New Delhi: Growing up in India, Karan Aujla was a happy child until a series of tragic events changed his life. At the tender age of nine, Aujla lost his father in a bike accident, and by fourteen, he was orphaned after his mother succumbed to cancer. These early life experiences forced him to mature quickly, taking on responsibilities like arranging his documentation to move to Canada, where his two older sisters resided.
In a recent exclusive interview with Q’s Tom Power, Aujla reflected on his childhood hardships, saying, “I feel like it just opened my eyes too early. I don’t know why that happened so early, but maybe it was meant to happen.” Despite the challenges, Aujla’s resilience and determination have propelled him to become one of the most popular Punjabi artists globally.
It’s been a decade since Aujla relocated to Canada, where he rebuilt his life from scratch. Earlier this year, he made history as the first Punjabi artist to win a Juno Award and was recently named the latest addition to Apple Music’s Up Next program, marking another milestone as the first Punjabi artist to join this global initiative.
In the wake of his mother’s death, before moving to Canada, Aujla turned to songwriting as a coping mechanism. “I still remember my first song was a sad song,” he recalls. “I was writing about how I felt like I don’t have any reason to live. That was the chorus of that track.… I didn’t know how to talk to anybody, you know? And then I slowly started realizing, ‘OK, maybe I could turn this into a hobby and then a profession.'”
By the age of 15 or 16, Aujla had given one of his songs to a prominent local singer in Punjab, which garnered him some attention back home. This initial taste of success motivated him to continue pursuing music.
Upon arriving in Canada, Aujla took a part-time job as a longshore worker in Surrey, B.C., allowing him to work on music on the side. During this time, he sold lyrics to Punjabi singers but yearned for recognition as a singer. Aujla recorded his songs, and people around him began noticing his talent.
After a few initial setbacks, Aujla focused on building relationships with producers in Canada, trading his lyrics for their music. With the support of friends, he launched his YouTube channel, sharing his music and amassing millions of views. In October 2018, he released the track “Don’t Worry,” which quickly went viral, reaching five million views a day and ultimately solidifying his decision to remain independent and produce his music.
Following the success of “Don’t Worry,” Aujla remained consistent, releasing new music regularly. His track “Don’t Look” gained immense popularity in Punjab, fulfilling his dream of making it big in his homeland. Aujla is now part of a wave of South Asian artists in Canada, including AP Dhillon and Ikky, who are blending genres and reaching vast audiences.
Influenced by hip-hop artists like Jay-Z, J. Cole, and Kanye West, Aujla blended Punjabi lyrics and melodies with hip-hop and trap beats. This innovative approach has earned him billions of streams and a growing fanbase.
Aujla is confident that his “Despacito Moment”—a track that will break into the mainstream globally—is on the horizon. “It’s so nice to see that the world is more open to new music and new languages,” he tells Power. “Music is music…. I’m trying to make that one track that’ll just go everywhere.”
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Reflecting on his journey, Aujla acknowledges the pain that fueled his passion for music. “You got to get up and just do your thing,” he says. “What drives me is just that journey I went through. I really believe that my parents are still watching over me and I just want to make them proud every day. That’s what’s driving me.”
Karan Aujla’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact of music as a form of healing and expression. His journey from tragedy to triumph inspires many, proving that with determination and hard work, one can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness.
