Raf-Saperra
INTERVIEW
An open dialogue with Raf Saperra feels like a thread running through generations, tying together the past and the present in a way that is seamless and alive. Born to Punjabi immigrants who arrived in the UK in 1986, Raf-Saperra grew up in Streatham, South London, a place where cultures mixed of heritage and street culture.
At home, his parents preserved the sounds of Punjab, the classical folk tales, rhythms and melodies they brought with them echoed through the house, a reminder of the homeland they had left behind. Outside, Raf encountered a different energy; the beats of grime, hip-hop, garage. For most, these influences might have felt worlds apart, for him they became inseparable becoming the foundation of his voice.
His music isn’t just a blend of genres it’s a reflection of a life lived between cultures. Punjabi folk music, didn’t feel distant or foreign for him, it was as present as the beats and schoolyard freestyles of his youth. He often speaks of Streatham as his pind (village), where the traditions of Punjab and the rawness of South London coexist.
When Raf talks about Punjabi folk music, there’s a reverence in his tone, an understanding that it’s more than a genre. The folk traditions aren’t just songs they’re legacy stories carried across generations where you can hear the cross-cultural influences of those who came before - the creativity of the present, and the possibilities of his future where one informs and enriches the other.
After listening to him speak about his work, it’s clear that he is not just a musician but a storyteller, equally passionate about the visual language of film. With a background in directing music videos, he uses cinema to extend the narrative of his songs, incorporating imagery of traditional symbolism and a street style aesthetic.
Through our conversation, he shows us that heritage isn’t static. It moves with us, grows with us, and transforms as we do reshaped by every place we call home.
A Meeting Rivers event is an intimate gathering that explores an artist’s journey through conversation, performance, and their record collection. Inspired by the South Asian ‘bhaitakh’ tradition, this event offers a unique insight into their life, work and sound. Hosted by Sach Dhanjal and Kam Bhogal at Ladbroke Hall in London, UK.
After listening to him speak about his work, it’s clear that he is not just a musician but a storyteller, equally passionate about the visual language of film. With a background in directing music videos, he uses cinema to extend the narrative of his songs, incorporating imagery of traditional symbolism and a street style aesthetic.
Through our conversation, he shows us that heritage isn’t static. It moves with us, grows with us, and transforms as we do reshaped by every place we call home.
Raf-Saperra
INTERVIEW
An open dialogue with Raf Saperra feels like a thread running through generations, tying together the past and the present in a way that is seamless and alive. Born to Punjabi immigrants who arrived in the UK in 1986, Raf-Saperra grew up in Streatham, South London, a place where cultures mixed of heritage and street culture.
At home, his parents preserved the sounds of Punjab, the classical folk tales, rhythms and melodies they brought with them echoed through the house, a reminder of the homeland they had left behind. Outside, Raf encountered a different energy; the beats of grime, hip-hop, garage. For most, these influences might have felt worlds apart, for him they became inseparable becoming the foundation of his voice.
CONTRIBUTORS
INTERVIEW:
Meeting Rivers
Raf-Saperra
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Sach Dhanjal
