AP Dhillon, an astute singer-songwriter, rapper and music producer, has come through with his expected new EP titled ‘The Brownprint’. The current EP was released under Republic Records in association with Universal Music Canada. This nine-track release is yet another milestone in Dhillon’s establishment as an artist and the international fanbase that he has sustained and prepares the audience for his next phase.
AP Dhillon states, “I’m calling my EP ‘The Brownprint’ because I want to show our community that rather than just one market there are several ways to put out Punjabi music. I want us to broaden our scope and see the impossible. Creating history is now out of the question; what is needed now is creating a legacy that future generations will be proud of.”
The Title single, ‘Brownprint’ one more time in duet with Shinda Kahlon shouts out the values of braveness, faithfulness and power. The song depicts the brave hearts from the region of Majha. The centrepiece of the track is the fighting spirit of the people of Majha region in Punjab. Strong and ready to fight is the sentiment you encapsulate in the lyrics which are a warrior’s on the verge of the battlefield. In the same spirit, ‘315’ a killer song from the EP is an amazing anti-colonial fusion for AP Dhillon’s Indian roots and people. With Punjabi music veteran Jazzy B and Shinda Kahlon, the fierce tune is a musical ‘we are undefeated’, respecting the Punjabi spirit. A traditional West Coast beat has a nostalgic but fresh approach that grips listeners with a promise and a very clear one at that that this crew is not to be messed up and there is no crack that can weaken their bonding.
Together, this incredible EP also involves artists from other countries to showcase Dhillon’s amazing artistic ability to make art that is beyond cultures with an intoxicating blend of musical genres like rock, afrobeat, hip hop, funk, soul and Punjabi music all blended in a single composition. Subtle acoustic guitar underpins ‘Losing Myself,’ as Dhillon connects with Atlanta rap heavyweight Gunna on a tender song which delves into love and heartache. It was Rashpal Singh who, being Dhillon’s father, wrote ‘Losing Myself’ and for the first time co-wrote the song with his son, Dhillon. The sexy love anthem ‘Bora Bora’, with history creating Nigerian-born Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr, perfectly weaves this airy production and energy and upscale feelings to the beach while dealing with questions of fidelity, relationships and possession. ‘Sweet Flower’ introduces new artist Syra into the music industry, it is a fun and happy song where Dhillon was able to make very catchy dance songs.
The EP takes its listeners on a splendid emotional roller coaster and covers the grief and melancholy with such introspection, giving a perfectly insightful hint into Dhillon’s life, artistic prowess and tapping the deepest emotions within music. The offerings of the distances and the after midnights cover the theme of love which is positively frothy and for the most part about relationships but from a tragic angle of abandonment and treachery and separation. What is more, ‘After Midnight’ makes the listener see another angle of Dhillon for the music star samples for the very first time Punjabi music with a rock flavor. Reinventing the bonus cut ‘To Be Continued…’, Dhillon also showcases his relative versatility in changing from one genre to another and from one sound to another. And the gloomy ending of the romantic song ‘Distance’ ‘To Be continued’ is self evident against an ambient wish to break into the melancholy with a turbulent infatuated love ballad.
‘The Brownprint’ was teased a few weeks back when Salman Khan-Sanjay Dutt starrer ‘Old Money’ was released which has already crossed 20 million global streams and entered the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart and was teased earlier this week.
The majority of the EP comes as co-produced by AP Dhillon featuring most of the tracks alongside in the project Mr. AzizTheShake, Mr. Luca Mauti, Mr. Ramoon, Mr. Roc Legion, Mr. Gray Hawken, Mr. Tompa, Mr. Ben10k, Intense, La+ch, Mr. Chris LaRocca, Mr. Brendan Thomas, Ms. Madeleine Kay and Mr. Herman Atwal.
With ‘The Brownprint’, AP Dhillon is establishing his position as a world music superstar, the representative of a global brown society. Definitely keep an eye out for AP Dhillon’s new music in the future as he keeps transcending on the existing boundaries making a name as an evolving artist.
