Pooja Hegde on Cirkus: It is a full-on entertaining masala film

For almost five decades, Channi Singh OBE — founder and frontman of the pioneering bhangra band Alaap — has been regarded as one of the most influential figures in British Asian music. Credited with shaping the sound of modern bhangra and inspiring generations of musicians, the Punjabi music icon has built a career defined not only by talent but by discipline, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to originality. Over the years, he has collaborated with legendary artists such as Asha Bhosle and Anuradha Paudwal, among others, and served as music director for Bollywood films including Yalgaar, Shaktiman, and Janasheen. He also achieved a number of pioneering ‘firsts’. From mainstream British TV to playing at prestigious venues globally Alaap performed where no other Asian band had done so before. The band also made history when UB40 invited them to share the stage at Birmingham City Football Club, and Channi’s work was later featured in Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD Talking Book series. Channi and his daughter Mona Singh also performed at 10 Downing Street.

As new artists navigate a rapidly changing music landscape, his journey offers timeless guidance. From understanding the business to protecting one’s artistic identity, his lessons highlight the essential qualities that turn early success into long-term sustainability. Reflecting on a lifetime in music, he shares insights that remain as relevant today as they were when he first stepped onto the stage in the 1970s.