Background information Birth name Steven Kapur Born 11 May 1967 Origin Handsworth, Birmingham, UK Genre(s) Bhangramuffin
Reggae Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Entertainer, Actor Instrument(s) Vocals Website karmasound.com

Apache Indian is the stage name of the reggae dee jay/toaster, Steven Kapur (born 11 May 1967, Handsworth, Birmingham).

Contents 1 Career 2 Awards 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles 4 External links

Career

With the collaboration of his cousins Simon & Diamond, he introduced the new hybrid sound of bhangra raggamuffin - also known as bhangramuffin - to the world with his first album No Reservations (produced by Simon & Diamond, Phil Chill, Robert Livingston, Bobby Digital and Sly Dunbar) in 1993. It was followed by Make Way for the Indian, (produced by Sly & Robbie, The Press, Mafia & Fluxy, Pandit Dinesh and Chris Lane), which featured rapper Tim Dog and spawned the hit, "Boomshackalak". Real People / Wild East (produced by Harjinder Noparai) proved to be his most experimental album, and also featured more Indian elements than the other albums.

Karma, his 4th album, was a return to more traditional forms of reggae. It featured Luciano, Boy George as well as Mafia & Fluxy.

Apachie Indian merged raggamuffin with Indian music as well as influences from mainstream pop and hip hop, and started a trend that has found a large following.

He is the only Asian to date to have eight Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart. Stylistically, Apache Indian moved from mixing Indian music with raggamuffin and (on his second album) hip hop to more traditional forms of reggae on his most recent album, Karma.

Lyrically, Apachie Indian usually sings in Jamaican patois, and is known for his sharp social criticism - ("Arranged Marriage" featuring Natacha Atlas; "Mention") as well as his party tracks ("Boomshackalak", "Jump Up").

Apachie Indian has recorded with Boyz II Men, Blackstreet, Wreckx 'n' Effect, UB40, the U.S. chart topper Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, General Levy, Brian and Tony Gold, Shaggy, Yami Bolo, Boy George, A. R. Rahman, Sameera Singh, Asha Bhosle and Pras of the Fugees, plus more recently with Jazzy B (aka The Crown Prince of Bhangra and The Original Folksta) on the album Dil Luteya.

Reggae singer Sean Paul, who has been on the top of Billboard charts with his single with Beyoncé Knowles, toured the U.S. with Apache Indian.

For his first album No Reservation, he had signed a recording contract worth £250,000 pounds with Island Records - one of the largest sums paid for a debut album by a non-white artist.

"Boomshackalack" was featured in 5 different Hollywood movies, including Dumb And Dumber. More significantly, the song has featured in a record 52 commercials across the globe, featuring various brands. It is also featured on the soundtrack for Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, along with artists such as Fatboy Slim, The B-52's, 2 Unlimited and New Radicals.

His single "Om Numah Shivaya" features on the Putumayo World Music compilation album, World Reggae which is a collection of reggae tracks performed by artists from around the world.

Apache Indian was also nominated for the Central Britain Media and Arts Asian Jewel Award in 2004.

Awards

• Best Male Newcomer British Reggae Industry Awards 1992
• Outstanding Service & Contribution Yuva Rttan Awards 1992
• Vaisakhi Awards Vaisakhi Celebration Awards 1993
• Appreciation Awards Rotary Club Delhi 1993
• Appreciation Awards National Association of The Blind 1993
• Best Reggae Video Black Music Awards 1993
• Ambassador Awards Caribbean Crucible 1993 (CANADA)
• Best Rapper/Rap Track/Best Live Act Independent Asian Music Poll Awards 1994
• Best Live Act Movie Appreciation Awards 1994 (UK)
• Best Asian Mainstream Singer Movie Bhangra Awards 1997 (UK)
• Appreciation Awards BBC Networks East Mega Mela 1999 (UK)
• DJ Awards Asian DJ Awards (Entasi & Apna Beat) 1994
• Best Newcomber Reggae Awards 1991
• Best Newcomber Asian Awards 1991
• Four Nominations Brit Awards 1993

Discography

Albums

• 1993 No Reservations
• 1997 Real People / Wild East
• 2000 Karma
• 2005 Time for Change
• 2007 Sadhu - The Movement (Indian Release on TIPS Music)

Singles

• 1993 "Nuff Vibes"
• 1995 "Make Way for the Indian" UK #29
• 1995 "Ragamuffin Girl" (feat. Frankie Paul) UK #31
• 1997 "Lovin' (Let Me Love You)" UK #53
• 1997 "Real People" UK #66
• 2005 "Om Numah Shivaya"
• 2005 "The Israelites" (vs. Desmond Dekker) UK #239

External links

• Apache Indian biography at the All Music Guide website