By Spandan Fulkar
26th Sept 2024
By Spandan Fulkar
26th Sept 2024
In an era where genres often collide, Harnoor stands out by seamlessly merging Punjabi culture with modern R&B sounds—an artist whose musical evolution feels like a journey through time, yet deeply rooted in tradition. It’s not an easy path, but Harnoor's sound manages to speak to two different worlds: the traditional and the contemporary. He attributes this unique blend to the generation he comes from—neither too old nor too young, but heavily influenced by both Punjabi music and the global R&B and Hip-Hop scene that shaped his youth. “I remember taking my phone and laptop to download any music that caught my interest from some mp3 sites. It shaped my palette and allowed me to mix the two and appeal to audiences from both worlds,” he says.
This casual approach to something that many would consider a daunting task—blending two distinct genres—feels entirely natural for Harnoor. He doesn’t force the fusion, and that’s probably why it works so well. His generation is one that straddles two worlds: neither fully rooted in the past nor completely swept up in the trends of the present. Harnoor, much like his music, finds a balance in that middle space. And it’s a balance that’s clearly resonating with his audience.
With tracks like Waalian, Moonlight, and Parshawan, Harnoor has made a name for himself by delivering songs that don’t just chart—they stay with you. Each release feels fresh, like he’s constantly reinventing himself, but there’s always that unmistakable Harnoor flavor. And in a music industry where the shelf life of a hit song can be shorter than ever, that’s no easy feat. So how does he do it? “I just don’t like repeating myself,” Harnoor explains in an exclusive conversation with ‘The Outsiders.’ “I think a lot of what we do as artists is about the energy we bring to each project. It’s not just about talent. With Luv Drug, I wanted to try something new, something different from what people expect from me. I’m always obsessed with crazy melodies, so that’s where I focused my energy for this track. For me, it’s all about keeping things fresh.”
In an era where genres often collide, Harnoor stands out by seamlessly merging Punjabi culture with modern R&B sounds—an artist whose musical evolution feels like a journey through time, yet deeply rooted in tradition. It’s not an easy path, but Harnoor's sound manages to speak to two different worlds: the traditional and the contemporary. He attributes this unique blend to the generation he comes from—neither too old nor too young, but heavily influenced by both Punjabi music and the global R&B and Hip-Hop scene that shaped his youth. “I remember taking my phone and laptop to download any music that caught my interest from some mp3 sites. It shaped my palette and allowed me to mix the two and appeal to audiences from both worlds,” he says.
This casual approach to something that many would consider a daunting task—blending two distinct genres—feels entirely natural for Harnoor. He doesn’t force the fusion, and that’s probably why it works so well. His generation is one that straddles two worlds: neither fully rooted in the past nor completely swept up in the trends of the present. Harnoor, much like his music, finds a balance in that middle space. And it’s a balance that’s clearly resonating with his audience.
With tracks like Waalian, Moonlight, and Parshawan, Harnoor has made a name for himself by delivering songs that don’t just chart—they stay with you. Each release feels fresh, like he’s constantly reinventing himself, but there’s always that unmistakable Harnoor flavor. And in a music industry where the shelf life of a hit song can be shorter than ever, that’s no easy feat. So how does he do it? “I just don’t like repeating myself,” Harnoor explains in an exclusive conversation with ‘The Outsiders.’ “I think a lot of what we do as artists is about the energy we bring to each project. It’s not just about talent. With Luv Drug, I wanted to try something new, something different from what people expect from me. I’m always obsessed with crazy melodies, so that’s where I focused my energy for this track. For me, it’s all about keeping things fresh.”
Harnoor’s ability to evolve with each release while maintaining his authenticity has become a hallmark of his music. His songs always have an undercurrent of emotion, particularly when it comes to themes of love and relationships. These themes aren’t just pulled from thin air; they’re rooted in his own experiences. Growing up wasn’t always easy for Harnoor. With his father away in the U.S. for much of his childhood, he was raised by his mother, and the absence of a father figure left its mark. “I’ve seen a lot of loneliness in my life,” Harnoor reflects. “For a big chunk of my life, it was just me and my mom, and there was a lot of tension and sadness. I can’t really express that through just spoken words, so I have to write and sing about it. That’s where the depth in my songs comes from.”
His honesty is what connects him so deeply with his listeners. Harnoor doesn’t just write love songs; he writes songs that feel lived-in, filled with the kind of emotional complexity that only comes from real experience. “I try to stay as honest as possible with my pen and lyrics,” he says, “and I think that’s why people are hooked to my music. I mean, I’m honestly a fan of my own voice,” he adds, showing the same easy confidence that’s made his music so relatable.
Collaboration has also been a significant part of Harnoor’s journey. His creative partnership with Ilam, a frequent collaborator, has been particularly fruitful. Their chemistry in the studio is undeniable, and it’s something Harnoor doesn’t take for granted. “I’ve got this thing where I only want to work with people I can learn from. I’m not into just working with random people. Ilam and I, we just sync perfectly,” Harnoor says. “I’m also big on discipline in the studio. When we’re there, we’re there to work, and we keep the energy positive and focused. That’s really important to me.”
For Harnoor, the vibe in the studio is just as crucial as the technical aspects of making music. “You can’t create good music in a bad environment,” he explains. “If the energy’s off, the song’s gonna feel off, too.” This commitment to a positive, disciplined environment has clearly paid off. Every time Harnoor and Ilam collaborate, they seem to create something that resonates not just with their fanbase, but with the larger music industry as well.
Harnoor’s ability to evolve with each release while maintaining his authenticity has become a hallmark of his music. His songs always have an undercurrent of emotion, particularly when it comes to themes of love and relationships. These themes aren’t just pulled from thin air; they’re rooted in his own experiences. Growing up wasn’t always easy for Harnoor. With his father away in the U.S. for much of his childhood, he was raised by his mother, and the absence of a father figure left its mark. “I’ve seen a lot of loneliness in my life,” Harnoor reflects. “For a big chunk of my life, it was just me and my mom, and there was a lot of tension and sadness. I can’t really express that through just spoken words, so I have to write and sing about it. That’s where the depth in my songs comes from.”
His honesty is what connects him so deeply with his listeners. Harnoor doesn’t just write love songs; he writes songs that feel lived-in, filled with the kind of emotional complexity that only comes from real experience. “I try to stay as honest as possible with my pen and lyrics,” he says, “and I think that’s why people are hooked to my music. I mean, I’m honestly a fan of my own voice,” he adds, showing the same easy confidence that’s made his music so relatable.
Collaboration has also been a significant part of Harnoor’s journey. His creative partnership with Ilam, a frequent collaborator, has been particularly fruitful. Their chemistry in the studio is undeniable, and it’s something Harnoor doesn’t take for granted. “I’ve got this thing where I only want to work with people I can learn from. I’m not into just working with random people. Ilam and I, we just sync perfectly,” Harnoor says. “I’m also big on discipline in the studio. When we’re there, we’re there to work, and we keep the energy positive and focused. That’s really important to me.”
For Harnoor, the vibe in the studio is just as crucial as the technical aspects of making music. “You can’t create good music in a bad environment,” he explains. “If the energy’s off, the song’s gonna feel off, too.” This commitment to a positive, disciplined environment has clearly paid off. Every time Harnoor and Ilam collaborate, they seem to create something that resonates not just with their fanbase, but with the larger music industry as well.
And speaking of the larger industry, Harnoor is more than aware of the global rise of Punjabi music. The genre, which has always been at the forefront in India, is now making waves internationally, with artists like Sidhu Moose Wala, Karan Aujla, AP Dhillon, Shubh, and Diljit Dosanjh ruling the charts. Harnoor’s name fits comfortably among these industry giants, and he’s proud of his contributions to the movement. “Punjabi music has always been groundbreaking,” he says. “I think it’s only going to get bigger from here. People are finally waking up to how diverse and rich our sound is. It’s wild to see artists from our culture breaking into the global market, but it’s no surprise. Guys like Sidhu and AP are killing it, and I’m proud to say that Waalian was a big moment for me in this scene.”
But Harnoor’s not content to rest on his laurels. He’s got big plans for the future, including global collaborations that he hopes will push the boundaries of Punjabi music even further. “I’ve always been into western sounds, and I’m excited about working with artists outside of India,” he says. “I know my upcoming projects are going to make a big impact, and I want to keep pushing the envelope. I’ve got a lot more in store, and I’m confident my next wave of music will strike a chord with fans worldwide.”
At the heart of it all, though, Harnoor remains grounded. For him, it’s not just about chart success or global recognition. It’s about making music that feels true to who he is. “I’m just trying to stay real,” he says, “and I think as long as I do that, the rest will follow.”
And speaking of the larger industry, Harnoor is more than aware of the global rise of Punjabi music. The genre, which has always been at the forefront in India, is now making waves internationally, with artists like Sidhu Moose Wala, Karan Aujla, AP Dhillon, Shubh, and Diljit Dosanjh ruling the charts. Harnoor’s name fits comfortably among these industry giants, and he’s proud of his contributions to the movement. “Punjabi music has always been groundbreaking,” he says. “I think it’s only going to get bigger from here. People are finally waking up to how diverse and rich our sound is. It’s wild to see artists from our culture breaking into the global market, but it’s no surprise. Guys like Sidhu and AP are killing it, and I’m proud to say that Waalian was a big moment for me in this scene.”
But Harnoor’s not content to rest on his laurels. He’s got big plans for the future, including global collaborations that he hopes will push the boundaries of Punjabi music even further. “I’ve always been into western sounds, and I’m excited about working with artists outside of India,” he says. “I know my upcoming projects are going to make a big impact, and I want to keep pushing the envelope. I’ve got a lot more in store, and I’m confident my next wave of music will strike a chord with fans worldwide.”
At the heart of it all, though, Harnoor remains grounded. For him, it’s not just about chart success or global recognition. It’s about making music that feels true to who he is. “I’m just trying to stay real,” he says, “and I think as long as I do that, the rest will follow.”
