It’s not every day that a Punjabi song features in a Hollywood animated film, but singer-songwriter Subhi has set a trend. The Indo-American artiste recently became the first South Asian to perform a Punjabi song in a Hollywood animated movie.
Subhi has collaborated with international musicians DJ Khaled and Cardi B for the song Higher Love, which is featured in the upcoming Smurfs film. “There’s something magical about fusing different worlds and creating something unexpected. I feel proud to bring my Punjabi roots to this international track.” Subhi says.
The collaboration came together rather organically. Subhi is signed to Desi Trill, both as an artiste and a songwriter. Ty Ty Smith, who co-founded the label, is also a producer on the Smurfs film. He believed in the track and saw the potential for something truly global. “Natania (Lalwani) had already started working on the song with a few co-writers, and came up with this idea to infuse the track with Punjabi elements. Once the English portions were in place, she brought me in to write and sing the Punjabi section,” recalls Subhi.
Subhi immediately fell in love with the concept. “The blend of cultures, languages and styles felt effortless in the studio. When DJ Khaled and Cardi B came on board, it elevated the whole thing. Cardi’s fun and witty verse brought swagger, and DJ Khaled brought his signature energy. Suddenly, we had something massive on our hands,” she shares.
The team during the filming of the music video.
| Photo Credit:
Lyle Lindale
Being on the sets of the song’s music video in Miami along with DJ Khaled and Natania – in what they jokingly called “Smurfland” – was a surreal experience. Incidentally, Subhi was nine months pregnant at the time. “ Being part of something so significant, while nurturing a new life withinme made the experience more meaningful. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish,” she adds.
Subhi’s musical journey began in New Delhi. She got trained in Hindustani music even while she was a child. Her grandfather used to recite Fazi and Ghalib’s poems to her. “That’s really where my love for words and lyrical storytelling began. Their poetry taught me that emotion lies between the lines, not just in them,” she said.
When she was 16 , she moved to the U.S., where she broadened her musical horizon as she had the chance to listen to bands such as The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA and The Carpenters that shaped her sense of harmony and structure. She also trained with a Broadway vocal coach, and later with an opera coach, both of whom helped her understand vocal projection and body control. Later, moving to Chicago exposed her to jazz and blues. “That’s when I fell in love with artistes like Ella Fitzgerald. Her vocal phrasing and improvisation made me explore new territory,” she says. All of these influences have reflected in this track. “I feel lucky to have walked through so many musical doors. Each one left something with me,” she said.
Singer and songwriter Subhi.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The last couple of years have been a journey of exploration and evolution for Subhi — both as a writer and a vocalist. She has been experimenting and trying to sing and write outside her comfort zone. While songs such as ‘Kahaniyaan’ and ‘Laapata’ fall into the Indie-pop genre, “lyrically rich, more acoustic, and emotionally intimate”, tracks such as ‘Billo’, ‘Khel’ and ‘Intezaar’ are bolder and unapologetically playful. For instance, ’Khel’, is about a modern woman who knows exactly how the game is played — and how to play it on her terms,” adds Subhi.
Her latest single, ‘Tehtul-E-Ishq’, is close to her heart. Subhi co-wrote it with Aman Moroney, who is also the track’s producer. “This is the first time I wrote a track that is heavily influenced by Urdu and Punjabi. Lending my voice to a song which has Qawwali and folk textures was enjoyable”, she adds.
Subhi will also collaborate with artistes across genres and geographies. “I’m in a phase where I’m not chasing ‘sound’ but creating one – that is global, rooted, poetic and always evolving,” she concludes. The coming months will see many of Subhi’s singles releasing, each exploring a different mood, story or sonic landscape.
Published – May 08, 2025 06:00 pm IST
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