Billy X, a trailblazer in the Punjabi rap scene, became a household name with his bold, witty lyrics and distinctive sound that fused Punjabi music with hip-hop elements. His breakout tracks, including Juttni, highlighted his talent for playful storytelling and his street-smart persona, resonating with fans across different cultures. After stepping away from the spotlight for a few years, Billy X has made a powerful comeback, marking the start of the next chapter in his musical journey. His return promises a fresh, evolved sound, blending his signature energy with new experiences and inspirations. Known for pushing boundaries both musically and stylistically, Billy X continues to captivate audiences with his unapologetic authenticity and charisma.
Let’s start with your comeback. What inspired you to return to the music industry after your break?
I moved to Sydney, Australia in Feb 2014, in pursuit of higher studies and to be honest, a life that had more to offer than what I had in Lahore at that time. That started my 9-year hiatus from being an active player in the desi music scene. I wouldn’t say I kept music very close to me during that time but it was always there since it’s my passion and a keen interest.
What were you working on creatively during your time away? Did you explore any new artistic paths?
So I packed my life up in Pakistan and arrived in Sydney with only 30 kilos of luggage. That meant no music production gear. So I had promised myself I would get myself a decently expensive branded guitar for once which I never had the chance to do while I was still living in Lahore. And I exactly did that. I bought myself a $500 Dave Navarro special edition, Epiphone acoustic guitar. That remained my only songwriting companion for the next two years where I distanced myself from rap music and wrote mostly English acoustic ballads to play to myself or some close friends around me. It helped through a breakup with a German backpacker by the name of Katherina aka Katy. I wrote 10 acoustic songs about her & us. Imagine Jason Mraz, Damien Rice, Ed Sheeran, those types of songs mixed with my own flavor of course.
By 2016, I had sorted out a Mac with music software and I had started going to these clubs & parties fronting the ‘house music’ scene in Sydney at the time. So I thought I would dip my fingers there and see what sort of house music I could produce myself. The intention was just to come up with something that I could enjoy playing for my friends. I probably composed around 5-6 tracks.
It was not before 2019, 5 years onwards after moving away from Pakistan, that I felt the need to remove the rust from my talents in writing rap songs. The first song that I put together at the time is called “Billy Aj Vi Bala” which addresses some of the questions about my absence from music and my time in Australia.
How do you feel your musical style has evolved or matured since your early days?
In 2020 during the COVID lockdowns, I finally found enough time to invest in composing more rap songs. This is the time when I started noticing I was more inclined to sway from the styles of my earlier work. I was trying out different sounds from a production point of view, I was experimenting with my vocal tones and I was finding more meaning in doing downtempo numbers. This is all in contrast to my 2014 album, “Baadshah”, where you will hear a lot of high-energy music and my vocal tone was mostly an aggressive one. I can outline at least a couple of reasons for this.
- Hip-hop/pop music has considerably evolved since the 2011-2014 days. It means the music that I was listening to had also changed a lot over the years. I believe most of the music that we create comes from other music that inspires us.
- I had matured a lot as an individual by 2020. I was an adult who had experienced most of what life had to offer and I guess maybe had also lost some of that edge that you have as a young gun.
What’s the biggest difference between the Billy X who released Juttni and the Billy X of today?
The Billy X of Juttni had his whole life yet to unravel. He did not have experience of any kind. He did have a lot of passion for music and the exuberance of youth, which are priceless assets to have. The Billy X of today has experienced most of what the Billy X of Juttni could dream of. Fame, fortune, women, love, and seeing the world from his own eyes.
How do you balance staying true to your roots in Punjabi rap while also evolving your sound?
I am still trying to figure that out. You have to remember, that success will only come to those who are willing to work hard for it. I’ve only truly picked music back up in the second half of 2022 and started releasing my new music in December 2022. With everything that has changed in terms of music, doing music, and myself as a person over the last 10 years, there’s a lot of trial & error that needs to take place before I will truly hit my stride back in this industry. What does help is that Punjabi music is at the peak of its listenership in the world right now. On the flip side, Urdu rap is more popular than Punjabi rap. I know I’m equally competent in writing in both languages. The second most streamed song from my 2014 album after “Juttni” is “Bechaini”. It was one of the four Urdu songs out of 10 from that album. So I just need to find the right balance between the consistency of songs I put out in the two languages.
What has been the most challenging aspect of re-entering the music industry after your hiatus?
In simple words, it is finding the sweet spot between the music I was to create and the music that people want to hear or are prepared to open up to. As an artist, I don’t want to be typecasted or put in a box to produce the same music over and over again. At the same time, I do understand the need to specialize or provide people with a particular flavor of music that they can’t get from someone else. I need to find a balance between what I want and what they need.
How do you think the Punjabi music scene has changed since you started, and where do you see it heading?
It has changed massively over the last few years. Punjabi music has found the right flavor of fusion with Western music and overseas Punjabi artists have mostly taken control. More competition means more variety of music for the public to consume. From the artist’s standpoint, it means tougher competition, harder to stand out, and fewer opportunities to earn & grow. So it’s the survival of the fittest right now.
We do seem to have hit a ceiling though in Punjabi music just for now. Some artists are cooling off. The number of hits breaking through is harder to come by. But it’s a cycle and the next wave will come soon. Pakistan is yet to fully contribute to the Punjabi music scene. So still there are a lot of opportunities in that department.
Can you share some insights into your creative process? Has it changed over the years?
It has changed a lot. Back in that day, I would put on a certain movie like 8 Mile if I couldn’t find other inspiration to write. I watched “8 Mile” & “Hustle & flow” hundreds of times and they would work the same for me every time. These days, I’ve developed a relationship with nature. If I feel like I’m hitting writer’s block, I’ll go spend some time in nature like in Murree. The weather and the view of the valley help me better reflect on life & experiences, that help me through my creative process.
Who or what are your biggest musical influences right now? Have any new artists or genres caught your attention?
It seems to be a bit of a dry spell as far as finding good new music is concerned. There’s a bit of reluctance to listen to too much of Pakistani music anyway. It’s my competition and I want my music to sound as original as possible. So I have started going back to some of the music that inspired me a lot back in the day. For the last couple of days, I have been listening to old ACDC albums in the gym. I used to be a big metal/rock fan in my college/university days.
Fashion is a big part of your public image. How does your personal style reflect your music and personality?
I am particular about my style. I do like to look different from others. I used to wear baggy pants and bandanas when no one would and you wouldn’t find them in the stores. Now they’re back in fashion. At least once a week, I like to dress up and maybe rock some jewelry if I’m going out or having friends over. I will always mix some element of the current hip-hop culture into my dressing on stage. In my last two stage appearances, I went with loose pants, a singlet, some jewelry, and a cap. I love bright colors honestly, so you will often see me wear shirts in yellow, red, pink, and even lavender.
Since this is for the Fashion Collection, how important do you think fashion is for musicians and artists today?
It is awfully important and it always has been. When you put yourself out there, you will be judged not just for your music but also for your presentation. So, if you’re a musician and you think fashion is not important, better think again. Bad fashion can also be fashion as long as you can sell it. Like the homeless person cardigan, Kurt Cobain wore on MTV. I used to be super inspired by Eminem’s getup in the movie 8 Mile where he was almost homeless and carried around a garbage bag full of clothes. But it went with his Emcee persona. These days, I tend to pick different things from different places and put them together. I like some of the fashion trends in Australia. Like the mullet or the long songs with your converse.
How has social media changed the way you connect with your fans compared to when you first started?
The conversations or commentary remains the same. The content that I put out now has had an upgrade. It’s been a long tedious process learning how to market yourself properly in day and age. And having a brother as an influencer also helps.
Are you planning any collaborations with other artists soon? Can you give us any hints about that?
I’m hopefully going to do a project with a new friend of mine, Hareem Rashid. She’s a pretty good singer, an actress, and an influencer all rolled into one. I’ve been working with Derwaish since the start of this year who’s a phenomenal Punjabi rapper himself. We have 2 projects currently in the works.
What can fans expect from your upcoming projects? Any surprises or experimentation in your new releases?
There sure is a lot of experimentation coming their way. The next 3 songs I’ll put out are in the Drill genre. From there I’m planning to take fans back to my softer, more romantic side with the collaboration with Hareem and a 2 song EP called COFFEE, TEA & CO.
How do you feel your music resonates with younger audiences today compared to when you first broke onto the scene?
Perhaps not all of my songs from back in the day will appeal to the audiences who are discovering my music for the first time. But I’m sure a lot of it does. Performing for O levels students recently, I found Juttni, Kurti & Raatan Na Soye are still fan favorites. The new music I feel still has to find the sweet spot between what their ears are currently tuned to, the topics they want to hear about, and how far I can stretch their imagination. I feel I’m getting pretty close.
What message are you hoping to convey through your music in this new phase of your career?
Like every human being, I have good and bad in me. Sometimes I will talk about the good. Other times, I will be the devil in my music. In this phase of life, I have so much more life experience which I would like to share through my music. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I do promise that I will keep evolving and I hope, the audience would want me to and not expect me to put the same song out in a different wrapping.
Looking back, what has been your proudest moment in your musical career so far?
I’m proud of the fact that there are songs in my catalog that have passed the test of time and even after all these years, people still find them relevant and can connect. I’m proud that people grew up listening to JUTTNI, it became their naughty secret as well as the background music to all their adventures in their younger years. I’m proud that BECHAINI was able to help people go through tough breakups. I’m proud that I inspired so many kids to take up rap music. I was the sole representative of rap music in Pakistan for quite a while. Now rap music has taken over the airwaves.
Aside from music, are there any other creative pursuits or ventures you’re currently exploring?
Doing music itself has driven me to explore other creatives like content creation, video editing, and artwork generation. Mix that with writing, singing, recording, and playing guitar, there are not enough hours in the day to pursue much else.
If you could advise your younger self when you first entered the industry, what would it be?
I would advise the younger me to find the courage to put all his eggs in one basket for a change (no pun intended ha, ha). Sometimes in life, it’s better not to have a plan B.
What’s next for Billy X? Where do you see yourself in the next few years, both musically and personally?
It’s pretty crazy even right now to think that I left all this behind for 9 whole years, lived a whole different life in another continent, came back and people still remember who I am or what I did for Pakistani music. So if I can do this for the second time and get to my previous level of success or beyond, it will be an unthinkable phenomenon. And I want to make that happen. I’m not in a rush. I’m working on how I can expand and make my dream bigger than everybody else. I want to be the best possible version of myself.
Now that we’ve covered your passion and professional life, let’s talk about your personal life. Can you tell us about your siblings?
I have two elder sisters. One’s a housewife, bringing up her son & daughter for now. The other is a senior HR professional. I also have a younger brother who is climbing the ladder in the TV/drama industry while also maintaining his career as an influencer & model. His name is Zarrar Khan and his most recent piece of work currently being aired on HUM TV is called “Jafaa”.
What is your full name, and why did you choose the name “Billy X”? Is there a story or inspiration behind it?
Going forward I want to keep the real name a mystery. So those who already know will know, or those who are keen can easily find out on the internet. For the rest of the population, I am Billy X.
What’s your favorite food? Do you cook? Also, what’s your favorite restaurant in Pakistan and Australia?
Can I say I like Mum’s cooking? Haha. Well, I do and staying away from it for so many years makes me appreciate it even more. I did learn cooking after moving to Sydney but I’ve never really enjoyed it too much. These days, I’ll make beef keema, some form of chicken karahi or mix daal from time to time.
I’m not a big foodie but I do have a few favorites. I love the steaks at “Butcher’s Steak House” in Gulberg. There is “Nishat Café” in Laxmi Chowk whose chicken karahi is as delicious as it used to be in university days. Daal Makhni at “Chatkhara Restaurant” in H Block DHA always makes me overeat. KFC also never fails to satisfy hunger. In Sydney, my favorite cuisine was Thai. I loved having Chinese Hotpot and Korean fried chicken from time to time. Other favorites include sushi, sashimi, oysters, Vietnamese rolls, and Lebanese meat pizza.
Do you like movies? Do you prefer Bollywood, Hollywood, or Pakistani cinema? What’s your all-time favorite movie?
I love movies and do waste a lot of time glued to my laptop. I’ve always preferred watching English cinema after we were allowed to watch movies on our own. As kids, we were mostly privy to Bollywood and Pakistani movies, while they were still good. These days, I’ll watch an Indian movie here and there if I know its plot is closer to real life. Movies by Amir Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ayushman Khurana usually fall into this category.
Who do you consider your biggest competitor in the Punjabi rap scene?
There are plenty of competitors in the general hip-hop scene. But I don’t see any big fish getting stuck in Punjabi rap in Pakistan. As I see it, anyone who is getting a stage to perform on is a competitor, new or old, hip-hop or otherwise. I’m coming for all of them.
Do you think rap can be taught, or is it something you believe is a natural, God-gifted talent?
I consider myself self-taught as would every other rapper. The ability you do need is to remember a lot of words. The rest is learned over time, depending on how passionate you are about it.
Who is your favorite Singer in Pakistan and the Western world?
Right now, I don’t have any favorites on either side. I know it’s a weird thing to say but it’s true. Like back in the day, some of my favorites were Eminem, Iron Maiden, Ed Sheeran, Damien Rice, The Script, and Blanco White more recently, whom I saw live in Sydney in March. But right now, I haven’t been able to connect to any one particular artist or even new songs regularly. Even with Coke Studio, I liked Jhol and Piya Calling. The rest I didn’t find that appealing. AP Dhillon has kind of cooled off. Diljit is playing his tour so there’s not much to hear from him. Honey’s album only had one good song. And the story continues.
