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That was a big one for me. As soon as I entered the venue, I was more focused on my performance. I didn\u2019t even know if I\u2019d be winning this award. I was going to be happy anyway, but I didn\u2019t have in the back of my head, like, \u2018OK, I\u2019m here to win this award.\u2019 But when they announced my name and I got up \u2014 that moment, I\u2019ll remember for the rest of my life. It was amazing.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s special about this Canadian brand of Punjabi music?<\/strong><\/p>\n Canada has played a big role in my career. Combining the Canadian and Punjabi sounds together, it creates this different genre that we didn\u2019t know we would end up with. My last album, \u201cMaking Memories,\u201d combines American, Canadian and all these other sounds with folk Punjabi music.<\/p>\n You once worked as a longshoreman. How old were you when you did that job?<\/strong><\/p>\n I was 19. I was still doing music, but writing mostly for other people. I had a couple of tracks out in my own voice. That job was great for my career, and my sisters thought it would be good for me and my future, but they didn\u2019t know what I was doing about music. I went to that job for three months. There were a lot of Punjabis working there, so they started recognizing me slowly, and they knew that I was into music. But my music didn\u2019t grow as much. I had to just focus on one thing.<\/p>\n Music can be a full-time job, after all. Do you feel supported by the Canadian music industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n Oh yes, 100 percent. Canada gave me lots of support. Maybe in the future I\u2019ll be doing collaborations with some Canadian artists, too.<\/p>\n Some are calling this moment in Punjabi music the \u201cPunjabi wave.\u201d What does that mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m just happy I\u2019m a part of it, and that I\u2019m the one that brought it to this level, and a couple of other Punjabi artists who are working on the same thing. We\u2019re just doing it for the culture, and I feel like it\u2019s all coming together now. It\u2019s great to witness that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n