Riding high on the success of Deluded—a hauntingly stylish music video in collaboration with YXNG SXNGH that has garnered over 350,000 views on YouTube within two weeks, UK-based music artist Khushi Kaur is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting new voices in the global Punjabi music scene. Blending classical Indian training with contemporary soundscapes, she’s redefining what it means to be a modern Punjabi artist with every release.
Born and raised in Nottingham, Khushi’s journey began at age 11, singing Kirtan at her local Gurdwara—a spiritual foundation that continues to shape her work.
“This foundation most definitely changed my entire perception of music entirely,” she reflects. “After learning about the importance of Kirtan and music within Sikhi, I began to love music even more. This then encouraged me to explore other avenues of music.”
Her passion led her to train in Hindustani classical vocals under Ustaad Roben Gill and at the Shankar Mahadevan Academy. While her current tracks lean into Punjabi pop and Western-infused beats, her classical training remains central to her sound. “Whether the beat is contemporary or mainstream, there’s no rulebook that says you can’t blend the two,” she says. “As a UK-born Punjabi artist, merging tradition with a global perspective feels like a natural expression of who I am.”
Khushi’s breakout came with Kokka, a standout collaboration with DJ LYAN and Juss Nandhra that landed her on the BBC Asian Network A-list and the Official Asian Music Chart. “DJ LYAN first reached out to me with a concept, and once we connected in the studio, everything just clicked,” she shares. “It was my first time experimenting with a garage-type sound. The response was incredible; people connected with it instantly, and the love is still coming in even a year later.”
She kept the momentum going with her debut EP For The Taking, created with YXNG SXNGH. Tracks like Black and Copper quickly went viral, bringing a fresh, fearless energy to the Punjabi scene. “I noticed that not many female artists were exploring this fusion,” she says. “That really motivated me to step into that space and offer something fresh.”
And while doing all that? She was also grinding through university. “When I wasn’t studying, I was singing—and when I wasn’t singing, I was studying,” she laughs. “It got especially intense around release time… but with good time management and staying focused, it all worked out in the end.”
A die-hard Karan Aujla fan, Khushi already has the perfect collaboration in mind. “I’d go for a vibe like Admirin’ You (Unplugged),” she says. “I actually posted a cover of it on my Instagram, and the response was amazing… Karan even commented on it himself, which was crazy!”
As for what’s next? She’s not slowing down. “I’ve got a few new projects and some collaborations coming out this summer. Hopefully, people connect with them and enjoy what’s coming.”
From Kirtan to going viral, Khushi Kaur is doing it all on her own terms. Unapologetically Punjabi, proudly Gen Z, and just getting started—this is her moment, and she’s owning it.
