IT’S a ‘bedroom operation’ for now – but 2012 could be a break out year for producer Uzi and singer Harpreet.
The Huddersfield duo have been working together for years with Birkby-based Uzi providing the beats for Salendine Nook’s Harpreet’s vocals.
Now they have hooked up with Leeds-based singer/guitarist, Ashwin Thomas, for a new urban collaboration that has been attracting interest on the internet.
Harpreet, 21, said: “I came across Ashwin in Leeds at an open mic thing at the Dry Dock.
“I was really impressed and I rang Uzi straight away and said ‘this guy is unbelievable we need to get him on a track’.
“I brought him down and made the connection and we just took it from there.”
The three young artists recorded a track called Ima Do Me.
They were so proud of it that they decided to film a video in a bid to show the world their talent.
The video, filmed at Otley Chevin by Usman Mir, was uploaded to YouTube and has had more than 3,000 hits, 200 downloads and has attracted interest from Leeds-based Fever FM radio station, who invited the trio in for a live interview.
“It’s probably our biggest hit to date,” said Harpreet.
“We’re trying to spread the word and we’re going to try and book some gigs in the New Year.
“But it’s quite hard in Huddersfield, so I think we’re probably going to look more towards Leeds.”
Harpreet said interest in the collaboration had given her the confidence to try and step up her live performing and build up some experience.
She said: “It’s always been a hobby since I was little, I’ve never taken singing seriously before, it was just something I loved doing.
“But recently I thought why not just live it a little and see how it goes, so I spoke to Uzi and said I wanted to do a mixtape.
“Once we got doing it we got people recognising us a little bit.
“I want to push this latest track a bit further and we’ve got another project which should be out early January.”
Uzi said along with producing Huddersfield musicians he was starting to work with recognised artists both home and abroad, including Luton based hip-hop artist Raxstar.
He said: “I started out when I was 13 and I think when I was about 16 or 17 people started to notice that I was good.