#309 TURNing it up with Raf Saperra

The TURN Team interviews Raf Saperra at K Days in Edmonton and talk about living between cultures while staying grounded in Punjabi roots. We dig into what fuels a creative renaissance, how he handles criticism, and why real fans matter more than inflated numbers.

• Growing up in South London with mixed friend groups shaping identity and sound
• Advice for kids of immigrants on exploring other cultures while learning their own roots
• Why Renaissance is a sonic rebirth built on risk and integrity 
• Filtering feedback by answering to the artist within and building confidence through craft 
• Mental health resets through prayer, meditation, and stepping away after touring 
• What it means to headline K-Days and play an Edmonton debut 
• Rapid-fire favourites plus a hot take on vanity metrics versus ticket sales 

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Transcript

Welcome From K-Days

SPEAKER_02 0:04

You are listening to the Universal Radio Networks podcast. I am Rabia and I'm here with Grujit Gil and Sabrit Butter, and we get to interview Raph Sapera at K-Days. It's July 18th, it is a hot day. I will kick off this interview with my two questions for Raph Sapera, and then we got Grujiet and Sabrit right after me. Let's get into it.

Navigating Diaspora Identity

SPEAKER_02 0:38

Your family's from Pakistan. You grew up in South London. As a part of the Punjabi diaspora, what's your message to kids of immigrants who are trying to navigate their multiple identities? Because you do that in such a beautiful way through your music, through multiple genres.

SPEAKER_00 0:53

I think what really helped me was growing up where I grew up in London. South London is uh, you know, I grew up in a town called Shreatm, and I've I've I'll always ride out for my hometown, man, for my borough. And it's it's also because it's what undeniably shaped me as an artist, as a as a human being, having a mixed group of friends. I wasn't really ever locked in as shamelessly Punjabi as I may be. My friendship circle wasn't really ever it didn't it didn't really reflect that. So I think that's the only thing I'd encourage um to the diaspora, as in like, you know, our generation, our narrative is gonna be very different to our parents', and um, you know, go out there, learn a lot, um, explore, make new friends, and um shamelessly stand next to learn a lot about other things, uh other cultures, but at the same time, it's very important for us to learn about our own as well, you know. Uh I was very fortunate, I'm first generation, so I'm gonna go to the house, so that means I'd say in the same way, if you didn't necessarily, if you are South Asian, if you are Punjabi, and if you didn't grow up in an environment like that, let try and make the most of it. You know, it's never too late to learn uh about your own roots and culture.

SPEAKER_02 2:08

Learning about your own roots and culture and and hearing strength and diversity in the neighborhood that you had, you grew up in. That's

The Medici Question And Vision

SPEAKER_02 2:16

beautiful. So, this one's a little bit crazy. Okay, I was listening to your album, Rough Around the Edges, because as I happen since it came out. You have an outro where Robert Rodriguez is talking to Quentin Tarantrino, discussing the impact of the new body of work. You know, who is gonna be the Medici's who are gonna really make this happen? Thinking about the Medici's 15th century Italian banking family that funded the Renaissance, the rebirth of art and learning, Michelangelo, all of those famous artists. Then you have an album come out a few years later called Renaissance. Is that an Easter egg? If it is, I mean, even if it isn't, who are your Medici's and what fueled your Renaissance?

SPEAKER_00 2:55

That's an amazing question. Uh, and I appreciate you taking time to ask that. Uh, in terms of like who the Medici family has been in my experience, uh, I think I'm still seeking them. Um, I think um I put that skit over there because, you know, I I do kind of feel like that, that there needs to be a bit a bit more of a Medici family for the Punjabi music scene, at least for a Raf Sapira, where we don't necessarily um, you know, push solely for uh commercial viability, but also um, you know, uh platform and push artists who actually have a vision, integrity, people who have learned their craft, and and exhibit that. I'll be very honest, I bought that in the mixtape because it was out of frustration. I don't have a Medici family, I have been tried to be marginalized before, you know. I've I've done my thing, but you know, we're resilient and we keep fighting. And when you got a project named Renaissance, for me it was a sonic rebirth and a very risky project to release, working with one of the finest producers that our industry has, uh Icky. Um and for us to not only present my vocal capabilities in this genre of pop, uh, but also still not, you know, um what's the word compromise? We still gave you a morning on the same project that we gave you a step out on. And uh, I believe in, you know, I'm a 90s kid. I grew up on albums, I believe in bodies of work. I believe when you visit an album, you don't, when it when it releases and you go to Spotify it, you don't just jump to track eight. You you I I personally listen to it from track one to the final track, and whatever that sonic experience is for a listener, that's why I'll always be pushing. Whether that has, you know, um, whether that's popular or not, you know. I think that's yeah, that that for me is my um journey, and that's why Renaissance, the you know, the sonic rebirth of Raph Sapira in a very unapologetically commercial space, you know. Um I think that's yeah. I hope that answers the question. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

That absolutely did. Thank you so much for that amazing answer.

Handling Criticism And Feedback

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Everyone, it's Grigit here with Raph Sophera. I'm so excited to ask some questions from Wellbeing Wednesday to the man, the myth, the snake traummer himself. One of my first questions for you is in a public-facing career, opinions and judgments they come really fast. They come from anyone and they come all the time. How do you navigate that without taking it personally? And whose feedback matters the most to you?

SPEAKER_00 5:33

I think um there's an interview of uh Nussef Adele Khansa talking about uh, you know, every artist has an artist within them, and the artist is always playing or exhibiting their art to that artist within. And until the artist within isn't happy, the outer artist won't be happy, and essentially your audience won't really necessarily feel that. And I think in my career, in you know, in all honesty, in the limited amount of work I have done, I've kind of leaned into that. So I think it's really important for you to um have enough space and time as a creative uh to not rush projects, and when you release them, no matter if it's even an absolute diabolical flop, uh you can still stand next to it. And I think that's where your sense of belief and confidence should come from. I think uh having talim and learning from you know an Astad or learning your craft also comes with a level of confidence as well, where you know you can't have any Tom Dick and Harry telling you uh and also still being a student through and through. To not, you know, get defensive and actually understand and have enough um you know um space to be there. Like, why did someone criticize me in this? I think having all three of those things won't really have you focusing on the noise. You you've got some massive artists out there who are absolutely killing it and they are still getting criticized. So, merged you know. So, you know, I'm on my I'm on my path. And um, if people like it, amazing. If they don't, you know, we'll take notes.

SPEAKER_01 7:18

Yeah, there's no room for low kya cange when you know what makes you happy.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

Yeah, essentially.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

You

Mental Health And Taking Breaks

SPEAKER_01 7:26

touched on this a little bit, but one thing I see people praise and respect you for a lot as an artist is your consistency and your commitment to the art. That can be a lot of pressure sometimes. So, how do you navigate kind of some of those bad mental health days when things do get to you because we're all human.

SPEAKER_00 7:41

Of course, man, I know um it's different for everyone, man. Like, you know, um, that could look like uh prayer, that could look like meditation, simren, that could look like honestly, that could just look like taking some time away from what we do. I know after my North America tour, I literally done a month of absolutely doing nothing. I visited my friends, I was in LA, I was actually hanging out with my homie Vic in his crib in Calgary, and it's such a scenic view from where he lives, it's so much nature. And you know, I'll get to the music later. I think a lot of what we do as artists is um artists we we're kind of you know weird people in the sense we're all very um I guess introverted by nature in some sense, but then we exhibit our work, our vulnerabilities in the most public uh way possible. And I think uh the poetry and philosophy between that. Sorry, this fucking flies everywhere. I think um I think it's important, like a lot of what we put out there comes from you know our life experiences, whether they're positive, whether they're negative, whether we're healing, whether we're evolving, whatever that may be, it comes from life experiences. And I think it's important to like pause things for a while, uh, and and live life. Because if I didn't live life, I wouldn't be able to give you a uh she loves me, she loves me, not. You know, my incubators have been getting filled with all that creative juice. So, yeah, I think my answer to that is you know, take out time and do whatever serves you soulfully, spiritually. I think I think spirit is the key.

What K-Days Means In Edmonton

SPEAKER_03 9:31

Alright, Rav, so KD's has been happening for 147 years. I don't know if you know that.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

I actually did it.

SPEAKER_03 9:37

Okay, so last year was a first ever South Asian performance. You're the second headliner to take the stage. Tell me how this moment feels right now.

SPEAKER_00 9:44

Feels amazing, man. Um, it's my first time performing in Edmonton, and uh what you know better way to do my Edmonton debut, uh, you know, for for a celebration that's been going on for a century plus. And um, I think K Days came on my uh Mac when I saw my brothers Chenny Mogha and uh David Jazzi Paji as well. And uh, in the best way possible. So it seems like there's already a massive audience of uh you know, of Punjabis, of South Asians, and I hope I'm just warm, uh I'm giving the same warm welcome.

SPEAKER_03 10:20

Totally. Last year was like insane. They killed it. We're so excited. Edmonton is so excited, it's your first time. Why do you take so long to get to Edmonton?

SPEAKER_00 10:29

Honestly, we we had Edmonton part of uh our 2023 when I was touring for the first time, part of that route, but uh, you know, unfortunately, there was like change of shows, change of dates. So there's always kind of been this like back and forth relationship with Edmonton. And uh I got super close, you know, this year with us being uh in Calgary, but you know, Alberta, we had to make sure we had to give you guys a uh Edmonton show. So they're stay, but we're now awesome.

Rapid Fire Favourites And Roots

SPEAKER_03 10:59

Now I have a quick game for you. How do we feel about that? Alright, let's do it, let's do it. Alright, it's time to turn it up with Raf. Raph, what is your favorite ice cream flavor?

SPEAKER_00 11:09

Honestly, I'm very boring. It's vanilla and chocolate.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

Favorite Punjabi word.

SPEAKER_00 11:13

Um probably can't say that in front of my lovely audience right now, but for the fact that this is a family show, I'm gonna go with um I'm gonna go with Sapira. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:25

Favorite comfort movie.

SPEAKER_00 11:27

Oh, um, choice story.

SPEAKER_03 11:30

Favorite Punjabi song of all time.

SPEAKER_00 11:32

Ooh, there's so many, man. There's so many. Um, just because Jazzy Baji's playing right now, I'm gonna say uh Jazzy B is not.

SPEAKER_03 11:40

Okay, and from your own catalogue, what's your favorite song?

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Uh, really good question. I think um a strong contender, honestly, there's this so Ma'anu de Ablesare Whatopia on Dea, and so they're all my songs, I love them all. Um, Snake Trauma. Um, I think it marks something really important for me. And to have uh Sukshindishinda on production, it was a real coming of age, and it really made me feel like I was a serious contender to have such a serious producer and such a massive hit, man. Big up, yeah. Snake trauma for me.

SPEAKER_03 12:11

Alright, a dream collaboration.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

Uh a dream collaboration in Punjabi?

SPEAKER_03 12:16

Anyone?

SPEAKER_00 12:17

Um, me a West Side Gun.

SPEAKER_03 12:19

Perfect. Well, what is your music industry hot take?

Vanity Metrics Versus Real Fans

SPEAKER_00 12:24

Um, my music industry hot take is hard work and actual stats go a longer way than vanity metrics and buying views. Because, you know, when you buy a lot of views and you pull up to these venues, you know, are those bots gonna be there in the crowd or does that translate into hard ticket sales? You know, we pulled up to Calgary Stampede, we're here in Edmonton. My solo shows, my headline shows, whether that's in London, North America, Canada, America, wherever you want to say, I think that's my hot take. Uh, you know, don't fluff up the views and streams too much because you're you're gonna get caught lying.

SPEAKER_03 12:59

I love it. Thank you so much, everyone. That was Raph Sapera.

Closing And Where To Listen

SPEAKER_02 13:12

Wow, thank you, Mr. Snake Charmer himself, Raph Sapera, for the wonderful interviews with us. Give us a follow at The Universal Radio. Tune in from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day at 97.9 fm, or live stream us at www.theuniversal radio.com