Tag: Karan Aujla

Karan Aujla and Ikky Talk Turning Punjabi Beats Into Global Hits

October 9, 2025

From its vibrant Indian origin to playlists spanning the globe, Punjabi music is having a moment. Today in India, it stands among the most-streamed music languages on Spotify, alongside Hindi and English. But its reach extends beyond borders, captivating fans worldwide with its high-energy beats and unmistakable vibes.

One of the artists at the forefront of this movement is Karan Aujla. His latest album, P-POP CULTURE, made an immediate impact, rocketing to No. 1 on Spotify India’s Weekly Top Albums charts its debut week. That same week, both the album and artist broke into Spotify’s global Top 100—the album reaching No. 60, and Karan hitting No. 82. Since its August release, P-POP CULTURE has amassed nearly 200 million streams, with the single “MF Gabhru!” racking up an impressive 38 million.

Fresh off the buzz of his new album, Karan was a natural choice for the cover of Punjabi 101, Spotify’s flagship playlist for the genre. Fans went wild, and streams of the playlist jumped by 21% during his week in the spotlight. Over the past year, Punjabi 101 has featured a wider range of emerging artists, reflecting Spotify’s commitment to spotlighting both established and rising Punjabi voices.

While most of Karan’s fans are in India, where he ranks among the top 10 most popular artists on Spotify, his reach is global. From his current home in Canada to the UK, Pakistan, the US, Australia, and the UAE, he’s cultivated an audience of more than 21 million followers to date.

But like most artists, Karan isn’t crafting these hits alone. Canadian Punjabi musician and producer Ikky has been right by his side, producing both P-POP CULTURE and Karan’s 2023 album, Making Memories. Ikky himself is one of the biggest names in Punjabi music today, having collaborated with popular Punjabi artists like Diljit Dosanjh, Sidhu Moose Wala, and Shubh.

For the Record recently caught up with Karan and Ikky to delve into the global rise of Punjabi music, the creative process behind P-POP CULTURE, and their exciting vision for the genre’s future. 

Your album, P-POP CULTURE, has clearly amplified Punjabi music’s global moment. What do you think is fueling this worldwide excitement for the genre?

Karan Aujla: It’s the energy and emotion. Punjabi music tells real stories about love, struggle, and ambition. People feel that no matter where they’re from.

Ikky: And sonically, we’re blending traditional sounds with global influences—hip-hop, R&B, dancehall. That fusion makes it relatable worldwide.

How do you stay rooted in Punjabi culture while making music that feels fresh?

Karan: I stay true to my roots lyrically, but I experiment with global sounds. That mix keeps it authentic and current.

Ikky, you’re a leading voice for Punjabi music in Canada. How has your upbringing shaped your sound?

Ikky: Growing up in Toronto, I was exposed to Punjabi music at home and hip-hop and R&B on the streets. That blend naturally comes through in my production.

Are there any countries or cities where the response to Punjabi music has surprised you?

Karan: For sure. It’s amazing to see packed shows in places like Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. The fans there go hard.

Ikky: Same here. It’s crazy to see people singing along word for word in cities we never expected. The reach is unreal.

Karan, a significant portion of your fan base on Spotify is under 35. Why do you think your music resonates so strongly with Gen Z and millennials?

Karan: I keep it real. Young people today want honesty, and I talk about things they’re living; the hustle, love, and pain. And I’m always evolving that sound.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for Punjabi music globally?

Ikky: I want to see it treated like any other global genre on the biggest stages and in major collabs. We’re just getting started.

 Ready to dive into the world of Punjabi beats? Stream P-POP CULTURE on Spotify.

Broadcasting Desi Music to New Homes Around the World

August 7, 2023

Bollywood dance music, chill Sufi songs, hot Punjabi hits—all of these sounds make up the diverse and varied world of Desi music. They also represent artists and genres coming out of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Listeners across the region flock to Spotify to celebrate their culture and its music. And no matter where they go, their heritage moves with them. 

This South Asian Heritage Month, Spotify is celebrating the music of the region locally and across the South Asian diaspora. Listeners in the U.S., UK, and Canada remain the leading countries that stream Desi music, followed by Australia and Germany. Desi music is growing rapidly in the UAE, Australia, and Canada—and shows the largest increase in streams of the South Asian music genre—recording year-on-year growth of 72%, 54%, and 50% respectively. 

In Pakistan, too, 2023 has seen a phenomenal rise in the production and appreciation of Punjabi music. Compared to 2021, the total number of Punjabi track releases has nearly doubled, showcasing the industry’s vibrant growth and creative evolution. Punjabi pop, with its catchy tunes, has witnessed a remarkable 99% year-on-year increase in listener consumption in the market. Meanwhile, Punjabi Hip Hop has seen an astounding 106% growth in its listenership in Pakistan. This surge in popularity reflects the genre’s universal appeal, which then transcends borders and cultures.

“With Spotify significantly strengthening its position in South Asian markets, we are able to connect artists to their fans and communities across the globe, and have witnessed a growing love for South Asian artists and Desi music that reflects in the exponential growth of streams of our Desi playlists,” says Rutaba Yaqub, Spotify Senior Editor in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. 

“Millions in the South Asian diaspora long for a connection to home. Music keeps them in touch and Spotify wants to celebrate and enable that connection. So we’re celebrating South Asian Heritage Month this year by building a strong cultural connection between Desi music and its listeners through our South Asian Music Hub, where listeners can find and enjoy popular Desi playlists and more,” she added. 

That connection was felt especially this year with Ali Sethi and Shae Gill’s track “Pasoori.” After its release, “Pasoori” became a phenomenon that took its place on the global Viral 50 chart, the first Pakistani song to achieve this feat. It continues to be the most-streamed Pakistani track globally. This month, we also spotlight Ali Sethi and the influential Irfan Junejo in a Spotlight series on our platform.

Indian music preferences are a little more varied. The most-streamed songs from India in a majority of the largest diaspora markets, including the U.S., UK, UAE, and Australia, feature Bollywood hits like “Kesariya (from ‘Brahmastra’),” followed by “Besharam Rang,” and “Jhoome Jo Pathaan” (both from Pathaan). In Canada, however, the top 10-streamed Desi songs from the past year prominently feature Punjabi pop and hip-hop. “52 Bars” by Karan Aujla and Ikky was the most listened-to track. 

“South Asian music is undoubtedly here to stay, and India is one of the largest contributors to the export of artists from this region,” says Rahul Balyan, Head of Music, Spotify India. “With Spotify, sounds from across the world have become easier to discover and share, and for the Indian diaspora, which happens to be the largest in the world, music is an integral part of how they stay connected to their roots. All our data indicates that film, as well as pop music, appeals the most to those listeners, and Indian artists performing at international music festivals is testament to the impact that they are making even beyond the diaspora.” 

For the best of South Asian music, stream Desi Hits. 

Diwali Gets a Dash of Sparkle With Spotify’s New Festive Hub

October 18, 2022

Diwali hub header showing 5 screens of the in-app experience

Diwali, the “festival of lights,” is one of the most widely celebrated occasions in India. Signifying the victory of light over darkness, of good over evil, the festivities take place over five days, with homes across the country lit up with traditional clay diyas (lamps). It’s a time of delicious food and auspicious beginnings, a time to be among family, friends, laughter, conversation, and music. Adding to this important cultural moment are Spotify playlists that are curated by our India music editors. These playlists set the mood for the many moments that make up Diwali, from saying a prayer to hosting dinner parties with friends. 

This year, Spotify is going beyond Diwali playlists to enhance the in-app experience for our listeners in India and the diaspora by launching an all-new Diwali hub. Packed with features that can connect listeners to their favorite artists and music more deeply, the hub will include personalized playlists, Spotify clips, Blend playlists with some of India’s most popular artists, and more.

Playlists to soundtrack your day . . . and night

If you’re looking for something tailored to your tastes, check out: 

  • Daily Diwali, a refreshed-daily mix of Diwali songs for you to discover.
  • Your Diwali 2022, a playlist with all the songs you need to get into the spirit of Diwali, made just for you. 

If you start each day of Diwali festivities with a prayer, tune in to a variety of devotional playlists curated especially for the festival across several languages. Entertaining in the evening and looking for music to set the mood? Check out Diwali Bash (Hindi), Diwali Party Hits (Punjabi), Deepavali Kondattam (Tamil), Deepavali Dhamaka (Telugu), and much more. 

But, wait… there’s more. We’ve hidden a dash of sparkle in the Now Playing view. See if you can find while playing your favorite tunes in this year’s Diwali playlists. 

Want to know what everyone is streaming through the festive week? Explore the Top 50 Diwali playlist for the songs that are trending in India this season.

diwali experience with sparkle easter egg