Global Punjabi artist Talwiinder while exclusively talking to Mid-Day shares how real emotions shape his songs, why he keeps a painted face and what can fans expect from his upcoming ICONiQ White Nh7 Weekender performance in Pune
Talwiinder opens up about the emotions behind his music talking exclusively with Mid-Day. (Pic/Special arrangement)
Ahead of his performance at NH7 Weekender in Pune, Punjabi singer-songwriter Talwinder Singh Sidhu opens about the emotional honesty that shapes his music. Known for soulful tracks like Pal Pal and Wishes, the artiste says his songs are rooted in real experiences and are meant to remind listeners that they are not alone in their struggles.
“I can’t speak for other Punjabi artists, but for me what separates my music and makes it stand out is that it comes from real, genuine feelings. Nothing is ever written just for the sake of it; it’s all truth. I make music for one reason: if someone out there is going through something I’m singing about, I want them to know they’re not alone. Everyone has ups and downs,” Talwiinder said.
Talwiinder on making music that goes viral on reels
With social media platforms like Instagram playing a giant role in determining whether a song goes viral, many artists today feel pressure to create short, catchy hooks designed for reels. “I have never forced my audience to do any hook steps or dance moves to create Reels on my songs to make them go viral; it's all in the audience's hands. My job is to make the music, and the rest is up to them. A lot of my songs went viral on social media, but all the credit goes to my audience, who spread my music as if it were their religion.”
“There’s another side that remains in the shadows”
But alongside the soft melodies and love-soaked lyrics is another visual element that has created a different kind of attachment between him and his fans—the painted face.
The artistic choice, which bridges curiosity and melody, has also strengthened his connection with fans. While many know what it represents, Talwiinder hinted that it also depicts a hidden layer of a human being who wants to live a normal life.
Talking about how two different sides of Talwiinder exist alongside the artist whose music has the world grooving, the singer acknowledged that audiences have only begun to see fragments of who he is as an artist.
Talwiinder hints that there may be another side to his personality that listeners have yet to fully see.
There are two 'ii's in Talwiinder, so there is another side that remains in the shadows. I call him the host.”
For Talwiinder, music may be the language the world knows him by today, but creativity, he believes, was always destined to find its way into his life.
Long before the stage lights and the echo of fans singing 'Wishes' louder than the speakers, there was another quiet fascination that shaped the way he looked at the world.
He shared that if he had not become a singer, he would have been a photographer or a cinematographer.
The Punjab-born artist was always confident about pursuing a creative path. “I would definitely be in a creative field; I have always been very fond of photography and capturing moments through a lens so that they become immortal,” said Talwiinder.
Between Punjab and San Francisco
Born in the heart of Punjab and raised between cultures after moving to San Francisco, Talwiinder’s journey feels almost like the verse of one of his songs—emotional and deeply personal. Long before his music found its way into playlists and late-night drives, there was simply a boy absorbing stories, distances, and the quiet weight of feelings that would later turn into lyrics.
When asked whether a special person in his life had shaped the emotional depth of his music heard by audiences around the world, Talwiinder, searching through memories rather than words, replied in a philosophical manner.
"Yes, that someone is life. I have always been moving around and can’t stay in one place for too long, and with that comes the experience that shapes the emotional fusion in my music.”
As excitement builds for his upcoming performance at NH7 Weekender in Pune, fans are also hoping to hear something new or unreleased from the singer. When asked whether his fans in Pune could get something exclusive or unreleased, Talwiinder, staying true to his mysterious persona, said, "Let's see how I feel on the day of the event; they might or they might not get it.”
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