Bijaan’s ‘Jungle’ is a powerful song about identity and belonging

Mumbai, 4^th November 2025: With roots stretching across India, East Africa and Canada, Bijaan is a multi-cultural hip-hop artist. Inspired by the lyricism and authenticity of the genre’s early pioneers, such as A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def and Lupe Fiasco, and the poise and polish of modern stars like Saba, J. Cole, and Smino, Bijaan blends old-school authenticity with new-school swagger to transcend generations of hip-hop fans.

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, as a first-generation Canadian of immigrant parents, Bijaan’s love for music emerged early. Instead of embracing the dominant country music landscape in Western Canada, he was drawn to the warmth and soul of his father’s Motown records and the grit and lyricism of late-90s hip-hop. He has opened for established artists including Kardinal Offishall and TOBi and will be sharing the stage with Canadian hip-hop legend Shad in January 2026. After nearly two decades spent honing his craft, and backed by Canadian hip-hop stalwart Junia-T, Bijaan is ready for his commercial debut.

The new single ‘Jungle’ is a statement of intent and belonging. It is about reclaiming roots, embracing heritage, and standing on one’s identity. For third-culture kids, those born outside their ancestral culture, it is common to experience a sense of rootlessness. Bijaan, of Gujarati descent, born in Canada and with roots extending through East Africa, channels that sense of defiance and reclamation into ‘Jungle’. He explains, “Although I have roots in all these places, it’s easy to feel like I don’t truly fit into any single one. Jungle is my way of bringing together all the cultures that I come from and an anthem for those of us looking for a place to call home”.

Watch the song here:

For Bijaan, ‘Jungle’ holds special significance as it is his first official single and serves as the opening chapter of his story. He shares, “It’s fitting that a song about identity and self-discovery is the first impression I get to make on the world…True art at the end of the day is just an expression of who we are as human beings, and Jungle feels like a really good way to start to tell my story.” The songwriting process followed years of examining his family’s history, identity, and diasporic experience. He penned the song in early 2024 simply writing what was on his mind. That wave of inspiration produced one of his favorite pieces of work to date.

The recording and production processes were equally as organic. The song began with a scratch verse written to a beat from YouTube and evolved when Bijaan entered the studio with Junia-T in June of last year. Junia channeled production influenced by Indian instruments and tones, and the result saw the inclusion of live tabla by Gurpreet Chana, strings by Adrian Irvine, horns by The Chmst and Joseph Bahhadi, and raag vocals by Anuja Panditrao. “The process was just so easy and organic… everyone involved really got the vision and brought their unique skillsets together to bring Jungle to life,” Bijaan reflects.

Looking ahead, Bijaan is preparing for a year of consistent releases, studio work and international shows. Though three generations removed from India, he hopes music will be the bridge that takes him home. His influences, including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, J Dilla, Saba, J. Cole, Prince, and Kendrick Lamar, underline his passion for emotional authenticity and narrative depth. About how this song fits into his journey, he says simply: “This is my first real offering to the world. Ground zero. The beginning of my journey. And I can’t wait to continue to build on it.”

‘Jungle’ is now available on all major streaming platforms—press play, and join the journey.