DJ Ritu
Award-Winning DJ, Broadcaster, Producer, Music Consultant & Voiceover Artist.
DJ Ritu MBE is a globe-trotting turntablist, broadcaster, producer, curator, Fine Arts graduate, equalities activist, and the voice of the UK’s definitive independent global music show, A World in London. Her 37-year career includes two decades at the BBC, co-founding 90s cult label Outcaste Records, and touring in over 35 countries as a band-leader and solo artist. Ritu is a pioneer of the ‘Asian Underground’ and Bhangra scenes, opening doors for other artists globally. She has been decolonising dancefloors & radio airwaves since the 80s, connecting cultures through music, and trailblazing paths for women and PoC artists.
A musical chameleon, Ritu’s eclectic repertoire encompasses both Western and ‘World’ Music, with specialisms in Soul, Disco, Motown, Bollywood, Arabic & SWANA styles, as well as cutting-edge/underground genres. Her DJ sets are immaculately mixed and crafted and her Boiler Room TV debut was hailed as one the best sets ever. Her wide-ranging gig portfolio includes prime venues/festivals like Glastonbury, Boiler Room TV, Ministry of Sound, WOMAD, Fabric, Jazz Cafe, Printworks, Roskilde, Sfinks, Tate Britain, the V&A, BFI, Spiritland, Southbank Centre, as well as film premieres for Om Shaanti Om, Bride & Prejudice, and Bhaji On the Beach. She occasionally collaborates with new youth collectives like Daytimers UK and Dialled In.
A Rough Guides CD compiler and music industry consultant/reluctant journalist, Ritu is the founder and artistic director/DJ of the world’s two longest-running South Asian music club nights - Kuch Kuch Bollywood Nights (23 years) and Club Kali (28 years) - and the UK’s first ever queer SWANA music club, Hoppa (est 2000).
Formerly the SOAS Concert Series Producer, Ritu is a member of the Mayor’s London Music Board, and European World Music Charts panel.
In 2023, DJ Ritu was awarded an MBE in King Charles III first birthday Honours list, for services to music and broadcasting.
Photo: DJ Ritu by Mahaneela Choudhury-Reid - Levi’s/Gal-Dem party, June 27th, 2019
A World In London - Radio Episodes
