Karan Aujla On What 'P-Pop' Means: 'I Named My Genre Of Music After Punjabi Pop-Culture'
From Punjab to the world, Karan Aujla wishes to rebrand Punjabi music as 'P-Pop'
Punjabi rapper and singer-songwriter Karan Aujla has never been afraid to redefine boundaries. At just 28, he has risen from writing lyrics as a teenager in Punjab to becoming one of the most influential Punjabi artists on the global stage. Now, he’s introducing a new cultural wave he calls P-Pop — Punjabi pop-culture.
“When I heard some of the early samples of my songs, I felt like I needed a name for my genre of music. I didn’t just want to call it ‘Karan Aujla Playlist,’” he says in an exclusive with The Hollywood Reporter India. “So we came up with this idea of Punjabi pop culture. And that’s what we do — the way we dress, the way we carry ourselves, the food we like... if you love Punjabi desi food, you’re a part of P-Pop culture.”
For Aujla, the idea goes beyond music. P-Pop represents a collective identity, rooted in Punjab yet resonating globally. “I just wanted to create a genre of music. I would love for more singers in the future to take the legacy forward, and just be a part of Punjabi pop culture,” he explains.
Aujla is at a pivotal point in his career. ‘Tauba Tauba’ from Bad Newz (2024) became a breakout track that won him wider global recognition, proving the reach of Punjabi sound. His rise from small-town Punjab to international venues has been anything but easy. Losing both his parents early, he moved to Canada as a teenager, taking up odd jobs while trying to break into music.
As he prepares for his ‘It Was All A Dream’ India tour — which has already expanded to 11 shows across eight cities — Aujla is pushing his vision of P-Pop forward. For him, it isn’t just a genre; it’s a cultural statement.
Watch our full interview with Karan Aujla, dropping tonight on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube channel.