Sona Family were denied entry into the country by US Homeland Security this Monday 30th June. The group entered the country at Cleveland airport on route to their final destination of Los Angeles and were detained and interrogated by Homeland Security for 5 hours. They were denied a right to an attorney or the chance to use a phone and questioned about their ethnic origins and religious beliefs and why they have performed in a number of politically sensitive countries. The authorities made it clear during interrogations that they had been expecting the group and were alerted prior to their landing. Having been denied entry and having suffered a 5 hour ordeal at the airport, the group were police escorted straight to a UK bound flight. Spokes people for the group report that they were treated with extreme caution by the authorities. Short of banning the group outright, US immigration have now requested that the group apply for government approved entry each time they wish to come to the USA either for business or even a holiday, for the for seeable future.
They have released the following statements for the press and their fans:
We apologise to all our fans who were looking forward to seeing Sona Family perform across the state. We are in the process of rescheduling the shows for later in the year so keep checking our myspace website and facebook group for more info. We hope that you had an enjoyable holiday weekend and we cannot wait to come and truly tear up the west coast.
** SONA FAMILY USA TOUR DATES AND INFO **
Category: Music
You heard it right! Sona Family are reachin out to our US famo!
We are on our way to you guys to MAKE SOME NOISE and parrrtay!! U ready?!
Performing tracks from our debut album, 'Make Some Noise!!!' Such as the tracks you all know,
- 'Taali Bajow' (Ride The Rickshaw) - 'Crazy 4 Ya' (Dil Dewanna) - More Glassy' - and the track you all love to get buzzin to....'GLASSY'!! Plus many more!
Start Time: Friday, July 4, 2008 at 9:00pm End Time: Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 2:00am Location: The DoubleTree Hotel - Sacramento - Grand Ballroom Street: 2001 Point West Way City/Town: Sacramento, CA Phone: 9167092578 Email: SonaFamilySac@gmail https://www.desiclub.com/shop/cart/ticket_purchase.cfm?eventID=4652
* Sona Family at Club Avalon *
Start Time: Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 10:00pm End Time: Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 2:00am Location: Avalon Nightclub Street: 777 Lawrence Expressway City/Town: Santa Clara, CA Contact Info Phone: 4083156565 Email: INFO@BAYAREABOLLYWOOD.COM http://www.desiclub.com/events/listing.cfm?EventID=4696
* Sona Family in Washington DC *
Start Time: Friday, July 11, 2008 at 6:45pm End Time: Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 3:00am Location: Hoff Theatre (University of Maryland College Park) City/Town: College Park, MD Contact Info Phone: 4436822887 Email: emaniinternational@gmail.com https://www.desiclub.com/shop/cart/ticket_purchase.cfm?eventID=4640
**FOR TICKETS AND INFO, PLEASE CONTACT USING THE DETAILS BELOW EACH EVENT**
**TOO BOOK OR CONTACT THE SONA FAMILY, PLEASE EMAIL: THEFAMILY@SONAFAMILY.COM**
***COMPETITION** Feature in Sona Family’s Music Video for ’Taali’!!
TO BE IN THE 'TAALI' VIDEO!
Again, a huge thank you to all who have sent through pictures and details to be in the video! You will hear from us within the next couple of days!
The audition will most probably take place in Central London this Sunday 20th Jan, details will be sent to the chosen people to confirm!
****************COMPETITION*******************
You have alll seen the 'Taali' Instruction video which was uploaded a few days ago, if not, then here you go:
Task: To learn the routine, film yourself and a few friends doing the routine (You could do it alone if you want) and submit the video to thefamily@sonafamily.com
The best videos will be chosen to feature in the actual 'Taali' video, so please make sure that the video is high quality ( preferably not using mobile phone cameras unless they produce good quality videos!)
Y'all know how to 'Ride The Rickshaw' rite? If not, stay tuned to see part 2 of the instructional video!!
* * * SONA FAMILY TRACK IN NBC PRIMETIME TV SHOW * * *
After releasing one of the most original and talked about albums of 2007, Sona Family have continue to "Make Some Noise!!!" and climb the ladder of success internationally. The first single and club smash hit Crazy 4 Ya (Dil Dewanna) is slated to appear in US national TV channel, NBC's Friday night Primetime show "Las Vegas".
Now in its 5th successful season the producers of the show flipped out when hearing Sona Family's album and decided that Crazy 4 Ya with its blend of sexy hip hop, Rnb and Arab melodies should feature in one of the up coming episodes.
The episode which will be aired in the US on Friday Nov. 2nd is called "Adventures In The Skin Trade" and the song plays during a Stripper Strike Raily...thats right Crazy 4 Ya is now officially stripper anthem music.
Dont worry if you miss the show or are outside the USA, because below are some sites where you can find the episode a couple of days after its aired.
Sona Family have officially signed with major label SonyBMG Records to release their album in South East Asia and the GCC countries. The album will be renamed "Taali Bajow!!!" with the massive club track "Taali" as the first single and additional bonus tracks that have been unavailble until now. The album will be released in late December with the video for "Taali" getting released to all major video outlets. So watch out for everyone soon to be doing a new dance called "Ride the Rickshaw"
* * * VOTE FOR CRAZY 4 YA VIDEO ON CHANNEL U * * *
Category: Music
Sona Family's first single "Crazy 4 Ya" to be lifted from the outstanding album "Make Some Noise!!!" is currently gaining alot of spins on the popular urban music video station in the UK Channel U. For all of our fans in the UK we need you to keep supporting Sona Family by voting for the video on the channel so more people can get to know about your favourite Urban Asian act. Sona Family - Crazy 4 Ya Video No.615
Sona Family would like to make it clear that there is no so called "beef" or animosity between them and the producers Kray Twinz. Any such reports by the media have been due to a misunderstanding with the track "Hai Kuthi" that has since been cleared up.
We Apologize to the Kray Twinz for any disrespect they themselves or their associates have felt as a result of this misunderstanding.
