India, June 21 -- When singer-rapper Param attended a cypher in Punjab's Moga a little over one year ago, she had no idea that the evening would alter the course of her life. "Honestly, I didn't go there thinking anything big would happen. I just showed up with my friends at the Moga cypher for fun, and things just unfolded from there," says the 20-year-old, whose breakthrough track 'That Girl' catapulted her to the Spotify's hall of fame with nearly 18 million streams till now.

On World Music Day, the young singer reflects on how Punjab's independent music landscape draws deeply from local experiences, with artistes writing songs rooted in their realities and celebrating their people while examining social issues through criticism and i...