A Cena da Música Indiana Toma o Palco Principal: Por Dentro da Colaboração de Remix de Ed Sheeran com Estrelas

Ed Sheeran’s latest project showcases a transformative moment in global music—the British pop icon ventured into India’s rich musical landscape, emerging with Play: The Remixes, a four-track EP that reimagines selections from his ninth studio album Play. The result is a cross-cultural fusion featuring six major Indian talents: Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla, Jonita Gandhi, Hanumankind, Dhee, and Santhosh Narayanan. Each collaboration weaves together Punjabi, Tamil, and Hindi musical traditions, creating a landmark moment for international-Indian music synthesis.

The Streaming Phenomenon: Arijit Singh’s Remarkable Milestone

When Arijit Singh joined Sheeran on “Sapphire,” the collaboration tapped into one of streaming’s most dominant voices. Singh, a distinguished playback singer and composer with over 400 songs across multiple Indian languages, achieved an unprecedented feat in July 2025—surpassing Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran himself to become Spotify’s most-followed artist with 151 million followers.

Singh’s ascent began with his 2005 appearance on Fame Gurukul, but true recognition arrived with “Phir Mohabbat” in 2011 and the breakthrough hit “Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2 (2013). His influence deepened when “Kesariya” from Brahmastra became the first Indian song to cross both 300 million and 500 million Spotify streams. On the new EP, “Sapphire”—initially released in June 2025—has already accumulated 225 million streams, with Sheeran and Singh trading verses in English and Punjabi, enhanced by sitar elements and Singh’s characteristic soulful delivery. The artist flew to Singh’s hometown of Jiaganj Azimganj in West Bengal to craft this intimate collaboration.

Punjabi Powerhouse: Karan Aujla’s Global Rise

28-year-old Karan Aujla represents Punjabi music’s international expansion. Based in Canada and boasting 19.2 million monthly Spotify listeners, Aujla’s career trajectory reflects the genre’s growing influence. His debut album Bacthafucup peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, securing his position as Spotify’s Largest Digital Artist of 2021. His most-viewed YouTube track commands 524 million views.

Aujla’s journey began in Ludhiana, Punjab, later transitioning to Canada after personal losses. He initially worked as a songwriter for artists including Jassi Gill, Deep Jandu, and Punjabi icon Diljit Dosanjh. On “Symmetry,” Aujla delivers a Punjabi-English fusion that highlights his bilingual mastery. Sheeran praised the collaboration on social media, noting: “Karan is culture. He taught me the Punjabi parts in the studio. I feel like this is the beginning of our collaborative journey.”

From Bollywood to Global: Jonita Gandhi’s Hindi Milestone

Jonita Gandhi bridges continents and languages—an Indo-Canadian vocalist who has performed across 10+ languages throughout her 150+ song catalog. Her playback debut in India came over a decade ago with Chennai Express. Before establishing herself in Mumbai, she collaborated with renowned artist Sonu Nigam, whose influential career and substantial fees per song reflect the caliber of talent in India’s music ecosystem. Her discovery by Oscar and Grammy winner AR Rahman accelerated her trajectory within Indian cinema.

“Heaven” marks Sheeran’s first Hindi-language release, a deliberate choice reflecting Gandhi’s vocal qualities. Sheeran stated: “I love her voice, the tone, the softness. This was the perfect tune for us, and it’s also my first Hindi song. It’s an honour to work with her.” Gandhi recorded her contributions during an intense schedule, flying between cities while coordinating vocal layers and harmonies with Sheeran’s production team.

The Tamil Fusion: A Regional Champion and Rising Stars

“Don’t Look Down” presents the EP’s Tamil-English experiment, uniting three talents from South India’s dynamic music scene.

Hanumankind, born Sooraj Cherukat, is a Kerala-based rapper, singer, and songwriter whose global credentials span Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and the United States. His viral 2024 breakthrough “Big Dawgs” reached number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with over 490 million Spotify streams, aided by a viral music video filmed in a carnival “well of death” attraction.

Dhee (Dheekshitha Venkadeshan), an Australian singer dominant in Indian playback work, achieved iconic status through “Rowdy Baby” in Maari 2 (2018)—a track exceeding 1.7 billion YouTube views, the highest viewed Tamil music video globally. Her independent debut “Enjoy Enjaami” with Arivu and Santhosh Narayanan amassed 50 million views within weeks, crossing 100 million views in under a month.

Santhosh Narayanan, the EP’s composer-producer, has scored over 51 films, primarily in Tamil cinema with notable Telugu and Malayalam credits. He pioneered the resurgence of gaana music in Tamil cinema while fusing folk, electronic, and hip-hop elements. Sheeran emphasized Narayanan’s significance: “Santhosh is one of the greatest film composers and introduced me to Dhee. I wanted to represent South India and the beautiful Tamil language on this EP.”

A Month in India: From Tourism to Musical Exchange

Sheeran’s month-long Indian immersion transcended typical artist visits—it became a creative catalyst. His social media reflections capture the essence: “Making and finishing Play in India was such a fun experience. Over the last decade through touring, I’ve met many local artists and explored a variety of music and cultures. I loved this collaboration process and wanted to represent as much as I could on this EP.”

This project signals a broader trend—Western artists increasingly seeking authentic cross-cultural partnerships rather than surface-level collaborations. Play: The Remixes stands as testament to that evolution.