@Navi Narain

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After years steadily building a reputation as the go-to lyricist for Punjabi mainstays like Jazzy B, Bohemia and Jassie Gill, Karan Aujla stepped into his own in 2018. Teaming up with singer Gurlej Akhtar, he broke through with “Don’t Worry”—they would later reunite for hits like “Red Eyes” and “Haan Haige Aa”—and it established rousing conviction as his calling card across a raft of party anthems and forthright cuts. Whether it’s with buoyant, shimmering hip-hop (“Na Na Na”) or icy trap (“Black Money”), Aujla holds forth on the importance of perseverance in his booming croon.

There’s something about Punjabi music that makes the whole world want to dance. From Delhi to Dubai, Ludhiana to London, Bengaluru to Brampton, the rhythms are sure to get feet tapping and shoulders moving. Be it a wedding, a birthday celebration or just a casual hang, this banger-stacked selection of pop, hip-hop and folk-flavoured hits and classics is the easiest way to get a party started.

For a primer on the lively, dhol-drenched music of Punjab and its diaspora, look no further. In this hand-picked playlist, our editors select a range of artists whose styles span authentic village folk and the hit party anthems filling dance floors from Delhi to London. Gurdas Maan's soaring traditional vocals capture the regret and longing of a man watching his lover storming out after a fight, while UK-raised Bally Sagoo and the Scottish bhangra duo Tigerstyle deliver high-energy bangers shot through with hip-hop rhymes and synths.

Contemporary Punjabi music has grown beyond booming bhangra and hard-hitting hip-hop to include a modern, easy-listening sound that draws from traditional folk as well as international pop and R&B. These soothing tunes are ideal for getting together with friends, chilling by the pool, cruising down the streets or just making the most of some hard-won me time.

Brand new and ready to take the scene by storm, these breaking tracks are the most exciting things happening right now. Established acts and rising stars from the Punjabi diaspora offer tomorrow’s hits back to back—from romantic folk ballads to dhol-powered pop, bhangra and rap bangers.