Forget K Pop, Punjabi Pop is sweeping the world

[DKG]

Punjabi music is taking the world by storm and its new sound is based in Canada

Over the past few years, a new generation of Punjabi performers has emerged from Canada with a unique fusion of cross-cultural influences that could've only come from this country.

The Punjabi wave, as some call it, is a blend of the Indo-Aryan language with elements of global hip-hop, R&B and trap music. In Canada, its popularity is led by an array of names including AP Dhillon, Karan Aujla, Gurinder Gill and producer Ikky.

These artists, helped by a tight-knit community of music professionals, have scaled India and Canada's charts, launched major tours and left some in the industry wondering if Punjabi music is on the cusp of its breakout moment akin to what "Gangnam Style" and "Despacito" did for Korean and Spanish-language pop music.

This weekend, two rising stars of the Punjabi-Canadian music scene head to Halifax for the Juno Awards, where they vie for the fan choice prize alongside pop's biggest names, including the Weeknd and Tate McRae.

Karan Aujla, whose track "Softly" certified the British Columbia-raised singer as a hitmaker last year, will compete with rapper Shubh, a Brampton, Ont.-based artist known for his streaming hits "One Love" and "Cheques." The fan choice award is handed out at the end of Sunday's CBC Junos broadcast.

This is a pivotal moment for the Punjabi genre, which has never been represented in the marquee Junos category, which aims to capture the zeitgeist. Aujla holds a second Juno nod for breakthrough artist this year.

All of this comes as the genre's profile continues to rise in Canada.

Outside the country, the Punjabi music industry has taken notice. Next month, India-based performer Diljit Dosanjh launches an arena and stadium tour that rolls through five Canadian cities, starting in Vancouver and ending in Toronto.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Toronto rapper AR Paisley, who appears on "Drippy."

"With what's happening, we're going to see a lot of young and talented artists on the come up."
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/03/21/punjabi-music-is-taking-the-world-by-storm-and-its-new-sound-is-based-in-canada/

[DKG]

[DKG]

[Shen Li]

Most Indo-Singapreans are from the South of India. Punjabi-pop isn't that popular here(yet). But, I was exposed to it Canada. Some of it makes you want to dance and partay.