Welcome back! This week was heavy in entertainment news and we’ve got the whole scoop. Biden hosted Modi but it was Instagram influencers who fell into controversy. Tesher dropped a new single with a famed, titular brand. After a frenzied week of media attention, the missing submersible’s implosion has been confirmed. Last but not least, let us introduce you to Punjabi R&B’s fastest-growing sensation — Supreme Sidhu.

— Rosh

Do Influencers Need To Be At the White House?

President Joe Biden hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit at the White House on Thursday. The arrival ceremony and state dinner in Modi’s honor comes amidst rising American efforts to isolate China both diplomatically and economically, and Biden is pressured to confirm India as an ally.

The event was met with mixed reactions from the South Asian-American community. No matter where you lie on the political spectrum, Modi has become an objectively polarizing political figure. While many praise and credit him for the massive growth of India’s economy, others actively organized and attended protests outside of the event.

The prime minister, who was once banned from entering the U.S., was pressed by critics regarding India’s increasing human rights abuses – including suppression of the press, targeting of opposition leaders, and discriminatory policies against Muslim communities.

Creator Controversy
Many Indian-Americans, including some notable influencers and content creators, were able to attend the event by securing invitations through various organization guest lists and ticket access opportunities. Optically, this put them to a test of priorities: is what they stand to benefit from attending the event worth more than the backlash of the political stance and what it stands for?

For influencers like Shivani Bafna, the event was worth attending. But like many peers, this came with a public disclaimer regarding her decision and declaring herself neutral so as not to lose today’s politically passionate audiences. It didn’t really work.

Bafna’s comments were quickly flooded with criticism, with her (now ex)-followers asking whether the experience was worth the cost of losing the fans who feel victimized by the current Indian administration. She’s just one example of the influencers facing disapproval, while others have gone as far as deleting proof of their attendance after poor audience reception. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs like Sana Javeri Kadri made public declarations for why they chose to not attend.

Jacquemus: The “It Girl” Brand That Inspired Tesher’s New Song

Hot on the heels of Desperado’s success, Tesher just released his first solo single in over a year. The Canadian singer’s lyrics are known to draw on culturally relevant and relatable experiences that keep his 3.8M+ monthly listeners hooked, and his new song – Jacquemus – is no different.

We break down the fresh lyrics starting with the namesake bag.

“Jacquemus bag,
She kept on the tag,
Only to make all these petty hoes mad,
I’m picking up on the reddest of flags.”

French luxury fashion label Jacquemus’ “Le Chiqito” has long been THE “it girl” bag, sported by the likes of American supermodels like Kendall Jenner and Indian superstars like Priyanka Chopra. Watch the video below to see what kind of price tag the titular purse carries and why that flex might make “all these petty hoes mad.”

Pakistani Father and Son Confirmed Dead Following Submersible Implosion

Following an intense and globally publicized four-day-long search, rescuers have found the debris of the submersible that ventured down to explore the Titanic remnants on the ocean floor. You can read more about the dramatic details here.

Of the five passengers pronounced dead, two were British-Pakistani nationals. Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman hail from one of Pakistan’s most prominent and wealthy families.

The heavy media attention relative to that of the capsized boat carrying hundreds of Pakistani migrants in the Mediterranean has been subject to public scrutinity and has provoked conversations about media and class inequities.

WatchList: Supreme Sidhu and His Quick Takeover.

Punjabi R&B has exploded in popularity over the last few months, but if anyone can compete in this musical landscape, it’s newcomer Supreme Sidhu and his divinely smooth vocals.

Supreme Sidhu first started releasing music in 2021 with the single “Tere Karke,” which hooked fans and quickly helped him grow the now 600K+ monthly Spotify listeners he has today. For Punjabis born out of India, his songs bridge the gap between their dual identities, allowing them to celebrate two beloved genres as one. Supreme Sidhu has collaborated with artists like Raaginder on “Jazbaat” and Talwiinder on “Baazi,” but it was his 2022 single “Cali” that was the first to break 1M+ streams on Spotify.

Supreme Sidhu’s emotional lyrics and low-key R&B production put listeners into a calming trance that insists on industry attention. You’re going to want to keep your ears on Supreme Sidhu so that you can call yourself an OG fan when he inevitably takes over.

Other Notable News

• Farasat Anees released two new tracks, “SHAGUN” and “BAKCHD RAPPER.”

• HYDR & PDNY released a PopShift Concert vlog music video for “KHO GAYE.”

• Hasan Minhaj interviewed Barack Obama in a new YouTube video.

• Bollywood has plans to remake “Pasoori” and fans are livid.

• Louis Vuitton held its first show, creative directed by Pharrell, since the death of Virgil Abloh.

Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.

Writers: Saumya Monga, Roshni Lalchandani

Editors: Raghu Alla, Roshni Lalchandani