Talwiinder
Talwiinder | |
|---|---|
 Talwiinder at a poster shoot | |
| Born | Talwinder Singh Sidhu 22-Oct-1997 Tarn Taran, Punjab (India) |
| Occupation | Singer. Songwriter. Composer |
| Years active | 2018-Present |
Talwiinder (born October 22, 1997) is an Indian singer, lyricist, and composer who primarily performs in Punjabi and Hindi. His music often incorporates a blend of electronic sounds, hip-hop, and alternative pop, with experimental elements of trap, lo-fi, boom bap, drill, and synth-pop.[1]
His upbringing in Punjab and San Francisco influenced his music, leading to a fusion of Punjabi and Western sounds.
Talwiinder maintains anonymity by using face paint, which he states allows him to keep his private life separate from his public career and live a more normal life.[2]
Early life
[edit]Talwiinder was born Talwinder Singh Sidhu on October 22, 1997, to a Punjabi Jat-Sidhu family in Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Punjab, India. He began singing at age four, reportedly motivated by jealousy of a neighborhood child who received praise for their singing.[3]
At 14, he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he continued his education and pursued his musical passion.[4]
Music style
[edit]Talwiinder's experimental approach to music incorporates multiple genres, blending electronic sounds, hip-hop, alternative pop, and R&B with elements of trap, lo-fi, boom bap, drill, and synth-pop.
He has cited artists like Surinder Kaur, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Gurdaas Mann and Diljit Dosanjh as his inspiration.[5]
He has also stated that he draws inspiration from western pop and hip-hop artists like Bad Bunny.
His songwriting draws inspiration from his personal life and other influences.[6]
Music career
[edit]Talwiinder began recording and releasing his music on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, uploading both original compositions and cover songs such as "Phir Mohabbat" and "Paani Diyaan Challan" (some of which are still available on his YouTube channel).
He released his debut EP "You Haven't Heard This" in March, 2020 with four original songs.
Among his early releases were "Gaah," "Akhiyaan," and "Gallan 4." He subsequently achieved some recognition on YouTube and Spotify with the release of songs like "Unforgettable" and "Dil Mera."
By 2022, Talwiinder had garnered considerable popularity and cultivated a dedicated fanbase through successful releases like "Kammo Ji," "Dhundhala," and "Funk Song." The latter subsequently became a viral hit on Instagram Reels.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, Talwiinder continued to release singles such as "Nasha," "Your Eyes," and "Gaani," which resonated with audiences and contributed to his growing discography.
On October 4, 2024, Talwiinder released his debut album, Misfit, which consists of 13 songs and features from various artists.[7] The album was released by Mass Appeal India, a subsidiary of Mass Appeal Records founded by the American rapper Nas.
Features and collabs
[edit]Talwiinder has collaborated with several notable artists, contributing to significant featured songs.
He has collaborated multiple times with Pakistani singer-songwriter Hasan Raheem on tracks such as Wishes and Tera Chehra. "Wishes," despite its 2023 release, became the second most-streamed song on Spotify in Pakistan in 2024.[8]
His song "Gallan 4" was adapted as "Gallan" for the 2024 film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. Released by T-Series, the song's video featured Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.
He was featured on "High On Me", the third track from Yo Yo Honey Singh's album Glory.[9]
In August 2024, he released the song "Tu" with T-Series, which featured Bollywood actors Jackie Shroff and Neelam Kothari in its music video.[10]
Tours and live performances
[edit]Talwiinder's live performances are often praised for his strong singing abilities, which spontaneously engage the audience.[11]
He performed as one of the opening acts for Dua Lipa at the Zomaland Festival in Mumbai on November 30, 2024.[12][13]
Talwiinder also opened for American rapper G-Eazy during his India tour, which began in February 2024.[14]
He was one of the performing artists at Lollapalooza India 2025, an event headlined by artists such as Shawn Mendes and Green Day.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "The new sound of Punjabi Pop: Talwiinder". ANI News. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Punjabi musician Talwiinder: 'The paint on my face is a reminder that art is bigger than the artiste'". The Indian Express. 2025-03-08. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Talwiinder - Future of Music 2025". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ Hirwani, Peony (2024-09-27). "COVER STORY: Talwiinder was Born to Stand Out". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ Tagat, Anurag (2022-12-14). "Talwiinder on Taking Punjabi Music In a New Direction and His Persona". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Talwiinder - Future of Music 2025". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ Hirwani, Peony (2024-09-27). "COVER STORY: Talwiinder was Born to Stand Out". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ Staff, Images (2024-12-05). "Spotify Wrapped 2024: Talha Anjum dethrones Atif Aslam as Pakistan's most-streamed artist". Images. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Discover The New Punjabi Music Video For 'High On Me' Sung By Yo Yo Honey Singh and Talwiinder". The Times of India. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Jackie Shroff and Neelam Kothari create magic on screen in T-series' latest track, Tu sung by Talwiinder". www.radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Talwiinder rocks his first show in Kolkata". The Times of India. 2024-11-19. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ Livemint (2024-11-29). "Missed Zomato concert passes? Here's how you can grab last-minute entry to Dua Lipa's Mumbai show | Today News". mint. Archived from the original on 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Dua Lipa to perform in India for Zomaland Feeding India Festival. Talwiinder and Jonita Gandhi to open for her". 27 August 2024.
- ^ "G-Eazy India Tour To Feature Talwiinder, Dino James, Yashraj As Opening Acts". News18. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Lollapalooza India 2025 Line-Up: Green Day, Shawn Mendes And More". NDTV. Retrieved 2025-05-21.