From redefining the story of desi hip-hop to becoming one of the first British Indian artistes to achieve global stardom, Jay Sean’s journey has been nothing short of groundbreaking. Born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti, he shook the UK hip-hop scene in the early 2000s with hits like Dance With You and Eyes on You, introducing a unique fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and South Asian sounds that culminated in his seminal debut album, Me Against Myself. These collaborations with the Rishi Rich Project redefined the sound of desi music and paved the way for a new generation of South Asian artistes, giving desi youth a representation in mainstream music they had rarely seen before. 

Sean’s talent soon transcended borders, catapulting him onto the global stage with the chartbusting Lil’ Wayne feature Down, making him the only British Indian to ever reach the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 list. As the track climbed international charts, he became a mainstay in the pop world, collaborating with heavyweights like Nicki Minaj, Sean Paul, Pitbull and more through the 2010s. His unique sound and crossover appeal solidified his status as a global pop icon, though as he admits himself, the melting pot of Southall, London that defined his childhood influences has never quite gone away. 

Now, as he prepares to embark on a multi-city India tour—culminating in a highly anticipated performance at Nykaaland 2.0 in Mumbai—Jay Sean is bringing his music back to its roots. Ahead of his return to the Indian stage at the country’s biggest lifestyle festival, we caught up with the RnB legend for a quick chat. Excerpts: 

What does it feel like to be back in Bombay? It's been about a year since your last performance here. 

Yeah. I actually come to India every year to perform, and the likelihood is Mumbai is definitely on the list of cities I do. I absolutely love it. I love performing there, I love spending time there, and I have lots of great friends because I've been touring India for the last 20 years. So, I come back every year and see so many different changes, things growing, and different scenes. It's always enjoyable. 

What’s your favourite thing to do while visiting the city? 

I don't actually have a bucket list. I have very good friends, and I let them decide where we're going to hang out, take me somewhere to eat, somewhere nice, or take me to a place I've never been to or something like that. I rely on them because they know the city, right? They know it best. 

Can you tell us a bit about your performance in Mumbai? How did it come together, and how are you feeling leading up to the event? 

Performing in India is really a dream because I always get to do a dream setlist. You get to do your first-ever song all the way up to your last song, right? That's not always possible. Some areas of the world are more familiar with stuff from later on in your career, but because I've been coming to India since day one, they know Dance With You, Eyes on You, all the way up to now. So, to be able to do all those songs is something I always look forward to. 

You’ve been an icon for brown artistes from the UK. Could you tell me a bit about how your heritage influenced your music?

Yeah, what we managed to do, Rishi Rich and I, when we made the music from the beginning—of course with Juggy, me, Rishi—it was an iconic moment because we tapped into something that all the brown kids in England loved. They loved their R&B, they loved hip-hop, but they also loved Punjabi music, Hindi, Bollywood—all that stuff. So, to give them that in one song, like Dance With You, for example, was almost the first time in history that had ever happened. And that gave birth to a whole new sound—a fusion sound that people didn’t have before. You either listened to punk rock, Bollywood, hip hop, or R&B, but to have it all in one song was groundbreaking. 

That wasn’t something we forced; it was what we lived and breathed. Being Punjabi at home, I'd listen to Bhangra music because of the weddings and parties, and I’d watch Bollywood movies with my parents and grandparents. I also listened to R&B and hip hop, went to R&B clubs. So, all of that was natural for us, and it definitely shaped my sound and music as a genre. 

What’s your take on diaspora fashion these days? Do you have a favorite style you’re seeing people wear?  

We’ve been to a number of amazing Diwali parties this season, and I have to give a shoutout to Falguni Peacock. They dressed me for this incredible event called All That Glitters, a Diwali party in New York. It was incredible, and Falguni always delivers the most beautiful outfits, so I always look forward to that. 

I like to do something that’s a bit of a fusion, right? I’m a fusion guy in music and fashion. It has to feel right and authentic, I don’t follow trends just for the sake of it. It might look good on someone else, but not on me. So, I do what makes me feel like me. Otherwise, people can tell when you’re trying too hard! 

So first up, what’s your ultimate dream collab musically? 

I think I’ve done them, man!  I’ve been so blessed to work with so many incredible people. At this point, it would just sound greedy to want more. 

What’s your current dream car? 

Oh man, I own my favorites already. But I think I’d like to add a McLaren to the collection for sure. 

What’s a hidden talent of yours that people probably wouldn’t know about? 

I don’t know if people know, but I have an uncanny ability to impersonate people. Nobody asks me because they don’t know I do it, but I enjoy doing it, [laughs] It’s fun for me. 

Generally, when you travel and land in a new city, what’s the first thing you want to do? 

Hit the gym. It’s my way to reset after long flights. I also like to go for a walk in the new city to explore the neighborhood or area. That’s how I fall in love with a place, if that’s possible. I like to see how the locals live. 

If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be? 

Authentic. That’s it. Anything you get from Jay Sean is going to be a Jay Sean song. It has to be authentic. 

Is there a funny or sweet fan encounter that’s stayed with you over the years? 

There are so many. I remember my fans, especially the ones who are super dedicated. They come to the airport, or they somehow find out where I’ll be, and I see the same faces. It’s really sweet how many of them have gone from being college students to now being parents. These are people who were with me from the start, and now they’re showing my music to their kids. That’s the most touching thing ever.