In 2025, South Asian artists across genres and regions continue to expand their global footprint, blending tradition with modernity and gaining new audiences worldwide.
AP Dhillon
Genre: Punjabi pop, trap, hip-hop
Country: India / Canada
AP Dhillon is one of the most streamed South Asian artists on the planet right now. With over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners, he’s built a loyal global following through slick visuals, trilingual lyrics and polished production.
His 2025 EP The Brownprint features heavyweight collaborators including Gunna, Ayra Starr, and Salman Khan, reinforcing his global ambitions. Tracks like With You and Summer High continue to chart internationally, and his 2025 Dubai concert sold out in under 24 hours. He’s also the first Punjabi artist to perform at the Juno Awards, a major milestone for Desi representation.
Arijit Singh
Genre: Bollywood, classical, soft rock
Country: India
In September 2025, Arijit Singh will become the first Indian artist to headline a UK stadium with his sold-out show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It’s the latest in a long list of achievements for the man with over 147 million Spotify followers, making him one of the most listened-to artists on the platform.
He continues to dominate Bollywood soundtracks, but his live shows are increasingly international, blending Indian classical vocals with rock instrumentation and cinematic scale.
Nora Fatehi
Genre: Pop, dance, Afrobeat
Country: Morocco / Canada / India
A multi-lingual performer with roots in North Africa and Canada, Nora Fatehi has become a defining face of South Asian crossover pop. In 2025, she’s released a string of dancefloor-ready singles, collaborating with artists like Jason Derulo and CKay, mixing Indian melodies with Afrobeats and reggaeton rhythms.
While she’s not a traditional Desi vocalist, her reach across Bollywood, social media, and the international pop scene makes her a cultural force who carries South Asian identity into global spaces.
Badshah
Genre: Indian hip-hop, commercial pop
Country: India
A regular feature on both Indian and global charts, Badshah has refined the formula for radio-friendly hits. In 2025, he continues to collaborate across borders, most recently working with Latin and Korean artists to produce multilingual singles aimed at the streaming generation.
He’s an architect of the modern Indian pop sound—slick, accessible, and built for TikTok, but still rooted in Desi swagger.
Ravyn Lena
Genre: R&B, pop fusion
Country: India/USA
A rising star straddling the Indian and American music scenes, Ravyn Lena (sometimes credited as Ravyn) is bringing a smooth, genre-blending sound to global audiences. Her music fuses Western R&B with subtle South Asian textures, reflecting her bicultural upbringing.
In 2025, she’s made appearances on major streaming playlists in both regions, and her recent collaborations with indie producers in LA and Mumbai have sparked interest from fans and tastemakers alike. She’s one to watch for anyone tracking the new, borderless sound of Desi pop.
Sidhu Moose Wala (Legacy)
Genre: Punjabi hip-hop, rap
Country: India / Canada
Although Sidhu Moose Wala was tragically killed in 2022, his influence continues to ripple through South Asian music. Posthumous releases, tribute shows, and reissues of unreleased material have kept his fanbase engaged, and many of today’s Punjabi stars credit him with paving the way.
His ability to mix gangsta rap aesthetics with Punjabi storytelling created a blueprint now followed by artists across India, Pakistan and the diaspora.
Arooj Aftab
Genre: Experimental, classical, jazz
Country: Pakistan / USA
Arooj Aftab isn’t chasing chart placements, but she’s redefining what global success looks like for South Asian artists. Her 2021 Grammy win was historic, and her 2024 follow-up album cemented her place among the most respected names in world music.
In 2025, she continues to tour globally, selling out venues across Europe and the US with a sound that mixes Urdu poetry, minimalist jazz, and ambient textures.
Diljit Dosanjh
Genre: Punjabi pop, Bhangra, R&B
Country: India
Diljit has been quietly building a global fanbase for years, but 2025 might be his biggest yet. He continues to headline major festivals across North America and the UK, and his crossover appeal into film, fashion and live performance is unmatched.
He recently made headlines for his Coachella performance, becoming the first Indian artist to grace the festival’s main stage. His ability to shift between playful Bhangra bangers and slow-burning ballads makes him one of the most versatile voices in South Asian music.
Jasleen Royal
Genre: Indie pop, Bollywood, singer-songwriter
Country: India
Jasleen Royal has carved out a niche as one of India’s most versatile singer-songwriters, crossing seamlessly between Bollywood soundtracks and indie projects. Known for hits like Din Shagna Da and Nachde Ne Saare, her voice has become a staple at weddings and streaming playlists alike.
In 2025, she’s ventured further into global territory, scoring sync deals for streaming series and working with international composers. Her stripped-back aesthetic and emotional storytelling offer a refreshing contrast to high-gloss pop, and her audience continues to grow well beyond India.
Nucleya
Genre: EDM, Desi bass, fusion
Country: India
A cult favourite in India, Nucleya has spent 2025 bringing Indian EDM to international stages. Known for mixing folk samples with bone-rattling basslines, he’s recently performed at festivals in the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia, exposing a new generation to “desi bass” culture.
While still operating slightly outside the mainstream, his underground influence is unmistakable.
Pasoori – Ali Sethi & Shae Gill
Genre: Pop-fusion
Country: Pakistan
Pasoori isn’t just a song, it’s a phenomenon. Originally released in 2022 via Coke Studio Pakistan, the track remains on global playlists three years later. With over 1 billion YouTube views, it’s the most-watched South Asian track of the decade.
The song’s mix of Urdu lyrics, Turkish strings, reggae beat and pan-cultural video made it a breakthrough not just for the artists, but for a global Desi sound that doesn’t need subtitles.
And finally…
This wave of South Asian artists isn’t about representation for the sake of diversity; it’s a reshaping of sound itself. These acts aren’t fitting into the charts, they’re stretching them to accommodate a multi-lingual, multi-rhythmic future. The streaming era has finally caught up with what Desi audiences have known for years: this music travels, and it stays.
