Initially formed in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen part of town in the cradle of the new millennium, High Chai’s debut vinyl release in 2000 Make Love Make War: High Chai 12” (w/Linton Qwesi Johnson, State of Bengal) celebrated with a 1000+ attended event in NYC, and was the first US media vehicle for AIDS awareness for South Asia. Co-hosts actor Waris Ahluwalia and dj/voxist DK Bollygirl presented the record release event & AIDS benefit with a stellar NYC who’s who line up of underground heavies including A Guy Called Gerald, MING & FS, Graham Haynes & Sussan Deyhim along with media partners TRACE, XLR8R and Vice. A silent auction showcased art contributions curated by James Fuentes and included pieces from ESPO & Ryan McGinness. Early High Chai label collabs with MING & FS via Madhattan Studios resulted in staple 12” dnb releases with tracks like OmZone ‘s “Tantra” & “Numb” featured by URB’s Raymond Roker (Altered States of Drum & Bass) and garnered 4+ stars in electronic magazines XLR8R and MIXER.

In 2008 HCR continued its bass music epic with genre-bending breaks and dubstep releases. Co-Founder /Label head dimmSummer compiled a slew of chart-topping compilations showcasing an unprecedented combination of global talents such as Asian Dub Foundation, FS, Jahcoozi, Swami, David Starfire, Liquid Stranger, The Nasha Experience and True Tiger, alongside breaking new artists from the UK, India and the US. The first effort, Revolution Rising: ethnotechno.com vol.1, was picked up by music industry juggernaut Universal Music for the Indian territory.

“Brooklyn, make some noiiiiiz”, was the frequently heard AVAAZnyc chant spit monthly at the High Chai residency with dimmSummer and DK Bollygirl on decks. Amidst some of Brooklyn’s finest bass-heavy LIVE and indie-electronic acts, the duo played to a packed crowd of diehards at Public Assembly for 5+ years. Large-scale projections of Bollywood 70s classics were mixed in live while sitars and tablas battled hip hop MCs, junglists and guitar solos that would transport Page back to Kashmir via the Bedford L train. Special guests included dj Spooky, FS, James F!@$%^ Friedman, Time Out NY’s Bruce Tantum, dj Seoul, Riz MC, beat boxer Chesney Snow, Apollo Heights and Das Racist.

Dubstep’s love affair with Eastern sounds is well-documented with monster hits such as Chase & Satus’ Eastern Jam & Shock-One’s Adachigahara’s Theme. dimmSummer quickly recognized the potential of this natural combination, and delivered the follow-up Nu asian soundZ, breaking new ground fueled by the power of bass music. Sky-rocketing to Beatport’s Top 10 Dubstep chart with HCR’s own B.R.E.E.D Remix of Jalebee Cartel’s Mirrors, all 10 tracks dominated the Top 50 in dubstep for January 2010. To cap 2010 off, HCR slammed into the Beatport Dubstep Top Ten again with FS’ Shake Dat Ass (High Chai/ Patriarch Recordings).

SUCcontinentalBASS is the next chapter in that odyssey, culling talent from all over the world with artists like Sabbo (Tel Aviv), Alexis K (New Zealand), Naz (Singapore), Nucleya (New Delhi), Liquid Stranger (Sweden), Rita Morar (UK), Subatomic Sound System (NYC), & FS (Brooklyn), to name a few.