Punjabi musician Talwiinder: ‘The paint on my face is a reminder that art is bigger than the artiste’

You wear face paint and perform. At a time, when many Punjabi popstars base all of their music on their image and personality, portraying how many cars and girls they have, why and how did this decision to perform behind a mask come about? Why is anonymity so significant?

It was never about hiding — it was about shifting the focus. Music should be felt before it’s seen. The paint strips away the ego, the distractions. It’s a reminder that the art is bigger than the artiste.

Face paint and anonymity is often used to make political music. Did that idea, to create music that rose from the political, for example farmers’ protests in Punjab, occur to you?

Everything around me influences my music, whether it’s love, loss, or resistance. I don’t box my art into categories, but if a song speaks to something bigger than me, I embrace that.

Punjabi music has gone global at this point with artists like Diljit Dosanjh, AP Dhillon and Karan Aujla. What is your take on this movement?

It was always global. It just took the world a little longer to listen. The energy, the storytelling, it’s universal. I think, we’re just getting started.

If one is to remove the orchestration, your voice sits very well in the realm of the older folk music of Punjab. Who were your inspirations growing up?

Punjab’s folk legends—Surinder Kaur, Gurdas Maan, Asa Singh Mastana. Their melodies had soul, and that soul found its way into me.

You grew up in Taran Taran in Punjab. How did music happen for you? Were your parents interested in music?

Music was always around, but it wasn’t the plan. My parents had a simple life, they worked hard, focused on family. But somewhere in that simplicity, I found sound — on the radio, in the streets, in the air.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐈𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 (@talwiinder)

Were you also listening to other genres? Where and how did the access happen?

Hip-hop, alt-rock, electronic — I was listening to whatever I could find. The internet was a gateway, but music also came through friends, older cousins, even random CDs lying around. Every genre taught me something.

How did you start recording? Who helped you find your feet?

Trial and error. A cheap mic, cracked software, and a hunger to make something that felt real. No big studios, just a bedroom and a dream.

While recording is a relatively easy game, it is performing live that’s usually a game changer for an artiste.

Studio is control. Live is chaos. Performing makes you let go, trust the moment. It’s unpredictable, and that’s the beauty of it.

What are your plans for the Lollapalooza India 2025 in Mumbai?

Lollapalooza is all about energy, connection, and pushing boundaries. I want to bring something fresh to the stage — sonically and visually. Expect an experience, not just a set.