BIJAL Spent Twenty Years Proving One Lane Isn’t Enough

Some artists find their lane and stay there. Bijal Panwala has made a career out of refusing to do that. The DJ, entrepreneur, and producer has spent two decades proving that creative leadership isn’t about mastering one thing. It’s about constantly finding new ways to challenge yourself.

His latest single “Warm,” released in January 2026, is the most recent example. Clocking in at 2:49, it’s a deep house track that weaves subtle Indo house influences into smooth, emotionally-driven production. For an artist who built his name on hip-hop mixtapes and mainstream radio, pivoting to house music in his forties might seem like a risk. But Panwala has never been interested in playing it safe.

That willingness to push forward defined his early career. He held residencies at legendary New York venues like Exit, Sound Factory, and Limelight during the city’s nightlife peak. His mixtapes featured collaborations with Akon, Ne-Yo, G-Unit, Ryan Leslie, and Fatman Scoop. MTV named him one of the Top DJs to Watch in 2005, and the following year he served as the official DJ for the MTV Awards Party. He was also the first South Asian DJ to host a nationally broadcast mixshow on mainstream American radio, launching Everywhere Radio on AOL Radio before moving it to SiriusXM and syndicating it to more than 30 global stations.

Most people would have stopped there. Panwala saw another opportunity. In 2010, he founded Hotel BPM in Brooklyn, a music-driven boutique hotel that earned a number two ranking on TripAdvisor within its first year. He didn’t just slap his name on a building. He developed the Sound Sleeper mattress and partnered with Tivoli Audio on a custom in-room radio. The hotel became a destination for artists and travelers who wanted an experience built around sound and intention.

Now he’s pushing himself again. After producing remixes for South Asian artists Sumeet and Deesha, Panwala returned to the studio as a solo artist. “Summer Glow” landed international radio play in Brazil and France. “I Am a Vibe” and “Warm” draw on his South Asian roots through Indo house production. His upcoming single “Lose Control,” expected this spring, will merge his original pop sensibilities with his newer dance sound.

The results speak for themselves. In just over a year, Panwala has crossed a million streams and built an audience of more than 85,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, reaching fans in 132 countries. His tracks lean into emotional territory, mostly relationships, and that relatability seems to be landing regardless of geography.

What separates Panwala from artists content to coast on past success is the constant forward motion. Radio pioneer, nightlife fixture, hospitality entrepreneur, and now recording artist pushing into house music at 42. Each chapter could have been the entire story. Instead, they’re all part of a larger creative identity that refuses to settle.

Follow BIJAL on Instagram, stream his music on Spotify, and learn more at bijalpanwala.com