Welcome to our first special edition newsletter. Today’s stories all revolve around Coachella’s first weekend, where we saw historical moments for South Asian artists. Jai Paul, Diljit Dosanjh, Jai Wolf, Ali Sethi, Charli XCX, and Joy Crookes packed the official lineup with more representation than the iconic festival has ever seen before. Read some of our takeaways and reviews below!

— Rosh & Raghu

POPSHIFT MUSIC FESTIVAL (MAY 19 -20) IN NEW YORK CITY.

PopShift Music Festival is a two-day experience that will feature a unique blend of art, music, and culture. On May 19, the festival kicks off with a music & art showcase featuring rising South Asian musicians and visual artists. On May 20, the festival continues with a Music Concert featuring a talented lineup of artists who will perform live on stage.

Tickets will go live on April 20, 2023. PopShift Newsletter subscribers will be the first to get access!

Who tf is Jai Paul? Why Are People Raving About His Coachella Performance?

In 2011, Drake sampled a seemingly unknown artist’s beats on his track “Dreams Money Can Buy.” The next year, Beyonce sampled the same song for “End of Time.” The artist was Jai Paul, a mysterious musician who silently released songs online starting with 2011’s “BTSTU.” The track led to a record deal and cemented Paul as one of the most innovative producers in the industry, earning him comparisons to Prince despite no one really knowing anything about him.

Who really is Jai Paul and why are fans racing to see his set at Coachella this year?

Originally from London, Paul got his start releasing music on the now-defunct social media site MySpace. While we’ve all heard of Soundcloud rappers, only OGs remember the era of MySpace producers. His DIY approach to music was refreshing in an industry that was churning out unoriginal popstars every other week. People started to take notice, with his mysterious persona only adding to the intrigue.

@i_d

HE LOOKS SO HAPPY #jaipaul #coachella #coachella2023 #str8outtamumbai

What was it about the music?

The music was weird, and thus incredibly unique. “BTSTU” opens with warped, high-pitch vocals that lead into rough electronic beats. If music could sound blurry, it would sound like “BTSTU.”

Paul had immense potential but his meteoric rise to fame was abruptly halted by an illegal leak of his debut album after his laptop was stolen. After urging fans to not purchase the album on Bandcamp and going to the police, Paul seemingly disappeared. He was robbed of the chance of a calculated release with entirely complete songs and instead had to come to terms with the whole world listening to his unfinished tracks.

Still, the debut album garnered immense praise. In 2019, He finally decided to officially release the leaked album “Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)” alongside two new singles. “Do You Love Her Now “ and “He” contain Paul’s recognizable vocals and synth-heavy production.

Fans rejoiced at the new music that signaled the return of the elusive musician. His spot on the Coachella lineup this year confirmed his return and marks his first-ever live performance. With two more shows in New York on the horizon, Paul might finally get to be an artist on his own terms. We’re eager and ready to see what he does next.

Diljit Dosanjh Makes History

Diljit Dosanjh has once again proven he is the ultimate G.O.A.T. The singer and actor made history by being the first Punjabi artist to ever perform at the festival. Years from now when we reflect back on this historic moment, we won’t just remember that he performed – we’ll remember the immense pride he did so with.

Dosanjh proudly spoke and sang in Punjabi for his international audience. He began his performance with a “Sat Sri Akal,” the traditional greeting for Sikhs, before boldly exclaiming that “Punjab aa gaye!” or Punjab is here.

Accompanying Dosanjh on stage was a lineup of bhangra dancers from “Got Bhangra?” doubling down on representation of Punjab’s rich artistic heritage. It was a production that was recognized and appreciated beyond the Coachella patrons. Across the world, South Asians watched and celebrated the live stream, creating a collectively emotional moment that will go down in history.

Jai Wolf Calls Out Lack of Attention on Bangladeshi Artists

Jai Wolf is no stranger to the desert’s vibrant music scene. The Bangladeshi-American producer made his Coachella debut back in 2017, making history as the first-ever Bangladeshi-origin artist to perform at the festival. Despite being an established artist who has collaborated with the likes of Skrillex and Diplo, coverage of Jai Wolf’s wins relative to South Asian artists from India and Pakistan is minimal at best.

While artists like Arooj Aftab and Diljit Dosanjh were showered with media spotlights for being the first Pakistani and Punjabi artists to perform at Coachella respectively, little to no attention has been awarded to Jai Wolf for also being a South Asian first – and he has something to say about it.

Taking to Instagram, Jai Wolf called out Vogue India both in comments and his stories for their lack of inclusive reporting. The artist wrote, “Seriously so frustrating to see Bangladeshi artists become a footnote to Indian and Pakistani history.” It’s disappointing but not surprising, as Bangladesh’s history and culture are often overlooked in the grand scheme of “South Asian representation.”

There’s no excuse. Everything from Sajeeb Saha’s chosen artist name Jai Wolf to his actual blending of traditional South Asian elements into his dynamic electronic sound is indicative of his cultural appreciation. We want justice for Jai Wolf. Give the man his flowers.

Ali Sethi Brings Out Raja Kumari

“Pasoori” was the most Googled song of 2022. With over 550M+ streams on its music video, the sensational Coke Studio track became an international hit and launched its lead singer – Ali Sethi – into a North American tour that included a debut on this year’s Coachella lineup.

The Lahore-born artist performed Sunday evening at the Gobi stage to a diverse audience eager to experience a global sound. The representation was lauded. Hearing Urdu lyrics and Pakistani instrumentals at the iconic American festival was a new experience for many. Sethi’s set included his beloved renditions of timeless ghazals like “Chan Kithan” and “Ranjish Hi Sahi.”

@nashid.chroma

I also got to meet Ali and he was so humble 🥹 #coachella2023 #pasooricoachella #coachellapasoori #coachella #alisethi

For “Pasoori,” his most anticipated track, fans were surprised and delighted to see the star bring out Indian-American rapper Raja Kumari. Filling in for the absent Shae Gill, Kumari sang the Pakistani artist’s verses beautifully in what was also her first time performing at Coachella. Together, the duo debuted at the festival with a performance that will be remembered for ages.

Charli XCX and Joy Crookes Shine On Stage

Charli XCX returned to Coachella this weekend, giving an hour-long, energetic performance on the main stage. The English singer’s dynamic vocals were joined by those of Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan in a surprise that captivated the entire audience.

Joy Crookes made her Coachella debut at the Gobi stage on Sunday. The British singer began writing music at the young age of 12 and has since risen to fame with a critically acclaimed series of EPs since. Her first album “Skin” released in 2020, featuring her signature blend of soul, R&B, and pop elements. Dressed in Ferragamo, Crookes dazzled her audience with powerful and emotive vocals.

Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.

Other Notable News

• Mitika Kanwar released a new track “jhalle aa.”

• ROYAL released a debut album “shaunak.”

• Netflix will release the final season of Never Have I Ever on June 8.

• India removed chapters on evolution from their public school curriculum.

• Rishi Shah and Shradha Agarwal were convicted of running a corporate fraud scheme in the US.

Writers: Saumya Monga, Roshni Lalchandani

Editors: Raghu Alla, Roshni Lalchandani