‘Koi banda-bunda marna tan dass...’ from his first album, Never Done Before, to ‘Kargi 12 Tapgi 18’ from his second album, Step Up & Dance; the lyrics of Punjabi singer Billa Riar’s songs revolve mostly around violence or girls. If you accuse the singer for being responsible for promoting vices such as guns and violence amongst the youngsters, he retorts, “My albums are meant for those in
Billa Riar and DJ Varunation. HT Photo
the age groups of 15 to 25 years; and these kinds of songs sell. That doesn’t really mean I’m promoting it!”
In Chandigarh on Friday to promote his second album, Step Up & Dance, and for a performance on Saturday evening at Kava, Sector 26, city boy Balli, 25, talked about his latest work and making a debut in two upcoming Punjabi movies.
About Step Up & Dance, whose music is given by DJ Varunation and raps by Badshah, Balli says, “This album includes eight tracks, out of which two have been written by me. One of my song’s videos, Kargi 12 Tapgi 18, has already received almost 2.5 lakh hits in two weeks on the YouTube. From December 8, the video will start streaming on music channels such as MTV, Zoom, Music India and 9X Tashan. The track is already being played in clubs and has house music as compared to my last album, which was more of hip-hop. House music is more popular in clubs, that’s why I wanted to experiment with it and people are appreciating it as well.”
Balli, blessed with good looks, has used it to an advantage and will soon be seen in two Punjabi movies as the lead. He shares about the new innings in his life, “I’m doing two Punjabi movies, yet untitled. I can’t disclose the director’s names. One of films is action-based to be directed by someone from the south; and the second will be a rom-com shot mostly in the UK. I can’t disclose the directors’ names,” he says mysteriously.