Nitin Sawhney: Politicians need to show that racism is not okay

Award-winning musician, producer and composer Nitin Sawhney has criticised politicians who seem “hell-bent on destruction and hate”.

Speaking to Sky News about his new album, Identity, Sawhney said the tracks were born out of frustration over “the social media, mainstream media and political discourse about identity” which “tends to be derogatory quite often”.

Politicians, he believes, need to “think more” about what they’re saying. “I think it’s [their] responsibility to lead and to show that racism, or anything that actually has that connotation, is not okay.”

Known for his film scores, orchestral projects and celebrity collaborations, Sawhney’s latest album is as eclectic as ever. Alongside rapper Hak Baker, singer I Am Roze and Elbow’s Guy Garvey, also listed as a featured artist is none other than Gary Lineker.

The sports presenter speaks on a track titled Illegal alongside voices from the women’s aid charity Asha Projects, after standing by posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, earlier this year in which he criticised the government’s asylum policies.

The former England footballer was asked to “step back” from presenting Match Of The Day during the row over his comments, but later rejoined the BBC show – and in September, a report for the broadcaster stated that high-profile presenters should be able to express their views on political issues as long as they stop short of campaigning.

“I was really interested in some of his conversation with [Home Secretary] Suella Braverman and what happened with Match Of The Day,” Sawhney said. “it just felt really powerful to have his voice on there, especially because of what he believes in.”

Sawhney’s own sense of identity was shaped by the love for music he developed early on. Growing up in Rochester, Kent, playing music was an escape from the daily racism he faced.

“At that time the National Front was very powerful,” he said. “I was attacked and abused quite often, music was just a way of catharsis.”

One of Britain’s most acclaimed musical voices, Sawhney argues that as a society we have forgotten how to listen.

“The world is dictated by a few narcissistic, megalomaniac men who seem to be intent on making the world worse for everyone.

“We can either have a world that has a conscience and thinks about each other and conducts itself with empathy, you know, cares for the vulnerable and tries to lift everyone up, as opposed to putting people down and having a hateful world full of war there’s going to destroy the planet. You can choose.

“And the problem is we have too many politicians who seem hell-bent on destruction and hate rather than building a better future for everyone.”

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While there is plenty the musician gets animated about, his album – he hopes – is an antidote to the “tsunami of negativity” in the world.

“What I really wanted to do with this album, was a kind of platform for collaborators and guests to express themselves in the way they wanted to be heard.”

Nitin Sawhney’s album Identity is out on 20 October