Punjabi-Canadian Powerhouse Chani Nattan Signs to Warner Music's 91 North Records

Punjabi powerhouse lyricist Chani Nattan is the next signing to Warner Music Canada and Warner Music India’s joint venture, 91 North Records. Nattan will join fellow Punjabi-Canadian artists Karan Aujla, Jonita Gandhi and AR Paisley on the label, which was created to support South Asian artists.

Nattan marks the signing with the release of his new song “Facetime,” alongside frequent collaborator Inderpal Moga and iconic Punjabi singer Miss Pooja.

Nattan tells Billboard Canada that joining 91 North Records was an easy decision, as the label’s vision and track record is leading the way by supporting Punjabi musicians in Canada and across the globe.

“I'm truly honoured to join forces with a powerhouse team of exceptionally talented individuals who share our passion for music,” he says. “My goal is to elevate our sound, the visuals and our ability to crossover on a global scale.”

Born and raised in Surrey, B.C., Nattan has already broken through to Punjabi music audiences around the world. In 2021, Nattan teamed up with Inderpal Moga and released "Daku" — a heady Punjabi hip-hop track that has garnered 247 million views on YouTube, and became one of the most streamed songs on Spotify India.

From there, Nattan’s lyrical abilities and artistry have brought him to new heights. In the last three years, Nattan collaborated with Diljit Dosanjh on tracks like “Umbrella” and “Jatt Vailly,” and fellow Punjabi-Canadian artists like Intense, Ikky, AR Paisley and more. More recently, Nattan penned three songs on Brampton-based artist Sukha’s latest EP. With Sukha and Punjabi singer Gurlez Akhtar, Nattan’s “8 Asle” sparked a viral TikTok dance trend and charted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.

Nattan uses a traditional Punjabi duet style, typically consisting of a playful back and forth between a quarreling couple. “Facetime'' blends those old-school Punjabi vibes with the hip-hop elements that he is so heavily influenced by, Nattan says.

"The beats are different but the heart and soul of it maintains the sound of Punjab and its concepts," he says. "It's about honouring our roots while embracing the evolution of our music."