In a harmonious fusion of beats and cultural resonance, British-Asian musicians Jagwinder Singh Dhaliwal or Juggy D, and Kamaljit Singh Jhooti aka Jay Sean, have become synonymous with the heartbeat of the Indian audience.
From the infectious rhythm of Juggy D's Dance with You to the soulful melodies of Jay Sean's Down, their musical journey has been a vibrant tapestry weaving Punjabi roots with global rhythms.
Recently, in an exclusive conversation with CNBC-TV18 at Zomato's Zomaland in Delhi, where the duo delivered a magnetic performance, the musicians delved into their intertwined stories, explored the evolution of their sounds, and gave a sneak peek into the high-energy anthems they are set to unleash in 2024.
A sonic journey: From streets to stages
Juggy D and Jay Sean shared their remarkable journeys, recounting how the streets of England paved the way for global stages. Juggy D, known for his high-energy vibes and hits like Billo, Sohniye, and of course the iconic Dance with You, expressed gratitude to his loyal Indian fans. "India has a big part to play in the early days," he emphasised.
"I wrote a hit song called Nahin Jeena in 2002, marking my debut as an artist. It topped the Punjabi charts in the UK for six weeks, and thus, Juggy D was born. The rest, as they say, is history," he said.
Building bridges with beats
Jay Sean, with his chart-topping tracks such as Do You Remember, Ride It, and Down, reflected on his deep connection with Punjabi culture and how it has shaped his musical identity. "From the moment we could speak, my parents encouraged my siblings and me to communicate in Punjabi," Jay Sean shared, highlighting the pivotal role of his roots.
His childhood visits to Punjab, India, became a source of inspiration.
"I had been doing music for a very long time… since I was 11 years old. 2024 will mark 20 years of me being in the music industry. And it's been a beautiful journey. The best part of it is having the original fans who were there from day one.. some of them have moved are married, have children, but their younger brothers and sisters are also fans," he said.
Collaborations
The dynamic duo with a longstanding musical history, recently joined forces once again for their latest track, Meri Ban Ja. This track also marks a celebration of their two-decade-long journey in the music industry.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone, as it comes almost 20 years after the release of their chartbuster track, Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal)," which originally hit the airwaves in September 2003.
"Our collaboration came together by chance through our shared love for music. Before meeting him, I had no idea who he was. He actually attended my first song's video shoot and can be spotted in the background with his spiky hair. He was invited to see me and the rest of the team that day and appeared in the video for Nahin Jeena. At that time, he hadn't released anything. Later, I had done Nahin Jeena and had co-written a song and vocal coached Craig David, a massive name in the UK mainstream. My third song was with Jay Sean, and our collaboration happened organically," said Juggy D.
The musicians have also worked with global artists both from the West and India.
Juggy D, reflecting on his enduring collaborations, emphasised the unique chemistry that defines his musical partnerships. "A collaboration has to sound; there has to be whatever I believe that it has to be what's best for the song," Juggy D explained.
"If the artist, the other featured artist, is not adding anything to the song, then what's the point of doing it? If not, you're doing it then for the wrong reasons."
Jay Sean, echoing this sentiment, delved into the intricacies of collaborations. "I don't do collaborations for no reason," he affirmed. "A collaboration has to sound right; it has to be what's best for the song. If the artist isn't adding anything to the song, then what's the point?"
2024: What's in store for the Indian fans?
Both the artists are performing in India right now and recently performed together at Zomato's Zomaland Delhi edition.
Both the artists are pretty pumped up for 2024. Juggy D hinted at a musical fusion that seamlessly blends Indian and western genres in the near future.
"In 2024, fans can look forward to a brand new, high-energy show that will be perfect for weddings, featuring stunning visuals and top-notch entertainment. Additionally, there will be surprises in some movies next year. While there are other exciting developments in the works, I can't disclose them at the moment to avoid jinxing anything. Rest assured, there's a lot happening in the pipeline, and fans have much to anticipate," Juggy D added,
Meanwhile, Jay Sean's new album is on the way. The singer announced his new project which he started in India and finished in America and also worked with some of the biggest Indian names in the world.
This album is nearing its completion and will release in early 2024. It will be a homage to his roots.
"The new album is pretty much a fusion album," he revealed. "I've always been a big, keen fan of fusing the genres that I love."
"Growing up in England, being Indian, we have the Bollywood movies playing at home being Punjabi, I'm going to weddings in that there is bhangra. Growing up in England, listening to R&B and hip hop… these were all my loves. So when it came to me making music, I knew how to do that effortlessly, because it wasn't contrived. It was just what was natural to me. And I have gone back to that kind of vibe for this album. Actually, this time I am working with some Indian artists. And some producers from here," said Jay Sean.
Making music that goes beyond generations
For those who grew up in the 90's and early 2000s in India, Jay Sean and Juggy D's names transcend music — they evoke nostalgia. Whether it's the struggle to recall the lyrics of Eyes on You or the countless jam sessions that felt incomplete without dancing to Down, or whether it's replacing words to Billo to address friends, the singers are etched in their fans’ collective unconscious.
Redefining the music landscape by seamlessly blending genres like bhangra and R&B, the artists not only captured hearts but also dominated various music charts.
That their music is still relevant amongst the younger generation is amazing. If you are a Gen Z who is on social media, you would have grooved to Baby are You Down, Down, Down, Down, Down? — the song released in 2009 has recently become viral with the Gen Z with over 40k reels on Instagram.
"It makes me really happy to see the Gen Z Indian's grooving to Down and Ride-It. This shows the power of music how it goes beyond generations, how some beats can make anyone from any generation groove and it's an amazing feeling to see. I would love to see how the Gen Z reacts to my upcoming album," added Jay Sean.
Meanwhile Juggy D revealed that now in his 40s being a father of three kids his perspective on music has changed.
"The digital world we live in can be unpredictable. If my music happens to click with Gen Z, that's fantastic, but it's not my primary focus. I still see young fans at my shows who know my songs, even though they were born after their release. What matters to me is staying true to my passion for music and being happy with what I'm doing,” he said.
