What makes AP Dhillon the leading force in today's Punjabi music industry?

Many say it's his ability to mix the mass with class, but there is more to it.Ojasvi Kapoor from Loudes.in decodes the ‘X’ factor behind Dhillon’s phenomenal rise.

How has AP Dhillon managed to create so much hype and momentum around his releases? It’s not been an easy journey. But there are a few specific things he’s done to cement his place in music history.

Amritpal Singh Dhillon, popularly known as AP Dhillon, has had quite a year. From releasing multiple songs and taking social media by storm to conducting a highly successful first tour, he’s done it all.

When AP first started working on songs, it took him a year of multiple failed attempts to understand the process of creating music.He and his team worked hard but they didn’t get the right music and the right beat and kick to it.

According to Rabindra Narayan, MD & President PTC Network, Punjabi music has always reflected the thoughts and aspirations of its people. He says that Dhillon caught the fancy of people with his lyrics which touched a chord with the youth of Punjab. 

“Brown Munde is how Indians are seen in Canada and USA. Their heartbreaks and struggles are the talk of the youth and add to it appealing vocals. That's the recipe which makes you an overnight sensation. It has worked well for Dhillon so far”, said Narayan.

Tarandeep Kaur, fashion influencer and winner of Mrs India digital ,and a big lover of  AP Dhillon music says the artist has become a rage world over because his music is youth centric. 

“His music has the soul of Punjabi mixed with western beats . His songs have become anthems  as they are rooted in today’s youth culture. He has a strong grip over the pulse of youth. There are only a handful of artists today who could elicit such a big response”, explains Kaur.

Dhillon’s music is a mix of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and rap. His songs are among the most heard across streaming platforms, and five of his singles have peaked on the Official Charts Company UK Asian and Punjabi charts, with ‘Insane’, ‘Majhail’ and ‘Brown Munde’ and his latest song Summer High is ruling reels era now.

Harmeet Singh of the award winning Meet Bro duo accepts that AP Dhillon has become  a new rage in the industry.  As per Singh, an artist becomes a rage not because of just one reason but multiple reasons.

“When somebody brings in a new style of music, youth love it. Youth wants something different, they want something fresh as they get bored very easily these days, you know Instagram stories retain 15 seconds to 30 seconds of attention span”, said Singh.

“So when A.P.Dhillon came, his vocal tone, his style of music, lyrics were pretty refreshing and gave youth a new high. Another big technical factor was that  he brought in supreme international beats, baseline and very slow tempo with a very rural touch of lyrics and tone. He mixes basically mass with the class and that’s what makes him unique and a clutter buster for the youth. GenZ made it viral through the internet and Instagram, last but not the least, to sum it up, one of the biggest factors was that luck was on his side as Punjabi music was already a rage in this country. Over the past five years, it helped his fuel catch the fire in the music industry jungle”, he added.

And it's not just the big names in the music industry that are mesmerised by AP Dhillon’s music. In the case of restaurant and club owners, for whom music is central to the overall ambience, AP Dhillons influence is palpable.

Popular restauranteur and Co- Founder, CEO Daryaganj Restaurant, Amit Bagga decodes AP Dhillon’s rise in these words.

“The most significant factor contributing to Brown Munde's sensational run is that it's a rare anthem of Brown pride. Run-Up Records told us that the goal "was to celebrate Brown culture and identity." He is famous for his unique blend of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and rap music. By fusing Punjabi and Western musical influences, he has curated an impressive music catalogue that has established him as a leading musical force in the Punjabi music industry and worldwide. More than five of his singles have reached the top of the Official Charts Company UK Asian and Punjabi charts, while "Brown Munde" and "Majhail" have ranked at number one on those charts.”

Jasmin Kumar, Global Head, Digital Marketing, AmpleLogic says that AP Dhillon has entered the industry with the fresh blend of music, combined with the lyrics that resonate well with the millennials. 

“His songs have taken the masses by storm, also showing younger artists too that they can concoct a fresh blend of the sounds they grew up loving while still connecting with their language and culture”, said Kumar.

As one of the most successful artists of this era, AP Dhillon has made his own name in the industry,  a true story of his ability to mix mass with the class.