Photo Credit: Raine Music Management

Here’s the truth: There are a lot of Desi artists trying to make a name for themselves. But, not a lot of them are recognized for their talent against the backdrop of of shiny cars and flashy club scenes.

That’s not the case with Arjun. The British based Sri Lankan singer’s latest track, “With Us Or Against Us” featuring Jay Mo, establishes his worth as a rare treasure in the sea of wanna-be Jay Sean’s.

There’s a lot that sets Arjun apart as an artist. His voice, for starters, is breathy but powerful. He’s not reaching for out-of-his-range notes in a falsetto like so many pop stars. His sound is authentic, fresh and makes for easy listening.

Arjun demonstrates diversity and his artistic range in each track produces. He started out with the mid tempo smooth R&B crooners, “Remember The Night” and “Stargazer” that will turn any romantic to mush. He moved on to release the grittier, urban sounding “Vampire” which gave him a sexier edge. While it seems like his sound is completely mainstream, Arjun dips into his Desi-ness from time to time. He released “Kabhi Kabhi” sampling the iconic Bollywood song and mixed it with his hip hop flow. Most recently Arjun created a sublime rendition of “Kolaveri Di” that has over 3 million hits on YouTube.

“With Us Or Against Us,” his latest track, will absolutely make Arjun a staple on the club scene. The thumping dance beat and his velvety voice draw you in to bump and grind up against that special someone (for the night). Jay Mo’s rap is chill and flows into the track with ease. It seems like Jay Mo tries to give the track a little reggae vibe towards the end but comes succeed. The video could be classified as just another “Desi in the club” production until you take a second look at Arjun’s style. There’s an ease and realistic vibe that Arjun exudes in his fashion and interaction with others that doesn’t make him look like a baller wanna-be douche bag. The video is reminiscent of a modern day Dirty Dancing. Who doesn’t want to be at that party?

Recently Arjun got through two rounds of MTV UK’s competition trying to find the best unsigned talent in the country. If you are feeling his swagger, go ahead and vote for him.

Check out “With Us Or Against Us” below. Do you agree? Is Arjun the real deal?