"This is the time for artists like me to actually experiment."
Karan Aujla and OneRepublic are set to drop a historic collaboration, ‘Tell Me’, on February 27, 2025.
This marks a milestone for the Indian music industry, as Karan becomes one of the first Indian artists to team up with a major international band.
On how the collaboration came to be, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder said:
“We were supposed to shoot the video, [when we] had enough of a finished version [of the song].
“We just got back from Asia – we were in China and Vietnam and Japan and Korea, and we started in Bangkok for a few days.
“[Karan] wrapped his tour in India doing this massive sold-out tour. And we were originally going to shoot the video in Little India, in Bangkok, and he got sick. It was the end of the tour.
“We punted and so we just now shot it this week.”
Ryan was aware of Karan’s work, thanks to his friend, Grammy-nominated songwriter Savan Kotecha.
But during Lollapalooza India in 2024, Ryan was asking locals about “who’s popping” in India. Everyone said Karan Aujla.
Ryan said: “I went and listened to the music and I was like, ‘Oh, this is super tight. This is different’.”
Savan eventually introduced Ryan to Karan’s friend and producer Ikky, “and that’s where the whole thing connected”.
Punjabi music is on the rise, especially in places like the United States.
Karan told Billboard: “I feel like people are more open now, even artists, to new languages, working with people, creating new ideas and it just helps artists like me to bring what they have [to] the table.
“This is the time for artists like me to actually experiment.
“My main thing is I just want to make the first Punjabi record that goes everywhere.
“My Spotify wasn’t like this always. It’s just happening over the last three-four years [of gradual growth].
“We can see it happening in front of our eyes; if people want it, why don’t we just serve them what they want? Like, people in India want English on Indian records. They love these collaborations.
“They love when I’m singing in Hindi or Punjabi and then a verse in English comes.
“Even some rappers from India are rapping in English and Hindi.
“People are already into it. And we just need to do it more in a proper way.”
Ryan stated that Karan is the reason for Punjabi music’s explosion in popularity.
‘Tell Me’ will be a historic collaboration as it will mark OneRepublic and Karan Aujla’s first English-Punjabi song.
The track blends Aujla’s Punjabi swagger with OneRepublic’s anthemic sound, delivering catchy hooks, pulsating beats, and heartfelt lyrics.
Fans can expect a high-energy music video featuring Karan and the American band. Disha Patani also stars in the visuals, adding extra star power.
Karan added: “Sometimes, we feel like we manifested doing this with you, Ryan.”
This collaboration highlights the growing influence of Indian music on the global stage.
It also shows international artists are open to experimenting with new sounds.
‘Tell Me’ is set to make waves across continents, bringing together Punjabi and Western music in a way never seen before.
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