Singer-rapper Karan Aujla has reached a new milestone. Apple Music has chosen the musician as the latest addition to its Up Next programme and he is the first Punjabi artiste to join Apple Music’s global artiste initiative geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent.
“Transforming my journey from losing my parents at a young age to achieving global influence in my twenties, I have made remarkable strides. Being the first Punjabi artiste to be featured as Apple music's global Up Next artiste highlights my commitment to inspiring my community and upcoming artistes,” said Aujla.
Born in 1997, Aujla moved to Vancouver in 2014 and started his career as a lyricist in 2016; he wrote for Punjabi music biggies Jazzy B and Diljit Dosanjh. Then he was on his own and collaborated with rappers YG and Badshah.
Even though his solo career is in flight, it might be hard not to think of Aujla as a lyricist first: His work from 2020 onwards features clever metaphors but his vocal prowess is key to his success.
Across Apple Music, Punjabi has been one of the fastest-growing genres, with global streams for Punjabi music increasing 124 per cent over the past two years, and streams on editorial playlists growing 127 per cent — more than twice the industry-wide rate of growth. During that same time period, Aujla's streams on editorial playlists have grown 265 per cent and his albums have reached the top 10 of the Apple Music Top Albums Chart in more than 20 countries.
In his Up Next short film, Aujla takes viewers into the Vancouver neighbourhoods he calls home and explains his hopes for connecting his music with the rest of the world. "I feel like my music helped a lot of people that don't know my language,” he tells Apple Music in the film.
Fans can check out the exclusive Apple Music Up Next film and stream Aujla's latest EP Four Me (Apple Music Edition). His It Was All A Dream tour will kick off on August 10 in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena.