Punjabi Wave: Karan Aujla Is Aiming for the Number One Spot

Karan Aujla just had the highest charting Punjabi album ever in Canada, but he has his sights set higher. He wants the number one spot. Him, or one of his peers. The Surrey, British Columbia singer/songwriter’s collaborative album with producer Ikky, Making Memories , hit No. 5 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. That’s a testament to the music — an infectious, replayable mix of traditional Punjabi sounds and Western pop, hip-hop and R&B influences. But it also speaks to the momentum of Punjabi music on both the Canadian and world stage. “It’s a big, big, massive moment,” Aujla tells Billboard Canada. Signed to the major label Warner Music in both India and Canada, Aujla shows what can happen when people from across the world work together to promote music. It’s support that he could have used years ago, he says, but he’s happy that it’s happening now. The songs have collectively garnered close to 60 million streams on Spotify, and they’re a social media sensation that’s transcended Aujla. More than 300,000 people have made Instagram reels set to the Preston Pablo-featuring song “Admiring You,” while “Softly” is a dance sensation on TikTok, with celebrities like Vicky Kaushal and Sargun Mehta grooving alongside listeners from all over the globe. Aujla and Ikky are about to take the songs on a world tour, starting in New York in mid-October. Seeing the obsessive response from fans online, he’s ready to see how people react live. “I can just feel those voices in my head already,” he says. “Imagine 5,000 people singing ‘Admiring You’ together. I can’t wait to see it.” Admirin' You (Official Video) Karan Aujla