Premiere: Khanvict’s Simmering Punjabi Song ‘Akhiyan’ Gets A Turbulent Music Video

Pakistani-origin Canadian beatsmith and composer Khanvict aka Asad Khan offers a refreshing take on a Punjabi folk song on his latest single “Akhiyan.” Similar to the intent with his 2021 single “Closer” and its music video, the visual for “Akhiyan” unveils an engrossing story with a female protagonist.

The artist calls on fellow Surrey, Canadai-based vocalist Vishaljeet Singh and flautist Sahil Khan to  render a tumultuous, electronic version of prolific Punjabi artist Surinder Kaur’s song. In the process, Khanvict lives up to his desi bass sound. A press statement says, “’Akhiyan’ is a love song. But in my retelling of this classic Punjabi folk story, this love takes a darker, obsessive edge.”

In the short film directed by Mumbai-based filmmaker Rahul Datta of Starving Artist Films, we see from the perspective of a young woman, portrayed by actor Aisha Ahmed. Datta, who has previously worked on music videos for Indian pop artists like Kayan, captures a story of immense love and its burdensome challenges with Ahmed at the center of the music video, alongside the cast comprising Rohan Shetty and Puneet Jewanda. Ahmed said about “Akhiyan” in an Instagram post, “Music videos are always going to hold the most special place in my heart. Especially this one ‘cause I got to be a part of [this] Starving Artist Films and Khanvict’s collaboration, both of whose work I’ve admired.”

Khanvict’s first single of 2022, “Akhiyan” follows his 2021 EP Escape, which was intended as a sonic journey to take people away from the times when they were quarantined at home due to the pandemic. The six-track EP also cemented the producer’s status as a South Asian artist who could rule dancefloors and festival stages alike. Khan told Rolling Stone India in 2021, “We have a couple of songs done and we’re working on some music videos. We have lots of new music coming out.”

Watch the video for “Akhiyan” below. Stream the song here.