turban and beard, I feel like, is a big part of why I am where I am today. So even though I'll do a 'Hotline Bling' cover, the fact that there's aspects of the music that are foreign and even the aspects of me – the way I look – I think that makes a difference because it's something people haven't seen, and it's something people need to see."

In an interview with ''Brown Girl Magazine'', Raaginder stated; "the neighborhood I lived in and the school I went to was primarily Latino and Black. Due to that, the first genre of music I was drawn to when I moved to America was hip-hop. Hip-Hop was the gateway for me to be relatable to the other students. Everyone around the school knew all of the hits word for word and I started picking it up as well. I know it was a shock to many kids around me that a little-turbaned boy from Asia listened to rap on the regular. Around the same time, I had started to learn the violin (in the classical and Indian classical tradition). Although Indian classical violin was completely left field from hip-hop, they both instilled resiliency and confidence in me which allowed me to defend myself and be comfortable in my own skin. What started as a tool to connect with others, ended up becoming my identity over the years. It got to the point where a couple of my friends started calling me “Violinder.”<ref>{{cite web |title=How Raaginder 'Violinder' Overcame Adversity to March to the Tune of his Own Violin |url=https://browngirlmagazine.com/2018/08/how-raaginder-violinder-overcame-adversity-to-march-to-the-tune-of-his-own-violin/ |website=browngirlmagazine.com |publisher=Brown Girl Magazine |access-date=11 March 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life== In 2014 Raaginder's mother died from cancer. He sites her as his main inspiration for actively pursuing music.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Mae|title=Maed in India|url=https://podtail.com/podcast/maed-in-india/ep-94-feat-raaginder/|website=podtail.com|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref> The song "Raindrops" from his studio album Beach Chair was dedicated in her honor. Raaginder is also the eldest of two children.

Raaginder also studied at the California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in world music performance.<ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=http://raaginder.com/about|website=raaginder.com|publisher=raaginder|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums===

* ''Letters From the Other Side'' (2022) * ''Moment in Time'' (2020) * ''Beach Chair'' (2014)

===EPs=== * ''Voyage'' (2024) * Awakening (2024) * You Thought (2023) * ''escape'' (2017)

===Mixtapes===

*''Take One...'' (2011)

===Singles===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Promotional and Album Singles ! Year ! Title !Featured Artists / Producer ! Album / EP |- |2026 |douluvme | |be:coming |- |2025 |Barsa |Anik Khan, HYDR, Surtaal Singh | |- |2025 |Astounding |Ro Hardy | |- |2023 |Gone Soon | | |- |2023 |While I'm Alive |uncertainT | |- |2022 |Chasing Sunsets |Gurtêj | |- |2021 |Departure | | |- |2020 |Petals |The Lost Strings | |- | 2014 | ''Dhlona Ve'' (Feat. Tina Mann) | | rowspan="3" | Beach Chair |- | 2014 | ''Raindrops'' | |- | 2014 | ''Bonfire/Coastin''' (Feat. Sodhivine & KinG!)<ref>{{cite web|title=Raginder "Violinder" feat. Sodhivine & KinG! – Bonfire/Coastin'|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/regional/others/Raginder-Violinder-feat-Sodhivine-KinG-Bonfire/Coastin/videoshow/45072188.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=April 17, 2016}}</ref> | |- | 2017 | ''Mind Right'' | | rowspan="2" | escape |- | 2018 | ''Mirage'' (Feat. Dalbir Singh) | |}

===Features & Remixes===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ ! Year ! Title ! Album |- | 2013 | Naiem – ''Henna Girl'' (Feat. Raaginder) |- | 2013 | Marcus Orelias – ''Katie's Requiem'' (Feat. Vinnie Anastasia & Raaginder) [prod. by Felly] | ''Rebel of the Underground'' |- | 2014 | Tanu Arora – ''Mahi Ve (Cover)'' (Feat. Raaginder) |- | 2014 | ''Blossoms Interlude'' (Feat. Raaginder) |- | 2015 | ''Echoes'' (Feat. Raaginder) |- | 2015 | ''Bliss'' (Feat. Penn Masala, Kavita Seth & Raaginder) |- | 2015 | ''Lean On / Jind Mahi (Mashup)'' (Feat. Ricky Jatt, Raashi Kulkarni & Raaginder) |- | 2015 | ''PARLOQUE x TOMFW'' (Feat. Raaginder) |- | 2015 | ''Mud Aaja (Come Back)'' (Feat. Violinder) |- | 2016 | Fateh – ''100 Bande'' (Feat. Raaginder) | ''Bring It Home'' |}

===Music videos===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ As Main Artist and Featured ! Year ! Title ! Album |- | 2014 | ''Dholna Ve'' (Feat. Tina Mann) | rowspan="3" | Beach Chair |- | 2014 | ''Raindrops'' |- | 2014 | ''Bonfire/Coastin''' (Feat. Sodhivine & KinG!) |- | 2016 | ''100 Bande'' (Feat. Raaginder) | Fateh – ''Bring It Home'' |- | 2017 | ''Mind Right'' | rowspan="2" | escape |- | 2018 | ''Mirage'' (Feat. Dalbir Singh) |- | 2019 | ''Butterflies'' | Single |- | 2019 | ''Inferno'' | Single |- | 2019 | ''Summer Nights'' (Feat. Wisechild) | Single |- | 2020 | ''Echoes'' | Single |- | 2020 | ''Fade Away'' | Single |- | 2022 | ''Nobody'' (Feat. Sodhivine) | rowspan="2" | Letters From The Other Side |- |}

===Voice Over===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ ! Year ! Title ! Role |- | 2017 | ''20s A Difficult Age''<ref>{{cite web |title=Marcus Orelias – 20s A Difficult Age Credits |url=https://www.discogs.com/Marcus-Orelias-20s-A-Difficult-Age/release/10759625 |website=Discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref> | rowspan="3" | Citizen <small>(uncredited)</small> |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.raaginder.com www.raaginder.com]

Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Bangkok Category:1992 births Category:21st-century Thai musicians