As part of its 56th Foundation Day celebrations, the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS), in collaboration with SOCAN (The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada), proudly hosted KOLAB 2025: Indo-Canadian Songwriting Camp.
Held from August 23–29, 2025, at The True School of Music, Vijaybhoomi University Campus, Karjat, the week-long residency brought together 22 exceptional artists from India and Canada. Over the course of seven days, creators collaborated across languages, cultures, and genres—resulting in the composition of 56 original songs that exemplify the spirit of KOLAB: creativity without borders.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration in Action
The camp featured a dynamic line-up of artists including Tesher, Jonita Gandhi, Mitika, JP47, Mad Mix, Zafar Sandhu, Pree Mayall from Canada, and Jassi X, Mellow D, Vicky Dhillon, Sweetaj Brar, Basant Kaur, Rucha Govani, Josh Brar, Aagaaz, Shubham Semwal, Shamita Bhatkar, Prabhjot Singh, Jeevana, Sparsh Dangwal, Durba Banerjee, and Shriya Rao from India.
Guided by renowned mentors Bunty Bains, Mayur Puri, and Mannan Shah, participants explored collaborative songwriting, genre experimentation, and co-production, creating not just songs but a roadmap for the future of global music partnerships.
Voices from the Camp
- Mayur Puri: “KOLAB is a space where the future of music is being shaped.”
- Mannan Shah: “KOLAB is a genre in itself—innovative, inspiring, and game-changing.”
- Bunty Bains: “The songs created here are gems, and mentoring these artists has been phenomenal.”
Artists, too, hailed the experience as transformative:
- Jonita Gandhi: “The camp gave me the chance to meet incredible talent and create fresh music together.”
- Tesher: “It was about discovering collaborators whose vibe matched mine.”
- Durba Banerjee: “Working with artists I admire was a dream come true.”
- Jeevana: “The camp pushed my creativity further than ever before.”
Beyond the Music
Set against the serene backdrop of Jamrung Valley, the camp also explored the future of cross-border collaboration, including opportunities in streaming, sync, and fair music practices. With a strong focus on equitable credit and creator empowerment, KOLAB continues to build a sustainable global ecosystem for music.
A Shared Vision
This joint initiative by IPRS and SOCAN reflects a shared commitment to fair pay, fair play, and global opportunity. As India strengthens its position on the world music stage, KOLAB stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the limitless possibilities of music.
About SOCAN
For 100 years, SOCAN has been Canada’s largest member-owned music rights organization, upholding the fundamental truth that music has value. SOCAN collects license fees for the public performance and reproduction of music and distributes them as royalties to music creators and publishers in Canada and around the world. With a century of expertise and innovation, SOCAN continues to advocate fair compensation for the work of its nearly 200,000 songwriter, composer, and music publisher members.
🔗 Learn more about SOCAN: www.socan.com
Stay tuned to IPRS for upcoming season!
