Karan Aujla's Super-Collab with OneRepublic and Ikky Debuts at No. 54 on Billboard Canadian Hot 100
Of the song "Tell Me," singer and producer Ryan Tedder tells Billboard that anyone not paying attention to the music of India or Southeast Asia is "asleep at the wheel." Canadian singer Alexander Stewart's radio hit "His Problem Instead" also debuts at No. 100.
Karan Aujla & Ryan Tedder
Karan Aujla, Ikky and OneRepublic are telling it like it is and climbing the charts.
Their new collaboration, "Tell Me" has debuted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the chart dated March 15 at No. 54. The song is OneRepublic's first English-Punjabi effort.
The band's singer and super producer Ryan Tedder was excited to work with Aujla after playing Lollapalooza India, where people were first recommending Aujla to him. He later linked up with Ikky and immediately connected with the demo for "Tell Me." The finished track is powered by a piano riff and an extremely catchy vocal hook, as Tedder and Aujla sing about seeking clarity in love.
Aujla and Tedder spoke with Billboardabout the track, detailing how it came together and the growth of Punjabi music globally. "My main thing is I just want to make the first Punjabi record that goes everywhere," Aujla said.
"He’s one of the main reasons that Punjabi music has exploded," Tedder said of Aujla. "Anyone who’s not paying attention to India or Southeast Asia right now, on a cultural tip, is asleep at the wheel."
The song is accompanied by a Bollywood-style music video filmed on a Hollywood set, featuring Indian actress Disha Patani. Aujla says his favourite part of the shoot was performing the song alongside OneRepublic — hopefully he'll get to do it in a live concert setting before long.
Another Canadian Ryan Tedder collaborator, Tate McRae, is all over the charts this week. She notches 14 songs on the Canadian Hot 100 in the second chart week after the release of her third LP, So Close To What, which Tedder helped produce. Her highest placement is "Sports Car" at No. 11, and she scores a debut for "Siren Sounds," a bonus track from the album arriving at No. 57.
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars hold the top spot on the chart for the third week with "APT.," while Mars and Lady Gaga's duet "Die With a Smile" sits pretty at No. 2. Chappell Roan's LGBTQ+ anthem "Pink Pony Club" hits a new peak at No. 4 — four spots higher than its U.S. peak at No. 8.
Canadian pop singer Alexander Stewart squeaks into this week's chart with a new entry at No. 100 for "His Problem Instead." The salty breakup song has been performing well on Canadian radio, charting on both the CHR/Top 40 and All-Format airplay charts. Heading into the Junos at the end of March, Stewart has two nominations, for breakthrough artist and best pop album. A win would further lock him in as a rising Canadian name.
Check out the full charts here.
