DUBAI IS ALWAYS 10 ON 10: AP DHILLON

But Dubai Airports isn’t his only breeding ground for songwriting and ideas. AP’s bond with this vibrant city is strong. It’s his fifth time performing and it won’t be his last, he swears.

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“It is one of my favourite places to perform. Yeah. It just feels like the audience is so diverse, and it’s such a mix here. And a lot of people are flying from different places, and I think they just want to have fun. And again, my best ... like so far, my favourite format is the central stage. And we did that a year ago here in Dubai, and then we took that format to India. So, yeah, it’s been this great success, and so much love.”

I asked if Dubai is his experimental crowd. He nodded. “For that format, yes, it worked like that. But in general, I feel like it’s just so much energy here. Like good energy. The crowd's always been 10 or 10. I love that.”

IMMIGRANT BANTER

Talk soon turned domestic.

“When you move from Punjab to like Canada, you learn everything,” AP said. “Back home, you’re not in the kitchen ever. Yeah, so when you go to Canada - oh my God, cooking. You know, honestly, you learn how to be independent. Yes, there’s always good.”

Shinda laughed: “We have made parathas together too.”

It’s the kind of immigrant banter that makes you forget you’re talking to a global pop idol.

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