In an unprecedented second in Canadian music, a Punjabi artist made historical past with a victory on the 2024 Juno Awards.
Karan Aujla received the 2024 TikTok Juno Fan Alternative Award, breaking boundaries for a neighborhood not historically acknowledged on this house.
“Punjabi music is the long run”, Aujla promised whereas talking with OMNI Information on the Junos purple carpet.
Hailing from Punjab, India, and now dwelling in Vancouver, B.C., Aujla has cemented himself as a family identify, not solely throughout the Punjabi music scene however throughout the whole Canadian music panorama.
In 2023, two of Aujla singles, “52 Bars” and “Take It Simple”, made the highest 10 most-watched YouTube movies in Canada, a testomony to his widespread reputation and affect. His songs have transcended linguistic and cultural obstacles to turn into anthems of a era.
These anthems have been loud and clear on Sunday evening, as Aujla and producer Ikky, carried out their single “Admirin’ You”. After Tesher and AP Dhillon, Aujla has turn into the third musician to sing in Punjabi on the distinguished Junos stage.
Aujla’s recognition comes as no shock to followers because the meteoric rise of Punjabi music on this a part of the world takes the business by storm.
Canada is experiencing its personal Punjabi music renaissance with its new sound deeply rooted in Canada. The style has reworked from conventional bhangra and people music, into a brand new, contemporary and distinctive sound the place Punjabi lyrics mix with hip-hop beats, permitting artists to achieve new heights.
This yr, along with Aujla’s victory, the Juno Awards additionally gave a nod to one other rising star throughout the Punjabi music scene, Shubh.
The singer, who has over 74 million YouTube views on his single “Nonetheless Rollin”, additionally obtained two nominations, additional highlighting the rising affect of Punjabi music on a nationwide stage.
Aujla’s win on the Juno Awards symbolizes a triumph, not just for the Punjabi music style, however for cultural range and illustration within the Canadian music business.
“The music is superb,” said Julie Adam, chair of the Juno Awards. “We actually see the rise and the demand, I feel that’s actually what it’s about”.
As Aujla celebrates this well-deserved victory, the long run seems to be brighter than ever for Punjabi music, and the artists whose successes are rooted in Canada. In April, Vancouver’s AP Dhillon will turn into the second Punjabi artist ever to carry out at Coachella Music Competition, following the historic 2023 efficiency of Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh.
Dosanjh is also paying attention to this rising zeitgeist in Canada. Dosanjh will kick off his North American tour in Vancouver subsequent month in entrance of over 50,000 followers at B.C Place, with performances to observe in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto. Dosanjh is about to make historical past having the biggest Punjabi music live performance in Canada.
It’s little question the world is taking discover of this new wave of Punjabi music, and with Aujla’s 2024 Juno Award tonight, it’s protected to say Canada isn’t lacking a beat.
