'Down' In Mumbai With Jay Sean

Sean's influence has shaped the music of a generation; we dive into his roots, his love for India and his current takes on fashion

- Sharan Sanil

From redefining the story of desi hip-hop to becoming one of the first British Indian artistes to achieve global stardom, Jay Sean's journey has been nothing short of groundbreaking. Born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti, he shook the UK hip-hop scene in the early 2000s with hits like Dance With You and Eyes on You, introducing a unique fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and South Asian sounds that culminated in his seminal debut album, Me Against Myself. These collaborations with the Rishi Rich Project redefined the sound of desi music and paved the way for a new generation of South Asian artistes, giving desi youth a representation in mainstream music they had rarely seen before.

Sean's talent soon transcended borders, catapulting him onto the global stage with the chartbusting Lil' Wayne feature Down, making him the only British Indian to ever reach the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 list. As the track climbed international charts, he became a mainstay in the pop world collaborating with heavyweights like Nicki Minaj, Sean Paul, Pitbull and more through the 2010s. His unique sound and crossover appeal solidified his status as a global pop icon, though as he admits himself, the melting pot of Southall, London that defined his childhood influences has never quite gone away.

Now, as he prepares to embark on a multi-city India tour-culminating in a highly anticipated performance at Nykaaland 2.0 in Mumbai-Jay Sean is bringing his music back to its roots. Ahead of his return to the Indian stage at the country's biggest lifestyle festival, we caught up with the RnB legend for a quick chat. Excerpts:

What does it feel like to be back in Mumbai? It's been about a year since your last performance here.