APACHE Indian | The singer-songwriter and reggae DJ, who is known in the United Kingdom for the song Boom Shack-A-Lak, has recorded with Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, AR Rahman, Asha Bhosle, Jazzy B, among others. He speaks with SUPRIYA RAMESH about his latest song, his experience and upcoming projects
What is the song Rise Up about?
Written during the lockdown, the song is about rising against all things bad and negative. Rise up and be unified, for you are not alone! Life is difficult, with or without any pandemic. Which is why, it’s necessary to rise against anything that’s wrong, bad, evil. We must keep rising and not let anything or anyone stop us on our path to progress.
How did you come up with the idea of creating this music?
Dinero, my dear friend and brother from India, came up with the idea for the song. He wanted artists from around the globe to amplify the strong and positive message of the song and mix different genres and style of music. Big respect to him! He called me to inform that he will be sending the beat and wants me to work around the theme. He got Shibani Kashyap and Chezin on board after I wrote and composed the beat.
How was your experience working on it?
It was difficult working abroad during the lockdown as you’re all alone in the studio and are trying to pour your energy into the song. So, it was a big challenge to vibe with other artists. I was so inspired by the concept of the song that it made me go the extra mile and give Dinero more than I do. Working with him is always a pleasure. Adding to that, it’s always wonderful to work with established artists who have a fire in their belly and are determined to use their name, voice to make a difference. That’s what music is all about.
Your song Dil Lutteya and similar others in India are loved by many. How has your journey been
Dil Luteya, a song that was a collab with Punjabi artist Jazzy B is a song that is loved by people all over the world to this very day. Having been part of the industry for over thirty years, I’ve performed all over the world. I was brought up in Birmingham, which is known for reggae. Growing up in a Punjabi household, I got introduced to bhangra and Hindi music at a very young age. I mixed it up because that’s how we were raised. We mix languages and cultures and at the same time retain our identity. As far as my love for reggae goes, it was a movement and still is. It’s a reflection of a new style, culture and an expression of freedom. Music is liberating, for it has set me free and share the joy with the world. It has indeed been an amazing journey.
Major differences between the British and the Indian music industry?
The British music industry has a long way to go. Having said that, it does represent the new generations and always tries to mix it with the pop sound and get it crossed over. It has always been one that has been inspired by other styles; western in the 50s and 60s, or pop in the 90s followed by reggae, hip hop and underground Asian sound. On the other hand, the Indian music industry is far more established. Despite having retained their traditional elements, the boom of the internet has made the younger generation want to experiment with new styles and different genres. Which is why I think that the Indian music industry will go through a few changes. Adding to that, it’s amazing to see how big the market is for the Indian music on a global level. It's taken time, but you now see Bollywood in Hollywood. You see its influence all over the world.
Upcoming projects?
I have a lot of upcoming tours in India and around the world along with a host of songs in the pipeline. I’ve collaborated with AR Rahman and Asha Bhosle and am very excited to see how things pan out. There are a few projects coming up with Dinero Ash, Shibani Kashyap and some of my own too.