Jai Dhir Says His EP Lover Boy Is ‘Deeply Personal’: ‘Its A Reflection Of Highs And Lows Of Love’

Emerging star in the Punjabi-pop scene, Jai Dhir, has launched his highly-awaited debut Punjabi EP named ‘LOVER BOY’, which signifies a major milestone in his music career. With a string of successful singles like ‘Mirza’, ‘Snap’, and a collaboration on Lost Stories’ EP ‘Marigold Soundsystem’, Jai introduces a fresh fusion of Punjabi, R&B, and Pop elements in his latest EP. This project beautifully showcases his talent for crafting engaging love stories conveyed through sincere and heartfelt Punjabi lyrics, harmonized flawlessly with his emotive vocals.

Comprising five enchanting tracks, the EP delves into the diverse spectrum of emotions experienced in love. Leading with previews of ‘Stay’ and ‘Don’t Go’, the EP also includes tracks such as ‘Glimpse’, ‘Precious’, and ‘Simplicity’. As hinted by the title, ‘LOVER BOY’, Jai explores his romantic persona, narrating a tale of a lover navigating through a rollercoaster of emotions in his amorous journey, highlighting sentiments of yearning, adoration, sacrifice, and above all, love.

In an exclusive chat, Jai shared his journey behind creating the album, his creative process, his upcoming projects and more.

Here are the excerpts:

Congratulations on the release of your debut EP, ‘LOVER BOY’! Can you share with us the inspiration behind this project and what you hope listeners will take away from it?

Thank you! LOVER BOY is deeply personal, drawing from my own personal experiences with love, heartbreak and self-discovery. The EP is a reflection of highs and lows of love wrapped in honest lyrics. I hope listeners find comfort, connection and purity knowing they’re not alone in navigating these emotions and to bring a smile on their face will mean the world to me.

Your music combines elements of Punjabi, R&B, and Pop. How do you go about blending these different genres to create your unique sound?

There is no science behind this unique sound, blending Punjabi, R&B and Pop elements is a natural reflection of my own multicultural background and listening to all kinds of genres from Gurdasman to The Weeknd since I was a kid. I love the approach of focusing on music rather than the genres that allows for more freedom and creativity while creating my music.

You mentioned that each track on ‘LOVER BOY’ has been crafted with attention and love. Can you walk us through your songwriting process and how you bring your lyrics to life?

I don’t stick to a certain time or place when I get creative; ideas come to me whenever, whether I’m at a party, driving in a car, or just hanging out in a crowded room. In all these different situations, I naturally start making up stories in my head. It’s just how I process things. Composing romantic songs comes naturally to me as I draw from my own personal definition of love, which has always been simple,positive and pure in my life. This idea of love gives me a lot of inspiration because of which I am able to write songs that feel real and heartfelt.

Tell us more about the tracks that are part of this EP and the story behind it?

The EP has 5 tracks in total – ‘Simplicity’, ‘Glimpse’, ‘Precious’, ‘Stay’, and ‘Don’t Go’. The making of the EP started with ‘Glimpse’, and after writing and recording the song I realised that I can write much more on the simplicity and purity of the subject, and that’s how I decided to work on a longer project to create my debut EP ‘LOVER BOY’. We worked on a bunch of beat patterns for this, keeping the overarching theme of the project around love.

Collaboration seems to be important to you, having worked with Lost Stories and Jay Sean. How do these collaborations influence your music and what have you learned from working with established artists?

I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the biggest artists from the music industry in my initial stages as an artist. It is a huge accomplishment for me. These collaborations boost my confidence as an artist who is just starting out in the music industry. Both Lost Stories and Jay Sean have been kind enough to collaborate with mewithout focusing on my numbers or the fact that I am a new artist – at the end of it, it is the

talent that matters and the music that speaks. It has been an incredible experience working with both the artists and every moment spent with them in the studio has been a learning experience in itself. I feel extremely grateful to have created a bank of songs with them, some that have been released and others that are still yet to come out.

Your music often resonates with themes of love and romanticism. How do you ensure that your songs convey authentic emotions and connect with your audience?

My goal while writing songs is to keep the lyrics as simple and relatable as possible for my listeners so that even those who don’t speak Punjabi can understand what I’m trying to say through my songs. Whether my listeners are in the initial stage of their relationship or they have been together for years, everyone can connect with my songs. I tend to write what is on my mind, without sometimes weaving a proper story around the song or writing lyrics that rhyme together – I rather focus on completing my thoughts and keeping it simple for people

to connect with the song.

With a growing fan base and millions of streams on your tracks, how do you handle

success and maintain your creative vision amidst increasing popularity?

Having a growing fanbase and gaining success is really boosting my confidence. It’s helping me overcome my fears and express myself more freely in my music. Whenever I share my unreleased songs in my close circle, they appreciate them and give me good feedback, which feels amazing. I’ve been lucky to have successful artists mentor me like brothers, reminding me not to lose focus and stay grounded. Handling fame might be a challenge, but I hope I’ll manage it well.

Your journey began with a focus on Bollywood music and later expanded to include

Punjabi, R&B, and Pop. How has this evolution shaped your artistic identity and where do you see your music heading in the future?

I began my musical journey with Hindi songs. Before that, I had actually written 5-6 Punjabi songs, but they didn’t get the chance to be released. Despite coming from a Punjabi background, I found that I could also express myself well through Hindi music. Over time, I’ve realised that I have a strong inclination towards Punjabi music, as I feel like I can express myself much better when writing Punjabi lyrics. Looking ahead, my goal is to keep making music that speaks to people’s hearts, regardless of the language. Whether it’s Hindi, Punjabi,

or any other language, my dream is to reach as many people as possible through my music and spread joy through my songs.

The music video for ‘Stay’ has already been released. How important is visual storytelling for you as an artist and how do you approach the visual aspect of your music?

Visuals are incredibly powerful in storytelling, especially when it comes to music. I’ve noticed that sometimes, language barriers can make it difficult for people to fully grasp the meaning of a song. For me, visuals are essential because they help bridge that gap. Even if someone doesn’t understand the lyrics, they can still connect with the story and emotion behind the

music through the visuals and make it more accessible to a wider audience.That’s why I believe in the importance of incorporating visuals into my music. They not only complement the sound but also enrich the overall experience, allowing people to connect with the music on a deeper level, regardless of language barriers.

You mentioned that you explored various facets of music during the lockdown, learning production and songwriting on your own. Can you share with us how this period of self-discovery influenced your creativity and style?

The lockdown changed everything for me. While stuck at home, I kept learning new things about music, but I couldn’t really put them into practice because I couldn’t go anywhere. When the lockdown finally lifted, I started hanging out with other artists and composing

songs with them. It was then that I realised I had the potential to achieve things I never thought possible before. Music became my passion, my strength, and my best skill.

Your Punjabi version of the viral song ‘Kesariya’ received immense popularity.

What inspired you to create this rendition and how do you approach putting your own twist on well-known tracks?

When the song “Kesariya” was going viral on social media, my manager Aayushman messaged me late at night in our group chat. He said that did you know there’s a version of Kesariya in every language except Punjabi? Why don’t you make one? I thought it was a great idea, so I listened to the song a few times. I decided to write Punjabi lyrics for it, putting my own spin on them. I wanted to make a different version, like a cover song. So, I added some piano music and tweaked the melody a bit to give it a new feel. When I shared it with the group, everyone appreciated it. Even I thought it turned out amazing. We recorded a video for it and uploaded it as a reel. It became popular. It was even noticed by Pritam, the man behind the original track, and seeing the massive response we also ended up releasing it officially across streaming platforms. It felt like a big collaboration, especially since I was just starting out. Sometimes, when I see my name next to Pritam’s on Spotify, it makes my day so much better. It’s still hard to believe.

With a strong presence on social media platforms like Instagram, how do you use

these channels to engage with your fans and showcase your creativity beyond your

music?

Recently, I’ve found myself switching from solely focusing on creating songs to becoming more active on Instagram. It’s been a bit of a change for me because I used to be quite reserved with my posts. But now, armed with a discography that I’m proud of, I’m exploring the platform more in terms of reels, photos, and more, curious about the impact it will have

on my audience. When I see positive responses rolling in, it’s like a jolt of excitement and confidence. I genuinely feel blessed to have this platform to share my work and connect with others.

As a self-taught artist who has grown immensely in a short time, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their musical journey?

I recently met some new artists who haven’t released any songs yet, but they’ve got about 510 songs ready to launch. I want to share some advice with them: keep making good music and never stop listening to great tunes. As a songwriter and composer, it’s important to explore different kinds of music and really pay attention to what you hear. Don’t stick to just one style; be open to anything that inspires you. Let your imagination roam free and create songs that show off all the different things that influence you.

Finally, what can we expect next from Jai Dhir? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re excited about sharing with your fans?

“LOVER BOY” is my debut EP and I’m really proud of it. Also, I’ve got even more exciting stuff in the works. I’m collaborating with Jay Sean on one of his album tracks, and I can’t wait for you all to hear it. There are lots of other collaborations in the pipeline too, and I’m just buzzing with excitement. Plus, there are plenty of single songs on the way too. Stay tuned!