The first South Asians arrived in Canada in the first years of the 20th century. A group of Sikh soldiers, who accompanied the British monarch King Edward VIII on a tour of Canada, stayed on to work in the lumberyards in the far western province of British Columbia. Lured by high wages, a steady stream of Punjabis began migrating to the region. In 1908, the government introduced a law called the Continuous Journey Act that drastically slowed the influx of migrants. The Act was an early example of governments imposing restrictions designed to keep out particular groups – in this case Sikhs stationed in Hong Kong – by requiring a "direct continuous journey" from India to Canada.
But the Canadian authorities became more welcoming as time passed. Today, South Asian Canadians comprise nearly 10% of the population. The community has been active and its members have made a name for themselves in several professions including politics, academia, cinema, business and the performing arts. Four South Asian Canadians currently serve in the cabinet of the new Justin Trudeau government.
In the field of music, Canadians of South Asian origin have impressed for many years and could be the subject of several editions of this column. But for now, here is a small selection of the sounds of desi Canada.
Raghav
Angel Eyes
The slinky descending groove of this 2004 hit by Alberta’s Raghav (Mathur) is intensely infectious. It’s a tip-of-the-hat to the reggae smash Murder She Wrote and makes it hard to keep still. A man who takes his career very seriously, Raghav spent time in both Los Angeles and the United Kingdom to be mentored by some of the industry’s top singing coaches and instructors. Although his early work released while still in the UK charted the highest, he continues to produce quality pop music in Canada, including a collaboration with Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan last year.
Anjulie
Brand New Bitch
Anjulie Persaud’s grandparents would have been restricted from landing in Canada under the Continuous Journey Act, as they migrated first to Guyana before her parents eventually moved to Ontario. A genuine pop diva with some of the aggressive sexualised attitude of Miles Davis’ feisty wife Betty, Anjulie is no shrinking violet. This major hit does not muck about and shows why she’s not just a sought-after performer but a songwriter for other stars as well.
Don’t need a rescue
it's all good
Baby, I been hittin’ my stride
I got my red lipstick on
engine’s revving
You’re so far behind
I’m taking mine
Alysha Brilla
Sailor’s Wife
With the expulsion of South Asians from Uganda in the early 1970s, migration to Canada from all over East Africa picked up. Alysha Brilla’s family has not only India, but Tanzania in its history as well. Her mother is Canadian and contributed a love of folk, the blues and jazz, while her father’s love of Afrobeat and Indian music has influenced her approach as well. Sailor’s Wife is a light-hearted ditty which would not be worth much attention in the hands of an artist of less skill and style. But her infectious joy, natural style and firm, confident voice make it a real pleasure. It's something that deserves repeated listens.
The Bilz and Kashif
Tere Nainon Mein
Three lads from Montreal, The Bilz and Kashif are a sort of desi Boyzone – an Indo-Canadian boy band who weave breathy lyrics (sung in Hindi and English) and cool harmonies with silken ease. In 2006, a twinset of the boys’ hits so captivated music listeners across Canada, that they sat above hits by Beyonce and Justin Timberlake for the better part of a month.
Karen David
Hypnotize
Born in Shillong, Karen David claims Chinese, Indian and even a smidgen of Jewish blood. Arriving in Canada as a child, she migrated to the UK as a teenager where she made a name as an actor in television, film and stage. She was in the original cast of Mamma Mia! and also bagged roles in the North American tour of AR Rahman’s Bombay Dreams. Hypnotize is a strong outing from 2010 that showcases her funk and R&B credentials very nicely.
