Tag: Punjabi Music

‘CAN You Hear Me’ Returns as Toronto Music Producer Ikky Creates a Musical Melting Pot

June 15, 2023

In celebration of Canadian artistry, For the Record has launched CAN You Hear Me, a series championing the music, unique talent, and diverse cultures found in the Great White North—from the jazz bars in Québec to the dance clubs in Ontario all the way to the powwows in the west.

Next up in our series is the trendsetting producer gaining international acclaim Ikwinder Sahota, better known as Ikky. Through his 4N Records imprint (pronounced “foreign”) on Warner Music Canada and his 4N Nights concert series, the 22-year-old from the Rexdale neighborhood of Toronto has been effectively bridging the gap between the exploding music scenes in India and the rest of the world.

Growing up Indian in the cultural melting pot that is the Toronto music scene has helped Ikky seamlessly blend Punjabi Bhangra music with hip-hop, pop, and Caribbean sounds into a unique style that highlights the cultural exchange that defines his home city. He has worked with some of the biggest Punjabi artists in the world today, including Diljit Dosanjh and Shubh. The Four You EP released this year with Karan Aujla was an instant hit, taking in tens of millions of streams per track, with “52 Bars” taking the top spot for listens.

For the Record sat down with Ikky to talk about life growing up in Canada, his love of Drake, and what it means to carve out a space for South Asian talent.

Can you tell us a little bit about your journey into music?

My father used to write music and he had a dream of being in the music industry, but since it never happened to him, he shoved my brother and me into it. At the time, I didn’t really want to do it, but I developed a taste for the music and mixes you’d hear in dance music and started remixing when I was around 8 years old. My brother then joined in and we’d do live shows, then we’d start learning some instruments, and by the time I was 12, I’d really started to grasp the extent and joy found in the world of production.

So, from then on, I started working on my craft. I learned lots, made songs either with my voice or someone else’s, began meeting some people within the industry, and by the time I was in grade 12, I had a hit record. 

Your music spans and intersects multiple genres and cultures, resulting in a vibe that’s almost a signature of Toronto music. Can you share a bit about where that sound came from for you?

Here in Toronto, the people I grew up with were Punjabi, Hindu, Muslim . . . there was this fusion of cultures. Even the music was a mix of the traditional stuff we all knew and what we listened to that was part of living in Toronto. So I would listen to Jay-Z growing up and show his music to my Black and white friends. Then they’d show me what they were listening to and everything just kind of blends together.

I feel like with my music, even though it combines a lot of different elements, you’re not consciously thinking that I tried to make an American song, an Indian song, or a Spanish song. It sounds like a natural exchange because that’s what growing up in Toronto was like. You only learn that by literally growing up here.    

What prompted your label, 4N Records?

As production became my calling, I was getting a lot of ghost work for hire, but it really felt like I was working on the client’s dream more than my own. It just became a job that I took so I could stay afloat and afford going to university. But then I met Mathew Fruitman and Eric Lawrence from Coalition Music, and in talking with them, I started thinking that maybe there was a bigger picture to this, and I could really evolve into doing things I want to do and create an entity where other artists and music could live on beyond me.

And it started off as a Punjabi kind of entity, but eventually I went for it and made it culturally diverse for everybody. Whether you’re from America listening to Indian sounds or in India listening to American ones, foreign music is what we make at 4N. And as a guy from Toronto where we get hit with every sort of culture, I made it a point to make it diverse and unique.

Along with the Canadian scene, you’ve been a big part of the growing worldwide success of Punjabi music. What was your experience in bringing the language to international ears?

I think over the last couple of years, people have really started to pay attention to Punjabi music, and I think I kind of helped close the gap on the producer end of things. We have a lot of artists breaking through, but as a producer I feel like it’s my job to direct them into the lane towards exposure. And honestly, I think I do a good job of that because of the team I have. My dream has become theirs too, and I truly feel like we’re at the forefront of something great.

The Punjabi music community isn’t as big as America’s, and there are barely any collaborations. So I’m trying to shine my light on them, bring them over here, and have our team all work together so that we’re on the same page. To make Punjabi relevant, we’ve got to do this on our own and open the gate. And when that gate’s open, it’s open forever. 

What’s one message you’d like listeners to take away from your music?

I think it’s just to work with a greater cause in mind. Every time I drop a project, I’m thinking of the generation after me as they hold this music until the end of their lives.

How have Spotify’s artist tools helped you? 

Spotify for Artists has been a fantastic tool in researching. It’s helped me understand my demographic better and it allows me to do the right kind of research that helps me plan things out. I know where to book shows based on where my listeners are and can take a look at the streams of my tracks and learn about what’s been working. 

Which fellow Canadian artists inspire you?

I’m kind of biased because I’m also from Toronto, but Drake. He’s able to tell a story, whether it’s through an interlude or a full album. Even when he’s not really singing on it, it’s undeniably his song. Listening to Drake has been my inspiration this whole time because he showed me that there’s more to making music than just whipping up some sounds. He’s really one of my biggest inspirations in terms of music and how he lives his life.

What songs are on your On Repeat playlist?

I listen to Drake all day, man. “Do Not Disturb,” “Keep the Family Close”. . . yeah, it’s those stories for me. 

I listen to a lot of The Weeknd, too, because, again, his pop is not everyone else’s pop. It’s honestly been crazy to see him grow as an artist the past few years.

Hear what Ikky offers to the cultural exchange of music in our This Is Ikky playlist.

Punjabi Music Gains Worldwide Recognition

April 26, 2023

Punjabi Feature Header

Punjabi music is enjoying a remarkable rise in popularity—and not just with listeners in India, but also among the diaspora and broader global audiences. Of the 10 most-streamed songs in India in 2022, four were in Punjabi, with “Excuses” by AP Dhillon, Intense, and Gurinder Gill taking the top spot as the most-streamed song and Moosetape, by the late Sidhu Moose Wala, nabbing the spot for the most-streamed album. Outside of India, Punjabi artists have been lighting up the stage at some of the world’s top events, representing the community and the demand for this music beyond the home country.

“Today Punjabi is one of the most-streamed music languages on Spotify in India, with playlists such as Punjabi 101 and Hot Hits Punjabi emerging as the go-to destinations for listeners to discover the best and biggest hits,” says Rahul Balyan, Spotify’s Head of Music for India. “The global recognition for Punjabi artists is evident with moments like Diljit Dosanjh’s recent gig at Coachella, a first for any Punjabi artist, and AP Dhillon’s performance at the Juno Awards in Canada earlier this year.” 

Recently, Spotify partnered with music labels in India to launch three new Spotify Singles: “Maan Punjabi” by Tarsem Jassar, “Raanjha” by Nimrat Khaira, and “Challa” by Gurdas Maan and Diljit Dosanjh. These tracks highlight the true breadth of Punjabi music’s folk roots and traditional sound mixed with the modern, global elements that have put the scene on the world’s must-listen list.

Speaking to the adoption of these international sounds in Punjabi music, Nimrat Khaira, one of India’s most popular singers, tells For the Record, “The Punjabi music industry is inspiring the world, and the world’s music, in turn, is inspiring us. Our music is an amalgamation of hip-hop, pop, rock, and classical, so it truly is made up of a global sound.” She adds, “We commonly use piano and guitar in Punjabi music, which makes the music familiar to the global audience. These two instruments are now becoming an imperative part of the Punjabi music industry.”

The growing popularity of Punjabi pop around the world has also led to some of its elements making their way into international music. “Punjabi music is influencing international beat patterns by reintroducing Punjabi beats based on instruments such as the dhol, sitar, and flute, and percussion instruments—like the tabla,” says Indo-Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter Karan Aujla. “It’s fascinating to see our community and all our hard work expand so much.” 

“Punjabi music is influencing music today by connecting with people that are hungry for art,” says Ikky, a Canadian music producer who has worked with some of the biggest Punjabi artists in the world today, including Diljit Dosanjh and Shubh. “Punjabi people tend to support their own, and I think the music industry picks up on that.”

This growth is only set to continue, these artists believe. “Punjabi music is in a position like never before,” says Nimrat Khaira. “Millions of people are listening to it, humming it, and dancing to it. The entire credit goes to the artists and their teams who have been making some Earth-shattering content that is blowing up the international market. From here I just know there’s no looking back.” B Praak, an Indian singer, composer, music director, and producer, says, “We are present in almost all the continents now. Our aim is to present Punjabi music at the Oscars soon!”

If you’re beginning your journey into Punjabi music, Karan Aujla recommends the track “Gangsta,” which he made with YG, “to further recognize the melodies and rhyme patterns of Punjabi hip-hop songs.” B Praak, whose favorite genre is sad romantic, recommends starting with his track “Mann Bharrya.” And Ikky, who enjoys Punjabi pop, suggests “Summer High” by AP Dhillon.

Listen to the latest trending tracks in Punjabi with our Punjabi 101 playlist