Rolling Stone India: Chardi Kala Video Premiere

The official music video for CHARDI KALA is out now! Rolling Stone India featured the video and single. Excerpt below and read the full piece here.

When Brooklyn-based Punjabi origin artist Sonny Singh made his debut as a solo artist in August last year, he’d released “Mitar Pyare Nu,” off his upcoming album Chardi Kala. At the time, he did yearn for the stage and a full release of the album by 2021. With a few changes in plans, Singh still keeps the faith with the vibrant title track, released with a music video that bridges Patiala and Brooklyn.

HuffPost: Why this Sikh musician is highlighting the anti-CAA protests in his latest music video

HuffPost India did a nice feature on my latest single and music video, Koi Bol Ram. Excerpt below and full article here.

According to Singh, he saw “frightening parallels between the rise of Modi-ism in India and Trumpism here — empowering Hindu nationalists on one side, and empowering white nationalists on the other”.

His emotions around the political turmoil in the US and towards the CAA, he said, are not dissimilar. “I wanted to release this video — and this message of unity and resistance to fascism — now. I stand in solidarity with Muslims, Dalits, and other marginalised groups in India who are directly impacted by Hindu nationalism — not only through government policy but through interpersonal violence and harassment. It’s something I have experienced a great deal as a Sikh in the United States. Our struggles are intertwined,” Singh said.

SikhNet Op-Ed: Countering Political Divisions Through Music & Gurbani

Just in time for Election Day, I wrote a piece for SikhNet.com about the rationale behind my latest music video for Koi Bol Ram and responding to a lot of the questions I have been getting online. Excerpt below, and read the full piece here.

As someone who has lived in the United States my whole life, I see frightening parallels between the rise of Modi-ism in India and Trumpism here—empowering Hindu nationalists on one side of the coin, empowering white nationalists on the other. As we approach the biggest election of our lifetimes here in the US, I wanted to release this video—and this message of unity and resistance to fascism—now. 

Our world does not have to be so seeped with hatred, violence, and inequity. The images of the intergenerational protest movement in India are a reminder of what we’re fighting for—perhaps a glimpse of what justice looks and feels like. I hope it provides some much needed inspiration and hope in these times of anxiety and despair. 

The Wild City's 'Releases of the Week'

My latest single and music video KOI BOL RAM was featured in Indian online music magazine The Wild City’s “Releases of the Week” this week.

Soon, it will be a year since the nation outraged over the divisive Citizenship Amendment Act and protests at places like Shaheen Bagh inspired many others to voice their concern. Sonny Singh, of widely-appreciated New York-based group Red Baraat, reflects back on it as a solo artist with his second single 'Koi Bol Ram' and its music video. Instead of channelling grief and grit, Singh instead focuses on the beauty of unity among the protestors – launching into an anthemic uplifting melodic refrain inspired from Sikh Kirtans and Punjabi music while backed by a vibrant wave of brass.

Singh doesn't shy away from the problems around the topic either, expressing with deep concern over e-mail: "Given the recent Supreme Court decision on the Shaheen Bhag protest and the continued imprisonment of protesters, it feels like an important time to bring this issue to the forefront in my music. As an Indian American, it feels necessary for me to connect the rise of Hindu nationalism in India to similar dynamics of white nationalism and authoritarianism in the US."

See the full article here.

October 13th: New Single KOI BOL RAM

Koi Bol Ram Cover Image.jpg

On Tuesday, October 13th, I will be releasing my second single, KOI BOL RAM.

This track is my rendition of the Sikh shabad that calls for religious unity and pluralism - all too relevant in these times of Hindu nationalism in India, not to mention White nationalism in the US.

The track was produced by Wil-Dog Abers. Cover design by Shruti Parekh. Cover image courtesy of Jamun Collective. Forthcoming music video directed by Nadia Awad.

Video Premier: Rolling Stone India

The official music video for my first single, Mitar Pyare Nu, is out and premiering on Rolling Stone India!

Read the article and watch the video here.

Part of brass-meets-dhol fusion act Red Baraat and previously of multi-genre act Outernational, Brooklyn-bred artist Sonny Singh leaps into the world as a solo artist with his debut song “Mitar Pyare Nu,” influenced by traditional Sikh kirtans as well as fusion templates.

Produced by Wil-Dog Abers (from Los Angeles’ Grammy winning act Ozomatli), Singh released the song on August 18th and is now out with a music video shot in lockdown in L.A. by filmmaker and photographer Shruti Parekh. Reimagining a composition by Sikh guru and poet-philosopher Gobind Singh, “Mitar Pyare Nu” was written when the 17th and 18th century spiritualist was “alone in the jungle, separated from his family, after a long day of battle with the oppressive forces of the time,” according to the trumpeter.

In the video, Singh too is show in isolation with his trumpet, evoking gentle notes as well as roaring, emphatic portions of horns as he’s stood in a tent, poppy fields and other urban settings. “[Guru Gobind Singh was] isolated, but not alone because of his connected to the Beloved Friend, the Divine. That was the spirit we hoped to capture in a simple video with a one person crew and very little access to camera gear. Eventually we started getting shots of me in different locations around Los Angeles and Southern California, still always isolated in each shot, but never alone.”

New Sounds (WNYC) Weekly Music Roundup

My first single MITAR PYARE NU was included in New Sounds’ weekly music round up. Excerpt below and full piece here.

The first single is just out; it’s called “Mitar Pyare Nu,” or “Tell The Beloved Friend,” a 300-year old hymn that exists in many versions – none sounding quite like this. Singh gives the song a breezy funk feel, with horns, electric guitar, and drumkit joining the more traditional harmonium and tabla (hand drums). The heartfelt vocals reflect Singh’s view of music as part of his spiritual practice as a Sikh; in fact, the video for this song, due later this week, will include shots of that daily practice, namely, brushing out his uncut hair and tying his turban.

Podcast Interview: Sikhi, music, and activism on The One with Shabd

Several months ago I had a deep dive conversation about my journey as a musician, activist, and Sikh on Shabd Singh’s podcast The One with Shabd. The episode just aired this week, and you can listen here or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. A description of the episode is below. Happy listening!

Shabd interviews Sonny Singh who is a trumpet & dhol player, singer, songwriter and a social justice educator. He is also the original member of Red Baraat - a band out of Brooklyn, New York.

They talk about Sonny’s experience with racism growing up, learning to play tabla and harmonium as a young SIkh kid, finding ska music, discovering and attending social justice movements and more - all of which go into his work as a musician and an educator today. His first single as a solo artist, ‘Mitar Pyare Nu’ comes out on August 18.

Single featured on NPR Music's All Songs Considered

My debut single Mitar Pyare Nu was premiered by NPR Music’s All Songs Considered!

We end on an uplifting note from Sonny Singh. The trumpeter from Red Baraat offers us a tune steeped in Sikh devotional themes, with an anthemic Punjabi sound.

Check out the coverage, and listen to Mitar Pyare Nu here. The track is also available on all digital download and streaming platforms. Listen here.

2020-08-18 08.18.58.jpg

FROM HERE Documentary to premier in June

I am one of four children of immigrants featured in the feature-length documentary film FROM HERE, directed by Christina Antonakos-Wallace. Set in Berlin and New York, FROM HERE is a hopeful story of four young artists and activists from immigrant families redefining belonging in an era of rising nationalism globally. The film documents over 10 years of my life as a musician and activist, and I’m excited to report that is will be premiering in June at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival- digital edition. (The film was supposed to premier in person at the HRW Film Festival in London in March, which was canceled due to COVID).

While it is sad that the film cannot have an in-person festival premier, the good news is anyone in the United States can join for the digital premier and watch it from June 11-20th. Tickets for the online festival are available now ($9), and the director and I will be participating in a discussion and Q&A on June 14th at 8pm EST. Sign up and buy your tickets here! The trailer for the film is below:

Virtual COVID Relief Show + Quarantine Videos

Greetings from quarantine in LA! If you haven't seen on social media, I have been continuing to make weekly short videos collaborating with musician friends from all over. Be sure to check them out on my youtube channel, Instagram, or Facebook. And subscribe to my YouTube channel while you're at it. I will be announcing my first single and music video release very soon. 

Tomorrow, Friday 4/24, at 8pm I'll be doing a duo set with my friend Daro Behroozi, the saxophone player in Lucky Chops. It's a part of a virtual festival called Project Simorgh raising COVID relief funds for South Asian, Southwest Asian, and North African communities. Our set in particular will benefit DRUM, an organization near and dear to us doing critical work with working class South Asians in Queens, NYC. All the details below on the festival. You can watch it on my Instagram page (@iamsonnysingh) or at the festival's youtube: http://bit.ly/simorghYT 

Interview with Northwest Asian Weekly

I was featured in the Northwest Asian Weekly ahead of Red Baraat’s show in Seattle that was ultimately canceled due to COVID. Excerpt below, and full article here.

“Meet Sonny Singh, Red Baraat’s perpetual-motion horn man”

Most Americans seeing a turban-wearing Sikh, with a long beard, would not automatically assume such a man called Charlotte, N.C., his home, growing up.

But trumpeter Sonny Singh, performing with the Red Baraat band in Seattle on March 21, admits he got used to a lot of things, growing up Sikh in the South.

“My childhood was deeply shaped by being South Asian and being a Sikh,” he recalled. “My brother and I were the only two kids in the whole city who wore turbans, so there was a deep sense of isolation. Being bullied and harassed in school was a daily occurrence.

“But eventually, I took refuge in music. I started playing music in gurdwaras —Sikh houses of worship—playing harmonium and tabla and singing kirtan (Sikh devotional songs). At age 9, I started playing trumpet in school and never stopped!”

Read full article.

Chardi Kala Kickstarter campaign successfully funded!

The crowdfunding campaign for my debut album, Chardi Kala, was successfully funded! Eternal gratitude to the 237 of you who contributed. Eternal gratitude to those who encouraged me to do this, who shared this with their people, and have supported countless ways. Because of you, we raised $15,594, exceeding my initial goal. I cannot tell you how much this means to me and how helpful this will be to enable me to do justice to this music and message.

I also want to take this moment to shout out the incredible musicians who are playing on the album. They have been super generous with their time and talents, and I'm so lucky to have them as a part of this. Check them out! Mario Calire on drums, Dave Sharma on percussion and drums, Neelamjit Dhillon on tabla and saxophone, Justin Porée on percussion, Jonathan Goldberger on guitar, Nadav Peled on guitar, Carey Frank on keys, Bhai Anantvir Singh LA on harmonium, Ganavya Doraiswamy, Ashni Davé, and Basim Usmani, and Roopa Mahadevan on vocals, Ali Mir and Sham E-Ali Nayeem on poetry vocals, Miwi La Lupa on bass trumpet, Daro Behroozi on saxophone and bass clarinet, Ernest Stuart on trombone, Estevan Sanchez on sousaphone, Warren Huang on saxophone and flute, Dominic Johnson on violin, Jake Leckie Music on acoustic bass, Michael Dwan Singh on sarangi, and of course Wil-Dog Abers on bass, engineering, and producing. In this case, it takes a literal village to make an album-- including the 237 of you who are helping make this happen!