Diljit Dosanjh is coming in hot as Billboard Canada’s No. 1 for Billboard’s 'Global No. 1s' series. Diljit shares what it’s like to be an outstanding voice within the Punjabi community and making a way for other Punjabi artists, his favorite memories from his Dil-Luminati’ Tour, why people connect with his music and more!
Billboard is launching its inaugural 'Global No. 1s' series, an initiative to spotlight top-charting artists from around the world. Billboard has partnered with its ten-plus global editions to showcase distinct voices topping their local charts around the world in exclusive interviews. Stay tuned throughout the week to discover who's No. 1 in the UK, Brazil, Korea, and more!
Billboard is launching its inaugural 'Global No. 1s' series, an initiative to spotlight top-charting artists from around the world. Billboard has partnered with its ten-plus global editions to showcase distinct voices topping their local charts around the world in exclusive interviews. Stay tuned throughout the week to discover who's No. 1 in the UK, Brazil, Korea, and more!
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MusicTranscript
00:00I feel blessed and Punjabi communities which used to have shows were never on such a big
00:21scale like stadiums were never there but it was my dream that all the mainstream artists
00:27would have shows on such a big scale with a big production and all.
00:32So it was my dream from a long time when I started Punjabi music that my shows,
00:37Punjabi shows basically, could be on such a big scale one day.
00:41And it became history. Now all the new Punjabi artists don't need to dream.
00:47They have a blueprint in front of them, you can all do it.
00:50So my shows are not just for me, they are for everyone.
00:55They don't need to dream if it's possible or not.
00:58Because people used to tell me that it's not possible.
01:00Today it's confirmed, Punjabis have come.
01:06Canada seems Punjabi to me. All the Punjabis are there.
01:09And not just the Punjabis, all the people from the communities come to my shows.
01:14And we welcome everyone with open arms.
01:19When I did a show for the first time in my life, out of India, it was Canada.
01:23It was Toronto, the first time I did a show.
01:25So always in my mind, Canada is like India.
01:29So going out and doing a show is like Canada.
01:31For me, right?
01:34Yeah, that's the memory and Canada is very special for me, 100%.
01:43Obviously music, sound for me, sound is God, right?
01:47For me, music, sound is God.
01:50If I want to give a definition of God, then it's sound.
01:54I haven't realized that yet.
01:58For me, music is God.
02:00I think those who come to listen to me, those who want to listen to me,
02:03those who don't understand Punjabi, they just connect, they don't connect to sound.
02:09And what I sing, it reaches from heart to heart, just because of sound.
02:16So I enjoy all the sound.
02:18Sound is everything.
02:23Three moments is very tough, guys.
02:25The whole Dilmarati tour is my favorite.
02:29If I had to pick a busy place,
02:32because Vancouver was our first stadium show.
02:35It was the first stadium show of my life.
02:37Whenever I used to go there, I used to look at Vancouver, always.
02:40So I thought, I'll perform here someday.
02:43So that was very special.
02:45Even Toronto, Rogers Centre, very special.
02:49I couldn't believe that it was sold out.
02:52Stadium for me?
02:54Wow.
02:56Then O2.
02:58No one from our side, no one from Asia,
03:02had performed there continuously for three days.
03:06It was only once.
03:08So three shows in O2, all sold out.
03:13That was special.