Who Is Param? First Indian Woman To Top Spotify Global Viral Charts

Paramjeet Kaur, known professionally as Param, has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Indian female artist to reach the coveted number one spot on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 Chart with her latest track, “That Girl.” Her journey is a profound testament to grit and talent, originating from the small village of Dunneke in Punjab’s Moga district.

Param's journey

Param's humble background is central to her narrative: her father earns a living as a mason, and her mother works as a domestic help. Rising from these modest beginnings to become an international musical sensation, her music powerfully resonates with themes of resilience, bravery, and unwavering authenticity, reflecting the spirit of her personal story through every composition.

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This achievement is particularly exemplary as she navigated the global music scene without the backing of a major label, relying solely on her raw talent and social media presence, which just hit the top within 2 weeks of its release in September. This track is produced by Manni Sandhu and released under the Collab Creations label.

The track 'That Girl' is a blend of traditional Punjabi folk undertones and modern hip-hop beats, demonstrating how her musical style transcends geographical and linguistic barriers.

Her deep engagement with music grew when she chose it as a subject while attending DM College in Moga. Reflecting on her growth, 19-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, also known as ‘Saab’, who collaborated with Param to write the additional lyrics for ‘That Girl,’ told The Indian Express: “She wasn’t a great singer in school, but became better and better over time."

“We did not record this track in an expensive studio. There was no acoustic treatment; you could hear cars outside, but still, the vocals were extremely crisp. Honestly, after 15 years in the game, experiences like this only happen now and again. Within 10 minutes, we had the vibe of the song down,” Sandhu says in a video on Instagram.

“There are many women in Punjab singing pop music. But Param is quite unique because she is one of a kind. There aren’t any women rappers in Punjab rapping in Punjabi. She is the first one in the ‘Gully Boy’ space. I think she will go a long way,” says industry veteran Satvinder Singh Kohli, managing director, Speed Records, the region’s biggest music company that releases over 200 songs annually. He calls her out as a ‘standout voice'.

“I just want to support my family. I want to build a really nice house for my parents. I want them to sit at home and just relax,” says Param in a BBC Punjabi documentary on Moga’s rap scene. Param's journey out of a rural area shows that sheer hard work and grit are what turn dreams into reality.