Press

“On Chardi Kala, Singh has done that rarest of rare things as a musician—he has actually charted new ground, pushing the idea of South Asian fusion music down a new, previously unexplored side path.”
— Bhanuj Kappal, Live Mint
“The title refers to the Sikh principle of eternal optimism and that’s definitely what comes through across the span of his album. He taps into his formative years performing kirtan, but true to his all-embracing mindset, he packs a lot of other musical influences into his sound. The results are utterly irresistible.”
— Steve Smith, Gothamist
“This is Indian devotional music as Western pop with a trumpet as a driving force. To hear it is to realize there’s not much else like it anywhere. ”
— Bruce Miller, PopMatters
“...steeped in Sikh devotional themes with an anthemic Punjabi sound.”
— Bob Boilen, NPR Music
“Singh’s voice arrives, like the breaking of morning sunlight, a bursting open of joy. ”
— Annie Mok, Bandcamp Daily
“Sonny Singh delivers borderless Punjabi anthems of hope and love as he takes center stage on the debut solo album “Chardi Kala””
— Ariana Morgenstern, KCRW
“Chardi Kala is vibrant, ebullient, and energized... Singh, punctuated poignantly by echoing guitar, humming bass and sighing harmonium, cries out a prayer for our ailing world.”
— Jackson Sinnenberg, JazzTimes
“Pulsating brass- and percussion-driven music with Sikh texts that go back centuries. ”
— John Schaeffer, WNYC

  • KEXP Sound & Vision Podcast, “Palestine Amplified” - January 18, 2024

  • Golden Hour with Charlene Kaye, “Sonny Singh’s Infinite Optimism through Spirituality & Music” - December 2023

  • The Border Chronicle, “Redefining Belonging: Q&A with Sonny Singh” - April 6, 2023

  • The Rhythm of Rebellion, Podcast interview - March 30, 2023

  • Roots Music Report, Album Review (5/5 stars) - March 12, 2023

  • Recording Academy/GRAMMYs, Positive Vibes Only series performance - January 15, 2023

  • New York City Jazz Record, Festival of New Trumpet Music show review - October 2022

  • Hindustan Times, “Bonus tracks: Check out the voices of change in indie Punjabi music” - October 1, 2022

  • Higher Plain Music, Album Review - September 17, 2022

  • WNYC, New Sounds Gig Alert - September 8, 2022

  • Songlines, Album Review (5/5 stars) - June 17, 2022

  • JazzTimes, Album Review - June 15, 2022

  • Rolling Stone India, Album Review (3.5/4 stars) - June 2, 2022

  • PopMatters, “Sonny Singh Celebrates Sikh Spiritualism with Pop on ‘Chardi Kala’” - May 31, 2022

  • The Wild City, “Sonny Singh's 'Chardi Kala' Mixes Punjabi Folk, Jazz and Anthemic Rock” - May 30, 2022

  • KCRW, Today’s Top Tune - May 26, 2022

  • Jazziz, Travel Podcast with Sonny Singh - May 25, 2022

  • Bandcamp Daily, “Sonny Singh’s Solo Debut is Both Political and Personal” - May 23, 2022

  • KEXP, New Music Reviews + Top 10 on KEXP Charts - May 16, 2022

  • Mint Lounge, “Sonny Singh and the dissident diaspora” - May 15, 2022

  • Gothamist/WNYC, Weekend Arts Planner - May 14, 2022

  • 15 Questions, “Interview with Sonny Singh: Spiritual Rebellion” - May 14, 2022

  • Religion News Service, “With new solo album, Sonny Singh comes full circle” - May 13, 2022

  • WNYC, New Sounds “Cross-Cultural Music” - May 11, 2022

  • Cast the Dice, “Sonny Singh announces debut solo album, Chardi Kala” - April 21, 2022

  • NPR Music, All Songs Considered New Mix - April 19, 2022

  • WNYC, Soundcheck Weekly Music Roundup - April 18, 2022

  • Rolling Stone India, “Sonny Singh Celebrates Vaisakhi and the Spirit of Community” - April 14, 2022

  • Brooklyn Vegan, Favorite Songs of the Week - April 14, 2022

  • Songlines, “Sonny Singh’s ‘Aisee Preer’” - April 14, 2022

  • Something Else, Album Review - March 24, 2022

  • WFYI Indianapolis, Cultural Manifesto - August 6, 2021

  • Collider Radio, Interview with Sonny Singh - August 4, 2021

  • WNYC, New Sounds Gig Alert - June 23, 2021

  • Firstpost, “In Sonny Singh's solo album, a juxtaposition of eternal optimism and speaking truth to power” - March 6, 2021

  • Rolling Stone India, “Sonny Singh’s Spirited New Video ‘Chardi Kala’ Connects Brooklyn and Patiala” - February 26, 2021

  • HuffPost, “Why This Sikh Musician Is Highlighting The Anti-CAA Protests In His Latest Music Video” - November 14, 2020

  • The Wild City, Releases of the Week - November 2, 2020

  • Rolling Stone India, “New York Trumpeter Sonny Singh’s Symbolic Video for ‘Mitar Pyare Nu’” - August 25, 2020

  • NPR Music, All Songs Considered New Mix - August 18, 2020

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