{"id":168331,"date":"2025-06-20T15:10:34","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T19:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/06\/20\/shubh-speaks-the-first-interview-with-punjabi-musics-fastest-rising-star\/"},"modified":"2025-06-20T15:10:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T19:10:34","slug":"shubh-speaks-the-first-interview-with-punjabi-musics-fastest-rising-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/06\/20\/shubh-speaks-the-first-interview-with-punjabi-musics-fastest-rising-star\/","title":{"rendered":"Shubh Speaks: The First Interview with Punjabi Music\u2019s Fastest Rising\u00a0Star"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- no image --><\/p>\n<div><!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tShubh\u2019s rise has happened faster than he could have ever expected. In a quiet moment, Shubh softly remarks in Punjabi, \u201cI didn\u2019t think I would ever chart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHe\u2019s done more than that. The 27-year-old Brampton, Ontario-based Punjabi artist has become one of the most talked-about names in global music, amassing over 3 billion total streams across platforms, a fiercely loyal fanbase and a debut North American tour on the horizon, including arena dates in Oakland, Vancouver and Toronto. That\u2019s all without a label or a single dollar spent on ads.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAround him, a pair of his close friends and Brampton housemates, Prince and Vicky, and his longtime manager, Shivam Malhotra, lean in, smiling \u2013 not just because the comment is modest, but because the reality couldn\u2019t be more different.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThis is his first interview. It\u2019s the first time he\u2019s publicly reflecting on a journey that, in just a few years, has taken him from scribbling verses in a notebook to performing on arena stages across North America.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHis breakthrough came when his debut album, <em>Still Rollin,<\/em> debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart in June 2023 and his sophomore album, <em>Sicario<\/em>, entered the Top 25 at No. 24 in January 2025. When he speaks to <em>Billboard Canada,<\/em> his single \u201cSupreme\u201d is making a splash on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart following a No. 13 debut for the 2024 single \u201cKing Shit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBut today, Shubh isn\u2019t on stage, thinking about charts, or in the recording studio. He\u2019s seated calmly at the studio for his first cover shoot fo<em>r Billboard Canada<\/em>, surrounded by the same team that\u2019s been with him since day one. He answers slowly and thoughtfully, sometimes in Punjabi and sometimes in English. His friends and manager step in to help translate and interpret, not because he can\u2019t speak the language, but because he\u2019s never done this before and wants to express his clearest feelings.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Shubh - Supreme (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AX1zRInC_TA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tLong before his tracks topped charts or racked up hundreds of millions of streams, Shubh was just a teenager filling notebooks with verses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cI started writing when I was really young,\u201d he recalls. \u201cI\u2019ve been writing for 12 to 13 years. I\u2019ve always carried notebooks \u2013 almost like diaries \u2013 and that writing became the foundation of everything.\u201d At the time, music wasn\u2019t a professional ambition for Shubh. It was an outlet, a private ritual shaped by observation, emotion and self-reflection.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tToday, that introspective process has evolved into a discography that\u2019s earned him billions of streams, including nearly 400 million streams for his breakout single \u201cNo Love\u201d and over 370 million for \u201cCheques.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMore than ten years later, that habit hasn\u2019t faded. He still carries notebooks and pens wherever he goes, staying connected to the handwritten process that shaped his earliest songs. To this day, all of his songs begin on paper first.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tShubh\u2019s path to this moment didn\u2019t follow a script of a typical success story. He didn\u2019t go chasing viral fame or visibility. In fact, much like fellow Toronto artist The Weeknd, he kept his face and his identity hidden in the early stages, letting the music speak entirely for itself. There were no flashy rollouts or trend-driven moves. Instead, he spent those years in quiet focus, writing relentlessly, experimenting with sounds and perfecting each track in solitude.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cMy aim wasn\u2019t attention, it was precision,\u201d the singer says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMuch of that focus and clarity comes from where it all began. Growing up in Punjab, Shubh was surrounded by music at home, often hearing his father sing during family gatherings or daily routines. His father and older brother (Ravneet Singh, a well-known actor and singer) have been his biggest inspirations. They\u2019re still in India, and he carries those memories with him everywhere. It\u2019s that sense of home, that emotional imprint from his upbringing, that continues to drive him. It\u2019s the quiet force behind the fire in his work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIn 2014, Shubh moved to Canada to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at Sheridan College. \u201cI came here as a student on a study visa,\u201d he says. The early days weren\u2019t easy. \u201cI was a little bit nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tLike many international students, he juggled homesickness, new responsibilities and the weight of starting over. Music wasn\u2019t the goal then. It was more of a quiet companion. It wasn\u2019t until 2021 that he decided to release his first song. His debut track \u201cWe Rollin\u201d dropped without a music video and no press push. He didn\u2019t even show his whole face, wearing a scarf over his nose and mouth. He wanted his music to reach people first.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"We Rollin (Official Audio) - Shubh\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RLhuPD2ASKE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAnd it did. Within weeks, the song was blowing up globally, with fans reaching out from countries like Japan and across Latin America. Now, \u201cWe Rollin\u201d has surpassed 265 million views on YouTube alone, becoming the spark that launched Shubh into international recognition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThat initial wave of love changed everything. \u201cThat first song made me realize something special was happening.\u201d But Shubh didn\u2019t run to capitalize on it. He stayed in the studio, quietly focused on making better songs. \u201cSometimes I take two to three months to make just one song,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cHe gets into that shell, and he only comes out when it\u2019s ready,\u201d the artist\u2019s manager Malhotra explains. For instance, the mixing process for his 2022 single \u201cBaller,\u201d one of his most iconic tracks, was so intense, it reached 29 versions before he was ready to put it out. \u201cWe did 28 mixes,\u201d Shubh says, cracking a rare smile. \u201cThe 29th was okay, I guess. I still didn\u2019t like it.\u201d He only released it, he adds, because \u201cdeadlines\u201d forced his hand.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Shubh - Baller (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xR3V5Ow2dTI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tShubh puts his music through a rigorous test. He listens to each track hundreds of times. If he\u2019s still not tired of it after 200 plays, that\u2019s when he knows it\u2019s ready for the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cSome of his songs average eight streams per user on Spotify,\u201d Malhotra points out. \u201cThe industry standard is two or three \u2013 that\u2019s more than double. It shows people aren\u2019t just listening once, they\u2019re coming back again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBut it\u2019s not just the replay value that sets him apart. Shubh isn\u2019t just focused on lyrics and production. He\u2019s also expanding the vocabulary of Punjabi music. \u201cEvery time, I try to bring something fresh,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA clear example is \u201cOne Love,\u201d a reggae-leaning track inspired by Bob Marley\u2019s legacy. \u201cI used to listen to Bob Marley. Yeah, big Marley fan,\u201d he says. The track, which dropped without a music video, has already crossed 400 million streams on Spotify.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNext on his radar? \u201cI think I\u2019ll try rock in the next two to three months,\u201d he says. It\u2019s not a stretch \u2013 he already performs live with a full band and skips backing tracks entirely. \u201cI don\u2019t believe in doing minus,\u201d he says. \u201cEverything is done live, start to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMusically, Shubh\u2019s influences span decades and continents: Eminem, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent, Dr. Dre. He speaks about them with deep respect, connecting their influence to his own path. Being in Toronto exposed him to global music culture, and Drake \u2013 another hometown hero \u2013 has had a huge impact. \u201cI\u2019ve seen how an entire culture has been built around Drake,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tLiving in Toronto has helped shape a global sound that can cross borders. Even though Shubh sings in Punjabi, the themes in his music \u2013 migration, longing, identity, his journey, perseverance \u2013 resonate far beyond the diaspora. \u201cI write about what it feels like to leave home, move to a new country, and figure things out alone,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt\u2019s something a lot of people can relate to.\u201d Fans who don\u2019t understand the language still find something real in the flow and production. \u201cPeople feel the vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHe\u2019s incredibly selective about what he puts out. No matter how polished a track is, if it doesn\u2019t sit right with him, he won\u2019t release it. That personal compass is why Shubh\u2019s fans trust him. \u201cFor me, my fans are like family,\u201d he says. \u201cI reply to them online. I see everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tDespite avoiding public events and the spotlight, he\u2019s always connected, just on his own terms. \u201cShubh has never spent a dollar on ads or marketing,\u201d Malhotra says. \u201cEverything has grown organically.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNow, he\u2019s preparing for his first North American tour, and he\u2019s skipping the usual small venues to perform in massive arenas. \u201cI never expected this,\u201d he admits. \u201cBut I\u2019m very happy that we\u2019re performing in arenas.\u201d The first venue? Oakland Arena on August 22, followed by Rogers Arena in Vancouver on August 23, and then Scotiabank Arena on September 5, where some of his heroes, including Eminem, have performed. He finishes the tour at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on September 7.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tShubh had never even been to a concert before stepping on stage for his sold-out show at Indigo at the O2 in London in 2023. \u201cMy voice was shaking,\u201d he remembers. \u201cI was very hyped up, but it also humbled me down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe surreal experience of performing live for the first time, without ever having seen a show from the audience\u2019s side, marked a memorable moment in his journey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHe was supposed to go on a 2023 tour of India, but it was cancelled after <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatoday.in\/india\/story\/india-my-country-too-canada-based-singer-shubh-reacts-after-mumbai-tour-cancelled-2438888-2023-09-22\">backlash<\/a> against a social media post he felt was politically misinterpreted. At the time, Shubh called the cancelled shows \u201cdisheartening,\u201d and he\u2019s been conceptualizing how to make his concerts even stronger since.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA short tour in Australia and New Zealand the same year brought him to major venues \u2013 something he\u2019s looking to build on in Canada and the U.S.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNow that he\u2019s ready to embark on his first North American tour, he\u2019s been putting serious thought into every detail of his live shows: stage setup, sound, lighting, all of it. \u201cI\u2019m building something really special,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s never been done before in our scene.\u201d The tour is a statement. As an independent artist, he wants to pave the way for others. \u201cIf I can buy a beat for $80 and get 300 million streams out of it, I believe anyone can do it,\u201d Shubh says simply.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNow, Shubh already has his sights set even higher. \u201cAfter this, I want to go to stadiums,\u201d he says. \u201cThen, I want to pack entire cities. That\u2019s the vision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIt\u2019s clear he\u2019s already thinking well beyond the present. Not because he\u2019s in a hurry, but because he knows where this could go. He\u2019s seen what happens when you lead your life creatively and with sincerity. He\u2019s living proof that letting the music take center stage can open doors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tOne phrase he keeps returning to during the conversation is simple but powerful: \u201ckeep trying, keep hustling, be consistent.\u201d As he puts it, \u201cIf you bring honesty to your work, anything is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<em><a href=\"https:\/\/ca.billboard.com\/music\/features\/shubh-interview-cover-story\">This Billboard Canada cover story originally appeared on Billboard Canada.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/music-news\/shubh-interview-billboard-canada-1236003978\/\">Aller \u00e0 la source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shubh\u2019s rise has happened faster than he could have ever expected. In a quiet moment, Shubh softly remarks in Punjabi, \u201cI didn\u2019t think I would ever chart.\u201d He\u2019s done more than that. The 27-year-old Brampton, Ontario-based Punjabi artist has become one of the most talked-about names in global music, amassing over 3 billion total streams [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-168331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musique","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168331\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}