Apache Indian: The Incredible Journey of Steven kapoor
5 days ago
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5 days ago
·Before Apache Indian, Indian music was largely shaped by Bollywood, classical traditions, and regional folk. Independent artists experimenting beyond these frameworks were rare. While pop, disco, and rock began emerging in the 1980s, they struggled to break into the mainstream without Bollywood’s backing.
Born Steven Kapur in Birmingham, Apache Indian grew up in a cultural crossroads. His Punjabi heritage was deeply rooted in family traditions, while Handsworth’s Afro-Caribbean and Black British communities introduced him to reggae, dancehall parties, and street slang. These influences shaped his signature style—a fusion of reggae, dancehall, and bhangra, which he dubbed ‘bhangramuffin.’
In 1990, he independently pressed 500 copies of Move Over India, a track that fused reggae rhythms, Punjabi references, and patois-inflected delivery, topping the UK reggae charts.
In 1992, Arranged Marriage propelled him into the mainstream, followed by Boom Shack-A-Lak in 1993, which entered the UK Top 5 and charted across Europe. With 7 Top 40 UK chart hits and over 10 million albums sold, his music has been featured in both Bollywood - and over ten Hollywood films.
He was also awarded the British Empire Medal by the late Queen of England in 2021 for creating a new genre, now known as Asian Urban music. These milestones shattered preconceived notions of what an Indian artist could achieve.
Unlike many contemporaries, he continued to innovate. He mentored artists like Honey Singh—culminating in their recent collaboration Kuley Kuley, which has amassed over 107 million views online.
Over the past decade, his collaborations have spanned genres and generations, working with AR Rahman, Jazzy B, Asha Bhosle, DSP, Malkit Singh, Capleton, Desmond Dekker, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, and more.
Apache Indian has also built the Apache Indian Music Academy, providing a platform for aspiring artists in the UK and India.
Looking ahead, a biopic on his life is in the works. Fans can also expect new music, videos, and podcasts, along with another world tour with his live band, kicking off in April 2025.
As he marks 35 years of the Apache Experience, the Don Rajah shows no signs of stopping!
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