It’s been a wild week in the world of South Asian entertainment. Raf-Saperra dropped his debut album, the Oscars gave us big wins but also sparked big controversies, and we got to celebrate POPSHIFT HOLI in Los Angeles with 400 of you. Read on for the latest.

- Rosh

Raf-Saperra: The Punjabi Renaissance Man

The world isn’t short of talented people, but it is rare with the likes of Raf-Saperra. The British-Punjabi artist has amassed a loyal following with his energetic blend of folk bhangra and UK garage sounds, which you can hear on his new debut tape, “Ruff Around the Edges.”

Saperra was introduced to the classical Punjabi scene as a teenager, undertaking Hindustani singing lessons and dedicated himself to learning a number of South Asian instruments, including the dhol, tumbi, and harmonium.

In 2020, weekly videos of Saperra singing his favorite Punjabi folk songs captured widespread attention during pandemic lockdown. Saperra dropped his debut single, “Glassy Riddim,” shortly after. Its 1M YouTube streams was a testament to both his skills as a vocalist and his visually stunning direction.

His self-directed aesthetics, fusing imagery from London and Lahore’s underground, impressed an entirely new creative crowd. Notably, the late Sidhu Moose Wala had Saperra direct his East London-based track “Celebrity Killer.”

Raf-Saperra is getting bigger by the minute. For a diaspora singer to nail the depth and precision of folk lyrics, with the same intensity as the trained artists who have lived experiences in the pinds these songs were born from, is no easy feat. His unique balance of these skills with UK drill and electronic beats creates for a musical experience that is quickly selling out merch and venues.

If this is your first time hearing about Raf-Saperra, we can guarantee it won’t be your last. “Ruff Around the Edges,” with its 19 tracks, has debuted brilliantly and is poised to propel Saperra to new heights. He breaks down the context behind the lyrics for “Modern Mirza” with us at PopShift in a new SUBTXT.

POPSHIFT HOLI Was Your FOMO’s Worst Nightmare

Hundreds of you pulled up to celebrate Holi with us in Downtown Los Angeles this past weekend. Between the vibrant colors, tasty snacks, and a stacked musical lineup, POPSHIFT HOLI was an event to remember. Catch some moments from the event below and stay tuned for our official recap video.

Oscars Slammed for Lack of Representation with “Naatu Naatu”

The epic-fantasy film, RRR, made history with its song “Naatu Naatu” at the annual Academy Awards this weekend. The song, which became a global sensation at 128 million YouTube views, is the first Indian song to win the Best Original Track category. While the win was significant, it came with controversy.

The performance was choreographed by the non-Indian duo Napoleon & Tabitha Dumo. It also starred Lebanese-Canadian Billy Mustapha and American Jason Glover. These creative decisions took the internet by storm, with many criticizing the lack of brown talent on stage as tone-deaf and reckless.

To have non-Indian performers represent revolutionaries in a film heavy with themes of anti-imperialism felt contradictory. Since the intense online backlash, more information about how the moment came to be has emerged. For example, it is now known that the RRR team approved the production.

The show also battled time constraints, though many were quick to note that such an important moment for South Asians should not have excluded South Asians, and that the diaspora does have qualified performers who could have participated if the effort had been made.

The moment was announced by Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, and the original track’s South Indian singers, Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, performed the number live. Despite the obvious lack of representation, “Naatu Naatu’s” win is historic, giving not just Indian film, but South Indian film specifically, a spot at a global stage, something we haven’t seen enough of. But does this excuse the Academy from allowing such a performance in the first place? Let us know your thoughts below.

Other Notable News

• AP Dhillon performed at the Junos.

• Paravi and Raveena are on the Head In The Clouds festival lineup.

• “The Elephant Whisperers” won Best Documentary Short at the Oscars.

• Dior’s next fashion show venue is Mumbai’s Gateway of India.

• MEMBA released a new track “JIYO.”

Written by Saumya Monga and Roshni Rekha
Edited by Raghu Alla and Roshni Rekha