The recent surge in South Asian music and the spotlight on South Asian artistes can be attributed to today’s unprecedented global connectivity, allowing cultural influences to spread rapidly. If one looks at past moments when South Asian music enjoyed popularity, such as in the 2000s, there is now a renewed interest. DJ Lyan, a formidable name in the London music industry, says as cultural trends have traversed regions such as South America with reggaeton and Africa with Afrobeat, it is now Asia’s turn, highlighting the diverse diaspora and widespread presence of South Asians contributing to this global phenomenon.
He says, “This cultural wave signifies more than a fleeting trend. It establishes South Asian music as a significant and lasting component of the global music landscape.” On a video call from London, the Bangladesh-origin British DJ, producer and songwriter Lyan, who hails from the vibrant cultural melting pot of East London, holds forth on his artistry that fuses traditional sounds of South Asia with contemporary western music.
Lyan has teamed up with the UK’s two emerging Punjabi stars, Juss Nandhra and Khushi K, to create a garage-infused single, ‘Kokka’, released under the label Desi Trill. A homage to the UK Garage classic Body Groove, Lyan has reimagined ‘Kokka’ into a modern-day hit. Says Lyan, “’Kokka’, set in the heart of London, strikes a balance between the classics that many grew up with and fresh sounds and talents that appeal t.
