Semwal (musician)
Semwal | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mumbai, India |
| Occupations |
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Shubham Semwal, known professionally as Semwal, is an Indian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and music producer based in Chandigarh. He is active in the independent Punjabi pop music scene. He has released over 30 original tracks, blending Punjabi lyrics with R&B and electronic pop production.[1] As a session musician and producer, Semwal has collaborated with artists such as Karan Aujla, Diljit Dosanjh, Arijit Singh, Badshah and Kaka.
Career
Independent music and Elephant In The Room (2020-2021)
Semwal released his debut extended play (EP), Elephant In The Room[2], in 2021. The project was financed through a direct-to-consumer crowdfunding campaign that raised over ₹2.4 lakhs.
The EP features acoustic pop and indie-folk tracks in English and Hindi. Notable tracks include "Tishnagi"[3] and "Take Me Home (Pahadon Mein)", a song written while he was stranded in Chandigarh during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The EP included collaborations with independent musicians Sparsh Dangwal and Julie Ngurang.[4]
Mainstream Punjabi pop and production (2023-present)
In January 2023, Semwal released the Punjabi synth-pop track "Dil Da Pecha"[5], co-produced with Agaazz and featuring lyrics by Hemant Vijh, with an accompanying music video starring travel vlogger Satya Saggar. The song charted at number one on Extragavanza's weekly "Top Indian Songs" chart.[6] He subsequently released the R&B-influenced Punjabi tracks "Desire" and "Nedhe Nedhe"[7].
In 2024 and 2025, Semwal continued to release collaborative and solo singles. His track "Zulfaan" (2024), a collaboration with Geet and 13 Jay, amassed over 1.1 million streams. In 2025, he released "Ni Billo"[8], which featured live saxophone instrumentation by Dima Faust, and a music video starring television actress Sargun Kaur Luthra. He later compiled several singles into the EP Nishaniyan[9].
Musical style and themes
Semwal's music incorporates elements of 1980s synth-pop, contemporary R&B, and neo-soul into modern Punjabi pop, diverging from traditional folk and trap-heavy beats.[10]
Lyrically, his songs frequently discuss the complexities of modern digital dating culture. According to Rolling Stone India, tracks like "Dil Da Pecha"[11] serve as a critique of online personas and advocate for traditional, organic relationships.[12]
Discography
| Year | Format | Song Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Single | Nakhre |
| 2025 | Single | Tu Ni Jandi |
| 2025 | Single | Baatein |
| 2025 | EP (Nishaniyan) | Nishaniyan |
| Crazy 4 U | ||
| Ni Billo | ||
| Zulfaan | ||
| Far Away | ||
| 2024 | Single | Kinne Saal |
| 2024 | Single | Offline |
| 2023 | Single | Kinni Sohni |
| 2023 | Single | Desire |
| 2023 | Single | All Eyes On You |
| 2023 | Single | Midnight Gedhi |
| 2023 | Single | Nedhe Nedhe |
| 2023 | Single | Rabb Rakha |
| 2023 | Single | Dil Da Pecha |
| 2022 | Single | I Need You |
| 2022 | EP(Elephant In The Room[Deluxe Edition]) | Tishnagi |
| Pull Me In | ||
| By Your Side | ||
| Take Me Home(Pahadon Mein) | ||
| Whiskey Sour | ||
| Afsana | ||
| Asar Tera | ||
| Through These Years | ||
| Indian Summer | ||
| Tishnagi - Acoustic | ||
| Pull Me In - Orchestral Reimagination | ||
| Through These Years - Stripped | ||
| 2021 | Single | Deja Vu |
References
- ^ Chandel, Anirudh (2021-01-31). "Shubham Semwal a.k.a. Sémwal - a Singer-Songwriter from the Dehradun". GOGO Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ ""I was pretty bummed out because I had no female singer to make the track with. Then I met Julie by chance on a dating app and fell in love with her voice!" Semwal Talks About His EP Elephant in the Room". Flipsyde Live | Indie Music News From India And Around The World. 2026-01-04. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ "Semwal Provides Indie Goodness On New Single". www.rsjonline.com. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ Tagat, Anurag (2021-01-11). "New Music: Pune Rap-Rock, Shillong Neo-Soul, Telugu Pop and More". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ Tagat, Anurag (2023-01-20). "Premiere: Semwal Yearns for Old-School Romance With Arms Wide Open in 'Dil Da Pecha' Video". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ "Semwal ventures into Pop territory with groovy Punjabi single 'Dil Da Pecha' – MusiCulture". 2023-01-20. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ "Semwal's 'Nedhe Nedhe' with a fresh R&B sound is a must listen! – MusiCulture". 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ Semwal (2025-02-14). Ni Billo - Semwal Feat. Sargun Kaur Luthra (Official Music Video). Retrieved 2026-03-06 – via YouTube.
- ^ Semwal (2025-07-24). Nishaniyan - Semwal (Official Music Video). Retrieved 2026-03-06 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Punjabi music audience has always been receptive to new sounds: Singer Semwal". The Times of India. 2023-02-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ "Top Indian Songs of the week 29th January 2023". extragavanza.in. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ Tagat, Anurag (2023-01-20). "Premiere: Semwal Yearns for Old-School Romance With Arms Wide Open in 'Dil Da Pecha' Video". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2026-03-04.