For Apache Indian aka Steven Kapur, music is an expression of emotions. The singer and DJ, who is popular for songs such as Don Raja and Boom-Shack-A-Lack, took the nation by storm in the ‘90s for his unique reggae music by infusing it with Jamaican, Indian and English beats.
Apache Indian is performing in India after a gap of two years. His three city tour includes a performance in Delhi and he says that the Capital exudes love and warmth. “I step out of the Delhi airport and the feeling is a special one. It’s friendlier then Mumbai. It’s also closer to my home town, Jalandhar. People know my name and my Punjabi fans come to Delhi for my shows. I have a lot of friends and family residing in both Delhi and Gurgaon. It’s nice to go to their places and eat home-cooked food. Also, Gurgaon has so many shopping malls and hotels so every time I come there’s always something new to explore,” he says.
Born and raised in Birmingham, the singer has completed 25 years in the music industry and loves Indian music. “My roots are in India. We were the first generation to go to UK. I love Hindi music but Birmingham, where I was born, is known for reggae. Thus, breaking barriers, I decided to blend both the kinds of music and bring out my identity,” says Apache Indian, who is a recipient of numerous international awards including UK Asian Music Awards 2011, the Brit Asia TV network in 2013 and 2014, and an award by The Black Country Asian Business Association 2015.
Apache’s song Boom Shack-A-lack has been part of several Hollywood projects and his latest album, In Ja, has received rave reviews. The artist takes pride in taking India’s culture to the world, through his music. “It’s nice to see that the people in India are taking up rap, reggae and hip-hop. They are now exposed to different kinds of music,” he says, appreciating the rise in performances by international musicians in India.
India has become an important place for them [international artists] to perform. — Apache Indian
“Snoop Dogg has come to India. The new generation is also listening to Justin Bieber. India has become an important place for them [international artists] to perform. Whether it’s music, entertainment, fine arts or education, India’s significance is felt in all part of the world,” says Apache Indian.
He emphasises that it’s important for the youth to perform live and share their experiences through music. “The youth should do what’s right for them. One needs to be real. They should represent something about their culture, the place where they are born and incorporate their experiences in their music,” he adds.
