Low-key, Thursday has to be my favorite day of the week. It gives me the comfort of Friday without getting too comfortable, and in some cases, I overperform so I can end the week on a high note. This week was nothing short of those high notes. Here’s a recap of what you’ve missed.

- Raghu

Diljit Dosanjh Takes Over The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

On Tuesday, Diljit Dosanjh made his U.S. television performance debut on The Tonight Show Jimmy Fallon. This show is the latest in a crazy run—Diljit is still on his Dil-Luminati World Tour, with his next stop at L.A.’s Crypto Arena on July 10. 

How Is One Man Doing It All?

Since the pandemic and dropping his 2020 album G.O.A.T, Diljit’s been everywhere. In just four years, he starred in seven Punjabi & Hindi movies and dropped three albums with a total of 50+ songs. He’s also moved way out of his comfort zone, with tens of extended interviews and podcasts, all while creating countless viral social media moments along the way.

From performing at Coachella and putting out consistent bangers to selling out some of the biggest venues in the world. Not only that, Diljit Dosanjh makes sure he’s at the front of as many big cultural moments as possible. Whether it’s his controversial performance at the Ambani pre-wedding or getting Ed Sheeran to sing on stage with him in Punjabi—he’s there. 

Right now, Diljit is fresh off the success of the Netflix movie Crew and recently collaborated with Prabhas for a promo song for the movie  Kalki 2898 AD. He’s also on a press tour for the third installment of the Punjabi movie franchise, Jatt & Juliet. 

Diljit Dosanjh is building such a unique, global career and is hell-bent on bringing Punjabi music to the world. It’s clear that each big win is a step on the way to something even bigger. Who knows where he’ll land next.  

Legendary Playback Singer Alka Yagnik Is Losing Her Hearing

Alka Yagnik, also known as the “Queen of playback singing”, has shaped the soundscape of Indian cinema for over four decades. She’s someone we all grew up hearing in the background of our parent’s old cassette tapes, having sung over 20,000 songs in various Indian languages. 

Known for her versatile and emotive voice, Yagnik has delivered unforgettable hits like Ek Do Teen, Choli Ke Peeche, and Taal Se Taal Mila. Her influence extends to many other contemporary artists, including Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan, who cite her as a major inspiration.

This week, the music world was taken aback when Yagnik posted on Instagram about being diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, a condition impacting the inner ear and nerve pathways to the brain. 

This type of hearing loss, which can stem from factors such as aging, noise exposure, and infections, is potentially career-ending for any musician, but Yagnik continues to receive support from many of the major players in the Bollywood music industry. 

According to the Guinness World Records, she remains the most streamed act on YouTube, averaging 42 million views per day. Despite her health issues, Yagnik's legacy as a trailblazer in Bollywood playback singing remains intact, ensuring her influence will be felt for years to come​.

Upcoming Events

July 6 - PopShift Summer - Chicago Boat Cruise

Albums on repeat…

Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain by Raveena
Known for her dreamy soundscapes, Raveena dropped a euphoric summer soundtrack with her third album, Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain. Her newest single, Junebug, features rapper JPEGMAFIA — a surprise collab that somehow works. Raveena’s music is ethereal, merging South Asian influences with smooth RnB and 70s-inspired sounds. Lush, serene, playful, this album is best enjoyed laying in the grass under the sun.

BRAT by Charli xcx
Messy, subversive, and unbelievably cool — Charli xcx breaks the mold with her critically acclaimed album. In Charli’s own words, it’s a call back to “the Paris Hilton days”, back when pop was raw, chaotic and in your face. 

BRAT is all that and more. Charli is refreshingly honest, confessing to calling paparazzi, listing out her insecurities, and calling out her contemporaries. The album debuted in the top three on the US Billboard and UK album charts, nearly passing Taylor Swift in the process. With BRAT, Charli redefines what it means to be an It Girl. As you make your way through this (frankly, skipless) album, there’s no denying it — Charli is one to watch.

New Music Discovery

• Rising hip-hop artist Sumit collaborates with rapper Abhi the Nomad on this fresh track, Like Me.

• Harkirat Sangha dropped a new single and video for Chorni featuring Gurlez Akhtar

• Naughty Boy and Kah Lo team up for a new house song called Friends

• New video for the Ikka x Guru Randhawa song, Who’s That Girl

Written By Jeevan Sangha, Anuja Bhatt, Jessie Brar