Jaz Dhami calls music his hope and escape amid his battle with illness and personal crisis

Jaz Dhami will release his EP ‘Altered Ego’ in December

Jawab, the new single by British-Punjabi musician Jaz Dhami, came to him when he needed it the most. The number, which dropped last month, signifies many things to the singer - an escape, a space for healing, and the promise of renewal. "I was going through a challenging phase with my health and my brother's terminal cancer diagnosis. Being in the studio allowed me to mentally travel to another world. I felt like I needed an escape into an imaginary fun world, and from that, this song was created," says Dhami.

Simar has joined Dhami behind the mic for the number. Pics/Getty Images, Instagram

Blending Punjabi R&B with melodic rap, Jawab also has singer Simar's soulful vocals complementing Dhami's smooth delivery. Dhami, a long-standing fan of Simar, knew she would be perfect for the number. "We first collaborated to write my song Kasoor [2020], and when I made Jawab, I already had a female vocalist in mind. As soon as I thought of R&B, Simar was the perfect match. What I loved was how she put her own twist on it."

In December, Dhami will release his EP, Altered Ego. The project captures his evolution as a person, almost bringing out another side to him. He reveals, "This project was made in the thick of some of the biggest challenges of my life. Although lyrically it doesn't reflect that, I wanted to be free from all the versions of me that I've shown to date. This is me in my altered ego."

When listeners tune in to the songs, the artiste hopes that they are left with the feelings of optimism and joy. He adds, "I want them to know that anything is possible when things look dark. I made these songs during the most challenging part of my life to find a light I couldn't see. Everyone is going through something. Music helps us find joy and escape."

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