– Cultural vanguard Raf-Saperra returns today with his brand new single “Step Out” produced by hitmaker Ikky and backed by Polydor Records in the UK and Universal Music Canada.
An unexpected new chapter from the British Punjabi musical disruptor, Raf-Saperra takes his boldest artistic leap to date with a vibrant, infectious pop track delivered through his signature Punjabi lens. “Step Out” is the latest collaboration between Raf and Ikky, following “Heer” from earlier this year.
About the new single, Raf says: “First time stepping into the pop lane… and who better to do it with than the hitmaker himself, Ikky. ‘Step Out’ is a full-blown earworm – catchy, bold, and backed by a visual straight out of a cartoon-meets-cinema dream. Press play and don’t look back!”
A powerful blend of catchy melodic hooks, electronic textures, and Raf’s trademark folk lyricism, “Step Out” is lifted from his upcoming pop-focused EP in collaboration with Ikky. This song is Raf and Ikky’s take on the Dub music that has inspired London with a blend of dancehall that has inspired Toronto– all with the strength of Punjabi music coming from these two global stars.
The track is accompanied by a sleek, high-energy visual directed by Bedroom Projects and Avleen Kaur, spotlighting Raf in full transformation mode, stepping confidently into new sonic terrain. “Step Out” signals a striking new direction for an artist known for bending genre rules and elevating underground sounds.
Rooted in traditional Punjabi singing, but equally shaped by Streatham’s rap culture and East Coast hip-hop, Raf-Saperra is one of the most daring and original voices to emerge from London in recent years. His 2023 project Ruff Around The Edges was critically acclaimed as one of the most genre-bending debuts in the British underground, and his 2024 follow-up 5 Deadly Venomz, a hard-hitting Punjabi boom-bap rap project, proved Raf could go bar-for-bar with rap royalty like Conway The Machine, Dave East, and Big Body Bes, all while staying rooted in his cultural identity. Raf has routinely spoken fondly of the Punjabi music scene in Canada and sold out shows across the country. With “Step Out,” he formally lends his voice to one of the nation’s most in-demand producers.
With his upcoming EP, Raf is out to prove something different: that Punjabi music isn’t confined to genre, and neither is he.
The single and EP are produced by Ikky, one of the most important and influential producers in the global Punjabi music movement. With over 3 billion streams to his name, the Toronto-based super-producer has redefined what Punjabi music can sound and feel like in the modern era. His sonic blueprint has powered crossover anthems for the likes of AP Dhillon, Karan Aujla, Diljit Dosanjh, Shubh, and more, blending rich Punjabi instrumentation with stadium-sized pop and R&B polish.
“Step Out” is more than a single – it’s a statement.
