Raf Saperra is a third culture kid and his music speaks to the same. He’s the sound of a community that refuses to be boxed in. With his signature style that blends infectious rhythms and razor-sharp lyrics, Raf has become the poster boy for a new wave of Punjabi artists in the UK. His music is loud, unapologetic, and full of heart.In his discography, he draws from the raw energy of Punjabi folk but spins it into something entirely his own. The dhols and tumba are there, but so is an edge that feels distinctly British. His music doesn’t shy away from emotion, whether it’s a song that makes you want to belt out a chorus in pride or one that quietly stirs something in your gut. He’s not afraid to embrace his roots, but he’s equally unafraid to challenge them, layering in narratives about belonging, self-expression, and what it means to be Punjabi in a world where identity is often a performance.

This ethos takes center stage in Raf’s latest project, a short film that dives deep into the lives of the Punjabi community in Britain. Tale of the Snake Charmer directed by Sanvir Singh Chana is a glimpse into Raf's inner world and his life behind the curtains. Without revealing too much or being too literal, the film gets to the heart of his craft with a fine intelligence. It goes beyond Raf's childhood and his origin story with his training in the Hindustani classical music, the Patiala Gharana, his idols growing up and touches upon a more intimate aspect of his life as an artist.

In the short film, Raf opens up about his current nomadic lifestyle. He candidly shares that, at this moment, there’s no place he can truly call home; a fair statement from a performing artist who tours around the world but it also speaks volumes about his experience as a Muslim from West Punjab, now part of Pakistan. This sense of displacement isn’t unique to Raf but echoes the collective grief of a community that still feels the aftershocks of Partition. For many Muslims from what is now Pakistan, the Partition was an emotional and cultural uprooting. That pain, that search for belonging, is woven into the fabric of Raf’s music and storytelling which is also something he points out in the film: that even is you can dance to most of his tracks, they do originated from a place of pain.

However, there's peace in his journey too. Raf may be a Punjabi-speaking Pakistani but he's grown up in London and that's his city too. He is a "brudda from the ends" as he puts it. His craft is his way of assimilating his various identities and even though this life as an artist may be turbulent, he admits to be on a path towards peace. If you follow Raf's music you know the effect the authenticity in his expression has on people. The film comes from the same emotional space.  Tale of the Snake Charmer (which 'Saperra' translates to in English) taps into the complexity of belonging.

For the Punjabi diaspora in the UK, Raf Saperra is a mirror. His work reflects the pride, pain, and persistence of a community that has carved out space for itself while navigating cultural and historical turbulence. Raf’s music and his film remind us that identity is fluid, messy, and deeply personal. And in that messiness, there’s beauty, resilience, and the hope of finding home, even if it’s a home you have to create for yourself.

Follow Raf here and watch the short film below.

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