For the new cover story for GQ Hype’s latest edition, AP Dhillon meets with Priyadarshini Patwa.During their conversation, he talks about his relationship with music through the years, his latest documentary series, the future of AI and performing at the IPL.
Ever since he burst onto the scene with his hit track “Brown Munde” in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, AP Dhillon has remained something of a mystery to his fans. Where others in his position might have tried capitalizing on their success by launching themselves into the public eye, this singer from Gurdaspur decided to stay away from the public eye and focus on his music.Earlier this week this elusive music sensation dropped his documentary series, AP Dhillon: First of a Kind, on Amazon Prime Video, in a bid to give audiences a glimpse into his life.
On how Dhillon developed a relationship with music:
I never trained to be a professional musician. Where I come from, no one really dreams of becoming a successful musician. As a child, I loved singing Sufi songs, which my father introduced me to. As I grew older, I was exposed to hip-hop and Western pop. All of these influences can be heard in my music.
On his latest documentary series–AP Dhillon: First of a Kind:
The story is not just about me; it’s about a generation of people like me who have a whole set of new opportunities as well as challenges.At the beginning of my career, I wanted my music to speak for me. I don’t make music for attention or to boost my image; I just love music and the effect it has on others.
This is what drove me. Over time it got to a point where the fans were pressing to know more about me, but I didn’t feel that simply talking or doing interviews would get the entire message across.I wanted fans to get an authentic, raw glimpse into my world—things they usually may not have access to.In addition, doing a documentary like this will open the doors for other creatives from our culture to do something similar.
There are so many great artists and creatives, both past and present, who deserve to have their stories told.There wasn’t a blueprint for me or someone like me to follow, and my main goal is to inspire the next AP to learn from what I’ve done and do even greater things.
On achieving such huge success so early in his career:
It’s a blessing—and I don’t take it for granted. I’m still learning how to process it. I went from working out of a homemade garage studio to selling out arenas in less than three years. I’m still getting used to being famous. I’m actually a low-key person. It’s tough to be a public figure while also retaining your sense of individuality.
Using emerging technologies like AI to create music, he says:
We’re already using technology to make music. And the tools are really helpful. If AI can help speed up the process, we should be open to it.
On what it was like performing at the IPL:
It was fun; I enjoyed it.The IPL was so different because you’re not really performing for the fans in the stadium; you’re actually performing for the camera. It all happened at the last minute. My performance was confirmed only two days before the show.The dancers learnt their steps at the last minute. So everyone worked hard in the short time we had to put it all together, and in the end we pulled it off—but it was so last minute!
