By Angela Lee

To Vancouver-based bhangra band Signia, "fusion" is a dirty word. "To us, it sounds like something that is forced," the band writes on its MySpace site.

"There is no force required to make our music sound as it does. "The band’s "sound", which it describes as West-Coast Canadian neo-bhangra, flows naturally from its founding members’ cultural roots.

LV and San-J’s parents came to Canada from England and Singapore, respectively.

The boys’ immediate influences, however, run the gamut from Heera Group to N.E.R.D. to ‘70s Hindi/Bollywood Disco. "We make Canadian music," the band continues, "and sing our lyrics in Punjabi and English because we feel like it, and we can."

The two head-up a nine-piece band that opened last year’s International Bhangra Celebration to rave reviews.

This June marked the release of their newest CD, SIGNIAtures.

This Saturday, the band opens RJ1200’s 1st anniversary dance party at the Croatian Cultural Centre.

The evening’s featured artist is Montreal band JoSH, who has had four #1 hits this year and has collaborated in the past with high-profile artists Nelly Furtado and Sukhbir.

Their song list is rumoured to include favourites "Mahi Ve", "Rock Your World", and "Mausam".

Also keeping the beat going Saturday are circuit regulars Shiamak’s Dance Team, a-slam, Shalini Kumar, FootEdge Dance Company and spinmeister DJ Reminisce (of Maximum NRG).

Tix: $35, 8pm, Sat Nov 24, Croatian Cultural Ctr (3250 Commercial Dr).