At Coachella, AP Dhillon honors Sidhu Moose Wala and receives criticism for his shattering guitar performance
Punjabi-Canadian musician AP Dhillon made waves during his Coachella 2024 debut appearance for both his dazzling performance and his touching act that won over admirers. According to Billboard, while performing Brown Munde, Dhillon honored the late Punjabi artist Sidhu Moose Wala by projecting a message of “Justice for Sidhu Moose Wala” behind him.
In May 2022, Sidhu—a well-known politician, artist, and actor from Punjab—was cruelly shot and killed. His murder is still unexplained, which has a lasting impact on the Punjabi music scene in India and throughout the world. The rapper was renowned for having a significant influence on Punjabi music, and performers like Dhillon still pay tribute to this heritage.
Energy-filled, Dhillon’s Coachella performance featured backing dancers, a live band, and partner Shinda Kahlon. The center of the concert was Punjabi singer Dhillon and his songs, however there were rumors that UK grime artist Stormzy, with whom Dhillon had worked, might make an appearance. His playlist featured a variety of songs, all placed against striking images, from the pop sounds of Summer High to the strong hip-hop mood of Drip.
After his last song, Dhillon had a rock star moment and shattered his guitar on stage, which dramatically changed the course of the performance. The performance did not sit well with many online, despite being meant as a forceful conclusion to his concert. The moment swiftly gained popularity on social media, where it was criticized by admirers and bystanders who thought the move was disrespectful to the instrument.
Fans took to social media to voice their disapproval of the occurrence. “Pop Artists break guitars to look cool,” said one commenter. They attempt to mimic rock and metal musicians, not realizing that the rush of adrenaline and intensity of playing the instrument causes them to shatter their guitars. Seeing the poor instrument suffer at the hands of these wannabes always stings. In India, we offer prayers to the tool.This is really sad. Improve your AP performance.
Others agreed, highlighting the importance of musical instruments in Indian culture and advocating for more reverence for the instruments used by artists. Honor the experiences that led you to this point. One online reviewer berated him, saying, “It’s totally your loss,” while another made fun of him, saying, “Bro doesn’t have one song where he needs to do any of that.”
A negative post argued that “gaining viral popularity for your music is meaningless.” We shouldn’t be referred to as musicians if this is how we honor the craft! I don’t regret making such a statement. “You should appreciate your equipment and instruments if you’re an artist. Rest and congrats on reaching your milestone,” another comment said.
Dhillon homage to Sidhu and his performance were generally well-received despite the controversy, signifying another momentous occasion for Punjabi music at the international event. Dhillon carrying on of Diljit Dosanjh’s Coachella tradition of doing an all-Punjabi show highlights the rising global recognition of Punjabi musicians. The guitar incident, however, is still up for discussion, illustrating how different cultures see performing creativity.
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