Guru Randhawa Singer-Songwriter Global Guru

Be it parties in foreign lands or long road trips, singer-songwriter Guru Randhawa's songs tend to accompany every journey. As the Punjab-born pop star gears up for his acting debut, he talks to BAYAR JAIN about his musical journey so far.

- Bayar Jain

How did you foray into music, particularly indie pop?

I was introduced to music when I was a kid. There were a few regional channels along with DD National in my village, Gurdaspur. I used to listen to and hum old folk and pop music that were on the television. I stayed close to the India-Pakistan border and was an avid listener of Punjabi and Pakistani artists. Over time, I started writing songs too. In my 20s, I released my own songs and eventually worked and collaborated with amazing musicians. It has been a great learning experience!

From debuting in 2012 to collaborating with international artists like Pitbull, what has the journey been like for you?

I was exposed to some great musicians at a young age. I’ve grown up with Gurdas Maan and Babbu Maan from Punjab and Sajjad Ali and Abrar-Ul-Haq from Pakistan. I’ve had the chance to work with some great musicians too. I believe I’m still learning every day. Some of the biggest achievements in my musical career so far have been taking the risk and releasing my music on YouTube and collaborating with talented musicians—in India and internationally. I received so much love for the video and learnt so much from the artists. Once you take the leap, it all works out eventually.

Being from Gurdaspur, what was it like to adjust to life in a big city?