Alaap (band)
{{Short description|British Asian live band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Alaap
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alias =
| origin = Southall, United Kingdom
| instrument =
| genre = Bhangra
| occupation =
| years_active = 1977-1994
| label = Multitone
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members = Channi Singh
| past_members =
}}
Alaap are a British Asian live band credited as the founders of British Bhangra.{{Cite book|title = Between Colonialism and Diaspora: Sikh Cultural Formations in an Imperial World|last = Ballantyne|first = Tony|publisher = Duke University Press |year = 2006|isbn = 0822338246 }} In 2017, the BBC described the group as the 'most prolific' bhangra band.{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/3c824721-6f0f-4561-bcbd-d3e56c640eb1|title=10 astonishing record-breakers in global music |last= Hebblethwaite |first=Phil |publisher=BBC |date= January 27, 2017 |website=BBC |access-date=November 10, 2019}}
History
The band formed in Southall, West London, in 1977.{{Cite book|title = World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East|last = Dorian|first = Frederick|last2 = Duane|first2 = Orla|last3 = McConnachie|first3 = James|publisher = Rough Guides|year = 1999|isbn = 1858286352|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/roughguidetoworl00simo}} Originally a traditional bhangra band, they were prominent in the community circuit, playing at weddings and family gatherings in Southall.{{Cite book|title = Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture |last = Donnell|first = Alison|publisher = Routledge |year = 2002|isbn = 1134700245 }} They had an early break on the BBC TV Asian programme, Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan.
In 1978, they were discovered by talent scout Pran Gohill of Multitone Records and they recorded several albums with the label. Teri Chunni de Sitare (1979) was the first album to be recorded by a British bhangra group, and is widely recognised as marking the birth of the ‘Southall scene’.
In 1984, they began work with Deepak Kazanchi on the album Ten Chunm De Sitare, which introduced elements of contemporary electronic dance music into the band’s sound.