Jasmine Singh
Rock, blues, jazz, country, rhythm and blues, hip hop…You don’t have to be an expert to know these common music genres. But you need to be a die-hard fan to know that these genres have now found their way into Punjabi songs!
A K ay in Brown Boi Jazzy B and Surveen Chawla in Mitran De Boot Babbal Rai |
If you have heard Punjabi singer-actor Babbal Rai’s Akh Teri, Jassi Gill’s Ek Saal, or A Kay’s Brown Boi, Jazzy B’s Mitran De Boot, Money Aujla’s London, Jaz Dhami’s Zulfa or music director V Groove’s Landa Scooter, you wouldn’t have missed the touch of one of these genres in it. Experimentation, creativity or international phenomenon, whatever may be the justification, Punjabi music is being fused with western music genres. Somewhere one can credit it to Yo Yo Honey Singh. However, now many singers and music directors are picking these genres to bring a new look to their songs.
West life
Jaz Dhami and Yo Yo Honey Singh jumped in ‘High Heels’, the popular Punjabi track, with a strong undercurrent of rock. On the other hand, Babbal Rai uses dub step in his track Ankh Teri. For international effect? “Music is a global phenomenon. So unless we bring in global elements in it how can we say it?” says music director V Grooves. The music director likes to add bits and pieces of rock, dub step and even country music to his tracks. “Even non-Punjabis are fond of Punjabi music, and with a touch of the western genres, the reach increases far and beyond.”
Though the so called ‘pendu’ songs or the folk touched songs still rule the roost in Punjabi music industry, many singers feel the need to upgrade their music.
Singer-actor Jassi Gill’s latest track Ek Saal has a touch of folk music with special emphasis on technical and detailed deconstruction. “It was an experiment and a risk, but a singer has to try new styles, so I did. Also, we perform all across the globe, songs with a touch of western genres are always lapped up easily.”
Jam ‘n’ right
They are not only performing in non-Punjabi states and countries, but Punjabi singers are also collaborating with some international artistes. This is one reason why songs now are falling into the category of Punjabi-jazz! Dr Zeus, Mofolatic and Pav Dharia are some music composers bringing in the western touch in Punjabi music. Singer Preet Harpal has recently collaborated with Hard Kaur in Att Goriye, a rock Punjabi number. “Everyone likes the desi Punjabi songs and they also like those with hip hop or rock element,” says the singer, who recently performed in Mumbai where people commented that it was a very ‘Pinglish’ number. Ditto for singer Money Aujla, who is known to be the first young singer to bring in country music with his track London. For this singer western genres in Punjabi music are neither a necessity nor a need, “It is a creative music output. I used country music because I was collaborating with Nesdi Jones, and we wanted the track to have an international feel.”
Next time when you play a Punjabi song while driving or happen to listen to one it a party, try to catch the subtle yet ‘very much there’ western influence. You might want to add it to your international music list!