Aparita

The Toronto Star

He’s traded in the short hair with shaved lines and shaved eyebrows for dreadlocks. It’s a personal choice, says Brit-South Asian singer Steven Kapur, better known as Apache Indian.

“I’ve always wanted long hair,” he says. “The lines in the hair, that was a fashion thing. I’ve grown up now.”

Sitting in a Mississauga restaurant, 35-year-old Apache Indian sips tea as he speaks about his career as an artist who mixes bhangra beats with reggae grooves, Punjabi lyrics with patois rhymes.

It’s been 10 years since the Handsworth, Birmingham native’s appearance on the British charts with his debut album No Reservations and his first performance in Toronto. He’s back again to perform tomorrow night at the Bhangra Bash at Wild Water Kingdom in Brampton.

In the last decade, Apache Indian has launched six albums, including Make Way For The Indian and Karma, has been nominated for four Brit Awards and starred in his own documentary series on Britain’s Channel 4. Currently he’s working on two new albums, Just Like That and Storm, collaborating with artists such as Boys II Men and Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhonsle.

His success still amazes him.

“I made my first track just for myself, in my cousins’ recording studio,” says Apache Indian talking about “Movie Over India.”

“I made 500 copies, gave 10 to friends and the rest to record stores. Next thing I know, the song has topped Birmingham’s reggae charts. People were asking who’s this guy? Is he Indian? Is he black? Is it two guys? I was just playing the music I had grown up with.

“I had Indian influences because of my background but I loved reggae music. Handsworth had a lot of Jamaican influence.

“I wrote simple songs, my Punjabi’s not the greatest. There was no formula but something worked. Then someone asked me to make a second record. I took a really simple Punjabi phrase from my first song and made “Chok There.” That topped the charts too. Then some guys called me from Toronto to perform here. I never imagined I would be going outside of Britain for a gig.”

His first few records caught the attention of Island Records, Bob Marley’s label, and Apache Indian was sent to Kingston, Jamaica to record an album. Working with some of his reggae idols, he came out with No Reservations, which included the track “Arranged Marriage.”

“I talk about the things happening around me, but I have fun with it,” says Apache Indian. “I respect my parents’ culture, but I also question it.”

Surprised by his newfound success, Apache Indian was elated the first time he toured India in 1993.

“When I signed on to a major label, that was huge,” he says. “Then suddenly I’m in India performing in front to 60,000 people. And I’m meeting the Indian president. I couldn’t believe it.”

The last couple of low-profile years have been a deliberate attempt to mature as an artist, says Apache Indian.

“I just wanted to tour around the world and work with a live band. I never stopped what I was doing, just stepped out of the limelight. I made a hell of a lot of mistakes, so it’s been nice to be able to take a step back to go forward.”

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