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Bhangramuffin’s back

Shelina Begum
29/ 7/2005

IT'S time to feel groovy and get in the party mood this summer with a great sunshine track from reggae legends Apache Indian and Desmond Dekker.
The international reggae muffins have joined forces to release an updated version of the classic 60s hit 'The Israelites'.
When Dekker first recorded it back in the late 1960's it became the first ever reggae track to hit the billboard charts and subsequently go to number one. Desmond Dekker went on to sell millions of records worldwide establishing him as a true reggae legend amongst legends.
And now they are hoping for the same kind of response as Apache, who is the first Asian artist to break world-wide with his Brit-Asian bhangramuffin style of music, gives the track his own kind of flavour.
Said Apache: "This is the track everybody will be listening to at barbecues especially with such a great hot summer that we are experiencing so far.
"I was obviously pleased to be working on this famous number which I have listened to many times over the years and I hope we have done a good job reviving it with some original modern beats.
"It was also great to work with Desmond. At the age of 63, he is still a true number one reggae legend, who continues to tour around the world playing his music.
"A lot of people think that reggae is dying but just because you don't hear it in the charts doesn't mean it is not around. There are thousands of reggea fans and reggea music is still going strong."
'The Israelites' has been taken from Apache's latest album 'A time for change' which has been released on his own production company, API Recordings. It includes collaborations with Pras from the Fugees and Luciano.
Apache has been working on the album for no less than eight years and he see it as a decisive turn in his career.
He said: "Eight years might seem a long time but I think I kept the best till now.
"The overall theme, as the title suggests, is about seeing some change in the world, it is about poverty, wars, racism, real issues affecting real people.
"Over time the world has seen too many conflicts in different countries with too many wars. Innocent lives are being taken and it is time we changed that to make the world a better place to live in.
"I wanted my album to carry positive messages and to make people stop and listen and take a serious look at what is happening around them. My lyrics are inspired by my personal quest to define my identity in a multi-cultural world where traditional definitions of religion and culture have to be re-evaluated."
An integral part of his album has been his bhangra/reggae style of music, a style he says he can never change and has always appealed to fans.
It is this unique sound that made him a success in the early 1990s when he released his chart-topping single 'Chok There' followed by 'Movie over India' and the mega smash 'Boomshakalak', selling over 11 millions albums and receiving numerous honours from the Ivor Novello's, Brit Awards and a Mercury Music Prize.
'Boomshakalak' was also included in seven Hollywood movies including most recently 'Scooby Doo 2.'
Apache, who hails from the capital of bhangra music and the UK reggae scene, Birmingham, says he owes a lot to the city for influencing his musical style.
It was there that bands like UB40, Steel Pulse, and Musical Youth first got their break. Apache cherished his South Indian heritage and his music reflects the influence of styles like bhangra and Bollywood film music, but it was reggae and dancehall that truly fascinated him.
Apache soon became a part of the vibrant 'sound system' culture in his neighbourhood of Handsworth, giving him the opportunity to be able to show off and develop his own lyrical styles in front of local crowds.
His hard work paid off when he went on to sign a major recording deal with Island Records who released his debut album 'No Reservations' in 1992. Apache quickly catapulted to trend-setting a fusion of reggae, raggamuffin, hip-hop and bhangra that exploded globally.
He has since collaborated with everyone from reggae stars Sly & Robbie, Shaggy, Maxi Priest, Yami Bolo and Frankie Paul, Hip Hop stars Tim Dog, pop icon Boy George and Indian Legends Asha Bhosle and Malkit Singh.
He is now regarded as a legend in his field and most recently received the outstanding achievement gong at the UK Asian Music Awards.
Said Apache: "The award recognised over a decade of my music, so I was very proud of it. It's also great that other UK Asian artists are being recognised for their achievements.
"There is certainly a lot more Asian artists making it into the mainstream now than when I first started out. In the 1990s it was a real struggle for us to make it into the mainstream charts. It just wasn't the flava back then. But now everything Asian is cool, and I just hope it isn't just a phase where people move onto the next craze."
He said: "This is the first event of its kind in Manchester and so far it has been wonderful and the heatwave has really helped.
"Manchester is a truly great city. I have received a warm welcome by everyone especially Mayor Afzal Khan. It is a city that I wish to visit again."
Then it was over to Ashton for their mela where children tried plate spinning as well as Bollywood dancing - a great weekend.


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