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For a band that identifies itself as ‘Confused pop’, with pride, Faridkot is sassy about headlining that genre in today’s eclectic music ecosystem. Highlights from a conversation with Laila and Nasha fame band’s lead members, IP Singh and Rajarshi Sanyal, who performed at a university in Chandigarh some days ago.

Q: You called your genre ‘confused pop’ at a time when genres defined identity. Do you feel redeemed in contemporary context when music is increasingly genre-agnostic?

Raj: The idea behind the term was to free ourselves from labels. We were always fans of all kinds of music—Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rafi, RD Burman, Tinariwen, Chemical Brothers… everything.

IP: Confused pop gave us the freedom to adapt and stay excited. And it’s great to see other artists embracing that fluidity today. It keeps the

landscape fresh.

Q: And is that freedom enabled you to release one EP a year, including one you have released recently?

Raj: Yes and of course we have a label tha t’s basically told us: here’s a laboratory, go be mad scientists. We even have seven to eight minutes long, something

hard to release commercially today.

IP: For us, our last biggest hit, Nasha was undiscovered for three years (released in 2019) and it just blew up in 2022. And for some songs like Laila which we sang on a TV channel in 2009 and released it in 2011, it has been constant gratification.

Q: What explains the huge boom in live concerts today, especially Indian and Punjabi acts going global?

IP: Live music has always been awesome. India has a huge live heritage—Tansen performed live! Every second of a live show is raw and real.

Raj: There’s no retake. You connect with the audience moment by moment. With Punjabi music , it’s also about pride in your roots. When audiences hear themselves represented, they connect instantly.

In the glut of music today, it must feel good to have your songs still playing around.

IP: Definitely. More than 1 million songs are released just in India every year. To have at least two, three tracks that stuck with

people amidst that, is a blessing.

Independent music has exploded in India recently. What would you attribute that shift to?


Raj: It is because of the democratization of music. Anyone, anywhere can create music today. Earlier, recording and releasing required big resources.

Today, someone sitting at home can make a great song.

IP: The audience decides what stays. Marketing can push a song initially, but whether people return to it months later—that’s in the audience’s hands.

Seventeen years together is a long journey. What has kept you two going?


IP: Nobody else likes us! (laughs). Honestly, we made a resolve early on—that the music comes first. Differences can be sorted. And when we can’t

sort them, we use a pair of gloves at the studio, fight it out, and whoever wins—wins the creative decision. That’s how we’ve survived 17 years.

Q: IP, your personal style—turban, kurta, dhoti pants—feels very kitsch and distinctive. Is it intentional or just who you are?

IP: This is who I am. I’ve worn weird clothes all my life! I don’t even own jeans—they feel too tight. India invented pajamas for a reason! I love styling, though I’ve failed many times. Since marriage, my wife has helped refine my look. Pairing the turban with contemporary outfits is my way of honouring where I come from.