# Suns of Arqa

Suns of Arqa are a world music collective founded in 1979 by Michael Wadada. Since the group's formation, over 200 people from around the world have played and recorded with them, and in many cases these were like-minded musicians Wadada met as he travelled the world. Pioneers of World Beat, Ambient, Downtempo and Electro-Dub, Suns of Arqa draw inspiration from around the world, interpreting indigenous, tribal and classical folk traditions. They have created an impressive legacy and earned worldwide recognition.

## Early days

Suns of Arqa started out in the World Music scene in 1979, recording their debut album Revenge of the Mozabites which was produced by Adrian Sherwood, who later became known for On-U Sound Records. In 1982, they were invited to play at the first WOMAD Festival by Peter Gabriel. They performed with Prince Far-I at Band on the Wall, his last concert before his death in 1983. Since then, they have gone on to work with a variety of musicians and performers, such as John Cooper Clarke, Professor Stanley Unwin, flautist Tim Wheater, Adrian Sherwood, singer Helen Watson and a great many others.

## The 1990s and beyond

In the early 1990s, Wadada started his own Arka Sound label, and started re-issuing the group's older vinyl albums on new compilation CDs. One of these, Land of a Thousand Churches, was a compilation featuring collaborations with artists such as James Young, Helen Watson and Feso Trombone. His combination of Hindu and Celtic traditions at a musical level became a trademark that ultimately became identifiable as his musical style. A few years later, Suns of Arqa worked with artists such as 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, John Leckie, Zion Train, Muslimgauze, Youth and Astralasia. The results were a fusion of dub, drum and bass, and the existing styles which Suns of Arqa were associated with.

## Live

Throughout their career Suns of Arqa have played at various major music festivals, including the Glastonbury Festival, Phoenix Festival and the first WOMAD Festival. By the mid 1990s, the Suns of Arqa live setup added Scottish bagpipes, Indian strings, reggae percussion, and a variety of other instruments and sounds. They have released three live albums to date, Musical Revue (later reissued as Live with Prince Far I), Animan, and Big and Live.

## Media

NME have described Suns of Arqa albums as "definitely the most unusual records of all time", and added that "Some might call it 'genius'; most will just settle for the word 'insane'. Either way, the result is fascinating", while East West Journal (USA) have said "I'm not at all certain how this band manages to so cohesively merge rhythms no other group in the world has dared to mix, I only know that their music is reverent, humorous, profound, disorientating, terrifying and fantastic all at the same time.". Rick Anderson of AllMusic wrote that "Many bands claim to deal in global fusion music, but few have as firm a claim on the genre as the Suns of Arqa ... Big & Live documents several recent live performances and shows Wadada and his cohorts in top form, delivering everything from Celtic-reggae fusion 'Om Kaaraaya' ... to Asian meditational sounds ... and sounds in between, such as 'Majhi Ra', which adds the keening tones of the shenai to the Celtic-reggae mix. There are fine vocal performances by Angel Eye, Reba Bhaduri and Cat Von Trapp ... some listeners will find this music immediately delightful, while other will probably be mostly puzzled."

## Suns of Arqa musicians and collaborators

* Michael Wadada (founder, creator of Suns of Arqa since 1979)
* Angel Eye (since 1989)
* Sanyogita Kumari (since 1987)
* Johar Ali Khan (since 1992)
* Kadir Durvesh (1987–2000)
* Gagarin (since 1987)
* John Snelson (1992–1999)
* Marek Miczyk (1982–1999)
* John Perkins (1987–1994)
* Prince Far I (1982–1983)
* Marcel King (1987)
* Graham Massey (1987–1990)
* Raghunath Seth (1992–2010)
* Youth (since 1992)
* A Guy Called Gerald (1994)
* John Leckie (since 1999)
* Alex Paterson (since 2000)
* Greg Hunter (since 1992)
* John Cooper Clarke (1987–2004)
* Roland Beelen (since 1983)
* Adrian Sherwood (1979–1980)
* Style Scott (1980)
* Chris Joyce (1982–1992)
* Prince Hammer (1982–1987)
* Keshav Sathe (1982–1987)
* Helen Watson (1982–1987)
* Kenny Margolis (1983–1985)
* Professor Stanley Unwin (1985–1987)
* Steve Hopkins (1987)
* James Young (1987)
* Roly Wynne (1994–1995)
* Bryn Jones (1996)
* Damon Reece (2003)
* Philippe Falliex (2007)
* Skip McDonald (2011)
* Delroy 'Sticksman' Walker (since 1992)
* Shaun Davis (since 2001)
* Brian Hyphen (since 2015)
* DJ Guapo (2005–2009)
* Kuba (since 2017)
* Tim Wheater (since 1989)
* Wayne Worm (1982–1994)
* Eric Random (1984–1988)
* Ian Green (1979-1980)
* Moot Beret (1980–1987)
* Mark Stone (1980)
* Tony Sullivan (1980)
* Anton Behrendt (1982)
* Big Red (1982–1983)
* Chris Gill (1982)
* Marie Louise Jackson (1982)
* Brian Jones (1982)
* Mustaphafakir (1982–1983)
* Danny Sheals (1982–1987)
* John 'JJ' Slater (1982-1983)
* Snuff (1982)
* Spliff (1982–1983)
* Tony Trundel (1982)
* Aziz Zeria (1982–1985)
* Kalu Zeria (1982–1995)
* Papu Zeria (1982–1983)
* Steve Cyclepath (1983)
* The Legendary Leperds (1983)
* Keith 'Lizard' Logan (1983–1987)
* John Scott (1983–1985)
* Amar Singh (1983)
* Doctor Himadri Chaudhuri (1984–1985)
* Doreen Edwards (1984–1985)
* Madastra (1984)
* Vocal Harders (1985)
* Martin Harrison (1985)
* Stalwart (1985–1987)
* Feso Trombone (1985)
* Kwasi Asante (1987–1994)
* Daniel Broad (1987)
* Kendal Ernest (1987)
* Khalid (1987)
* Paula McKennol (1987)
* Denyse MacNamara (1987)
* Phil Mullen (1987)
* Cliff Stapleton (1987)
* Sarah Wildwitch (1987)
* Colin Wood (1987)
* Country Culture (1988)
* Country Rankin (1988–1996)
* Clare 'Ireti' Durrant (1989–1996)
* Nicolas Magriel (since 1989)
* Hassan Makki (1989)
* Sandeep Popatkar (1989–1994)
* Phil Kirby (1991–1992)
* Reba Bhaduri (1992–1995)
* Sumit Bhaduri (1992)
* Sam McGrady (1992)
* Dhevdhas Nair (1992–1994)
* Wizard (1993–1996)
* Quentin Budworth (1994-1996)
* Garbi Armii (1995–2003)
* Alex Fiennes (1995–1996)
* Srirangam S Kannan (1995)
* Rick 'The Switch' Turner (1995)
* Alan DeCampos (1996–1997)
* Lamin Jassey (1996)
* Allan Martin (1996)
* Abu Mustafa (1996)
* Thierry 'Lion Man' Negro (1996)
* Eric Trochu (1996)
* Cod (1999)
* Arif Durvesh (1999)
* Gayan Uttejak Orchestra (1999–2003)
* Laszlo Hortobagyi (1999–2001)
* Shahbaz Hussain (1999–2002)
* RJ Simms (1999)
* Becky Spellar (1999)
* Cat Von Trapp (1999)
* Clive Wills (1999–2013)
* Lyne Okey (2001)
* Geshela Ngaqang Sherap (2001)
* Agnieszka Jablonska (2003)
* Kasha (2003)
* Khaya (2003)
* Joe McGill (2003)
* Gita Sparkle (2005)
* Michael Ormiston (2009)
* Candida Valentino (2009)
* David Hendry (2011)
* Maren Lueg (2011)
* Chas Whitaker (2011)
* Steve York (2011)
* Alan McLeod (2018–2019)

## Discography
### Albums

| Title | Format | Released | Record label | Catalogue No | Additional notes |
| Revenge of the Mozabites | LP | 1979 | Rocksteady Records | MICKL01 | |
| Wadada Magic (Vol III) | LP | 1983 | Antler Subway | ANTLER 024 | |
| India? (Vol IV) | LP | 1984 | Rocksteady Records | 1 GIL | |
| Ark of the Arqans (Vol 5) | LP | 1985 | Scarface | MFACE11 | |
| Seven | LP | 1987 | Rocksteady Records | ARKA 7 | |
| The Musical Revue | MC | 1988 | ROIR Europe | A-161 | 1982 live concert featuring Prince Far I |
| White Band Speak With Forked Tongue | MC | 1989 | Bop Cassettes | BIP 403 | |
| Jaggernaut | LP | 1989 | Antler/Subway | ANT 104 | |
| Alap-Joe-Jhala | LP/CD/MC | 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2102 CD | 13-track album |
| Kokoromochi | LP/CD/MC | Feb 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2104 CD | 6-track album, includes 'Kalashree' and 'Vairabi' from 'India?', and 'Sanskrit Hymn' from 'Ark of the Arqans'. LP version does not include the two 'India?' tracks. |
| Shabda | CD | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2109 CD | 14-track album |
| Animan | CD | 1996 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2110 CD | 11-track live album |
| SOA meet Gâyan Uttejak Orchestra | CD | 1999 | Arqa Sound | ARKA CD 22113 | 8-track album |
| Cosmic Jugalbandi | CD | 1999 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22115 | 12-track album |
| Un1verse City | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound/EMI | 7243 5 34968 2 1 | 8-track album |
| Magiczna Miłość | CD | 2003 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33124 | 11-track album, including 3 tracks from 'Wadada Magic' ('Brujo Magic', 'Steppin to the Music', 'The Step'), sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville |
| Hallucinasia | CD | Nov 2005 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33125 | 12-track album, sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville |
| Big and Live | CD | Feb 2006 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33129 | 12-track live album, including 3 remixes based on tracks from 'Musical Revue', sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville |
| Scared Sacred | CD | 2009 | Dragonfly Records | BFLCD90 | 7-track album |
| Know Thyself | CD | 2010 | Interchill Records | ICHILL CD 040 | 4-track album |
| Stranger Music | CD/DVD | Apr 2011 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33137 | 15-track album packaged with 12-track Live DVD |
| All Is Not Lost, But Where Is It ? | CD | Mar 2015 | Liquid Sound Design | LSD91CD | 7-track album |
| Wadada | CD | 26 February 2016 | Tracks & Traces | Footprint 201502 | 11-track album including remixes |
| Spiritual Sanity in an Insane Society | Digital | 11 April 2016 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33139 | 18-track album including new tracks, new Brian Hyphen remix, and older rarities |
| 23,789 Day Excursion To Planet Earth | Digital | 18 November 2016 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33141 | 15-track album including new tracks, older rarities, and remixes by Adrian Sherwood, Brian Hyphen, Astralasia and others |
| The Space Mountain Sessions | Digital | 13 December 2017 | Arka Sound | | 6-track album including live recordings from Space Mountain Festival, and remixes by Kuba |
| Pressure Drop - A Tribute to Lizard Logan | Digital | 11 March 2018 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33144 | 10-track album of old Suns of Arqa recordings covering classic reggae tracks, including mixes and edits by Adrian Sherwood, John Brierley and Brian Hyphen |
| Cape Town Rock | Digital | 27 April 2018 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33145 | 11-track album including new single 'Cape Town Rock', live recordings from Cape Town, and remixes by Youth, Astralasia, Gaudi, Gagarin, and Brian Hyphen |
| Ambyss | Digital | 6 January 2019 | Arka Sound | ARKA 33151 | 4-track album including live recordings from Ozora Festival, Hungary August 2018 |
| Bringing Light to the New World Disorder | 4xCD | 27 March 2020 | Digital Reprints | DR010LE | 59-track box set of rarities, produced by Michael Wadada, mixed by Brian Hyphen |
| The Wolf of Badenoch | CD | 5 June 2020 | Arka Sound | ARKACD 33149 | 12-track album produced by Michael Wadada, arranged and mixed by Brian Hyphen |
| Live At Télérama | Digital | 5 March 2021 | Arka Sound | ARKA33156 | 8-track live album recorded in Paris in 2006 |

### Remix albums

| Title | Format | Released | Record label | Catalogue No | Additional notes |
| Jaggernaut (Whirling Dub) | CD | 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2103 CD | Remixed from Jaggernaut LP |
| Cradle | CD/MC | 1992 | Earthsounds | CDEASM 004 | Remixed from Jaggernaut LP |
| Total Eclipse of the Suns | CD | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2108 CD | First album of individual remixes |
| Remixes Vol 2 & 3 | 2CD | 1998 | Echo Beach | LC 2188 | |
| Technomor | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22116-2 | Subtitled 'Remixes Vol 4' |
| Muslim Gauze | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22120 | Remix album by 'Muslimgauze' Bryn Jones |
| Cradle (new remix) | CD | 2002 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33122 | Remixed from Jaggernaut LP, sleeve designed by Skip Sommerville |
| All Is Not Lost, All Is Dub | Digital | 10 December 2015 | Liquid Sound Design | (None) | 7-track album of remixes |
| Kuba Mixes | Digital | 5 February 2021 | Arka Sound | ARKA33155 | Remix album by Kuba |

### Re-issues

| Title | Format | Released | Record label | Catalogue No | Details |
| Live with Prince Far I | CD | 1999 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2100 CD | Re-issue of 1984 album, plus 4 radio sessions, plus 'Thunder Bolt, Dark Void' ('Ark of the Arqans'), 'Hey Jagunath' ('Govinda Go') |
| Govinda's House | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22117 | Re-issue of Disc 2 from 'Remixes 2 & 3' with an extra mix by The Orb |
| Aberglaube | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 22118 | Re-issue of Disc 1 from 'Remixes 2 & 3' |
| Revenge of the Mozabites | CD | 2001 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33116 | Bonus track added (see article) |
| Seven | CD | 2002 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33125 | Updated track listing (see article) |
| Alap-Joe-Jhala | MP3 | 27 July 2005 | Arka Sound | B001GQAGME | Re-issue of 1992 CD, without the four opening remixes, instead starting with additional track 'Gavati' |
| Re-mixs Muslimgauze | CD | 2007 | Soleilmoon | SOL 158 CD | Re-issue of most of 'Muslim Gauze' with more complete versions of mixes, plus new mixes of 'Whirling Dub', 'Sensi Palestine', 'Horses of the Apothecary' |
| Revenge of the Mozabites | CD | 30 October 2017 | Corbett vs. Dempsey | CvsD / CD037 | Re-issue of debut LP with three bonus mixes/edits by Brian Hyphen (see article) |

### Singles

| Title | Format | Released | Record label | Catalogue No | Details |
| Soul To Save | 7" | 1980 | Rocksteady Records | MICK 010 | B-side is an edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' |
| Mysteries of the East | 12" | 1982 | Virgin Records | 600 642 | Jhalib's 'Mysteries of the East', backed by an edit of 'Ananta Snake Dance' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' |
| GD Magick | 12" | Oct 1983 | Antler Records | ANTLER 018 | New track 'GD Magick', plus a remix of 'Acid Tabla' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', and 'Throw Away Your Guns/Whatyougonnadoonjudgementday' from 'Musical Revue' |
| Pressure Drop | 7"/12" | 1984 | Vogue Belgique | VB788 | B-sides are 'World Peace AD' and 'Scully's Reel' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' |
| Champs-Élysées | 7" | 1985 | CNR Music | ? | Artist billed as 'SOA Band', B-side is Sprout Head Uprising Mash-Up |
| In Paradisum | 12" | 1987 | Rocksteady Records | 1 G1T | Artist billed as simply 'Arka', features 'In Paradisum' 7" Single Mix, Disco Dub Mix, and 'Erasmus Meets the Earthling' |
| Govinda's House | 12" | 1988 | Antler Records | ANT 094 | B-side is 'In The City of Nine Gates' (dub mix of the A-side) |
| Govinda Go | 12" | 1990 | Arka Sound | ARKA SOUND 2112 | Features 'Govinda Go (808 Massey Mix)' and 'Hey Jagunath' |
| Sul-E-Stomp | CD/12" | 1992 | Magick Eye | EYE CD 16 | Remixes of 'Sully's Reel' from 'Revenge of the Mozabites' by Astralasia, various 12" versions released |
| Govinda's Dream | CD | 22 August 1994 | Arka Sound | ARKA 601 CD | Remixes of earlier 'Govinda's House' single by Astralasia, Phil Kirby, A Guy Called Gerald |
| Erasmus Meets The Earthling | CD | 1994 | Arka Sound | ARKA 602 CD | Remixes of 'Erasmus', Jaggernaut, and 'What Does It Profit' by Phil Kirby, Youth and Greg Hunter |
| DJ Files | 12" | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 602 | Remixes of Jaggernaut, and 'What Does It Profit' by Phil Kirby, Youth and Greg Hunter |
| Govinda's Dream (Remixes) | 12" | 1995 | Arka Sound | ARKA 601R | Two remixes from United Spirits of Rhythm and A Guy Called Gerald |
| Tomorrow Never Knows (Promo) | 12" | 2001 | EMI | 12ARQWL 001 | Two remixes of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' by Chicken Lips, plus The Orb remix of 'Children of Jumma' |
| Brujo Magic | 12" | 2012 | Emotional Rescue | ERC 002 | Previously unreleased versions of Brujo Magic and Ananta Snake Dance |
| Acid Tabla | 12" | 2016 | Emotional Rescue | ERC 033 | Includes new 12" version of Acid Tabla, and new remix of Asian Rebel by Brian Hyphen |

### Compilations

| Title | Format | Released | Record label | Catalogue No | Details |
| Vol 2+3 Eclecticism | MC | 1983 | One G Productions | 1G 1 | Tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic' and 'GD Magick' |
| Arqaology: Wadada 1979 to 1986 | LP | 1986 | One G Productions | 1G 2L | Tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic', 'GD Magick', 'Ark of the Arqans' and two tracks by Sprout Head Uprising ('Nothing to Sing Part II' and 'Hard Life') |
| Land of a Thousand Churches | CD/MC | 1991 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2101 CD | New remixes of 'The Truth Lies Therein' and 'Open The Door To Your Heart', plus tracks from 'India?', 'Ark of the Arqans', 'Seven' and 'Govinda Go' |
| Arqaology | LP/CD/MC | 1992 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2105 CD | New remixes of 'Brujo Magic' and 'City of Nine Gates', plus tracks from 'Revenge of the Mozabites', 'Wadada Magic', 'GD Magick' |
| Solar Activity 1979–2001 | 2CD | 2001 | Arka Sound/EMI | 7243 5 31592 2 1 | Compilation |
| A Brief History of SOA | CD | 25 November 2002 | Arka Sound | ARKA 2111 CD | Compilation |
| Tributey | CD | 2003 | Arka Sound | ARKA 33123 CD | Compilation featuring interviews with Professor Stanley Unwin |
| Through The Gate We Go | 2CD | 2008 | Arka Sound | ARKACD 33133 | 27-track DJ Mix by Tom Fu |
| Arqatronic | Digital | 1 October 2018 | Arka Sound | ARKACD33147 | 12-track DJ Mix by Brian Hyphen |
| Revelation XVII | LP | 15 April 2022 | Sleepers | SLPRS013 | 10-track Compilation |

### Videos

| Title | Format | Released | Record label | Catalogue No | Details |
| Hindu Pict | DVD | 6 November 2006 | Arka Sound | ARKA 12306 DVD | 20-track DVD including live footage, interviews and music/video mixes |
| Stranger Music | DVD | Apr 2011 | Arka Sound | ARKA CD 33137 | 15-track Live DVD (with CD Album) recorded Wiltshire 2010, Big Chill 2009, Glastonbury 2008 |