Nothing small has ever come out of Texas. It's the state where big-breasted women don big hair and Clint Eastwood types carry big guns and drive even bigger trucks. It's also the land where big gospel choirs gave birth to some of the biggest voices in music history. So it comes as no surprise when Houston-native, Marko Dutta, belts out his soulful, throaty tunes in classic Southern gospel tradition, in front of thousands of people in local functions throughout Texas.

What is surprising is that Dutta is an American-born Bengali whose vocal range can emerge from the guttural depths of Southern soul and reach the high-pitched intricacies of Indian classical within the span of one song. Dutta's laid back southern attitude has kept him performing locally for years, before he met rapper/producer the1shanti at an annual South Asian conference in New York in 1996.

Dutta performed with equal ease, a Bengali song by India's poet nobelaureate Rabindranath Tagore and an R & B inspired English tune of his own composition, in front of an almost all-Indian audience of nearly 5,000. "It was like this kid had been born to sing," recalls the1shanti. "It didn't matter the language, he loved singing. And he is damn good at it too."

In working with the1shanti to release One Thing I Know, Dutta has developed a sound that blends his years of traditional Indian training with his on-going love affair with modern R&B.

One Thing I Know Press Release
HOUSTON, TX - After a year of performing to packed clubs and cleaning out bars of top-shelf liquor from Houston to Hong Kong, bad boy Texan singer Marko Dutta has slowed down to reflect on a few things he has learned on the road. One Thing I Know, the debut EP produced by the1shanti, is a snapshot of Marko's experiences on tour dealing the pressures of performing, succumbing to temptation and fighting his own vices.

For the classically-trained Indian singer, the breakneck touring schedule started aptly with a New Year's Eve performance on Dec. 31, 2004, in his hometown of Houston. With tag-team partner and producer the1shanti, Marko took his unique sound-a blend of Indian classical, Bollywood, Bhangra, R&B and hip hop influences- to all the major party spots around the world, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore.

Sometimes the partying got a little out of hand. "After performing a great show, you're on such a high, you want to celebrate with everyone, especially the ladies. It's really easy to get sidetracked," Marko admits. Between the alcohol and the ladies, Marko definitely developed a bit of bad boy reputation. Lucky for the fresh-faced newbie, the1shanti was there to keep him focused when he fell off track.

On DDP's Sony Asia Spiritual Bling Tour, however, the1shanti and Marko's electrifying chemistry on stage was undeniable. Their ability to draw fans and consistently deliver a hard-hitting performance caught the attention of industry and the international press alike. Marko's raw talent and his honest passion for singing, coupled with the1shanti's ability to create an enduring and classic sound, made the laid-back Southern boy a darling of London's BBC Asian Network.

"On the road, I didn't hold Marko back. I let him experience everything good and bad, so he found out first hand what it means to be an artist, how hard it is and how much harder it is to make a living out of one's art," the1shanti says. According to the1shanti, at the end of an artist's first promotional world tour, an artist will either work harder to further their career, or quit.

At the end of Marko's tour, he turned to the one thing he knew for sure: music. Joining forces with 40 Deuce, an outfit of producers consisting of the1shanti, Sho' Nuff, Ruff Ryders' Elite, Marko hunkered down inside of a studio, and emerged after six months with One Thing I Know, the foundation for his debut album, and hopefully, a little wiser.


Download Press Kit (.rar format)

The Daily Telegraph feature
Desitunes4u.com Interview
PR Web Coverage - Marko Dutta Single Release Party