Subhi releases ‘Higher Love’ for Smurfs soundtrack while rocking a baby bump

From her early days as an indie artist to her work in Hollywood, Subhi’s journey has been diverse and cross-cultural. Born in New Delhi, she moved to New York to study finance and worked on Wall Street before pursuing a creative path. She developed her musical style in Chicago’s indie music scene and is now based in Los Angeles, blending South Asian and Western sounds. Her Notable tracks include ‘Gulzar’ (featured in the Crocs Diwali campaign), ‘Tehtul-E-Ishq’, and ‘Khel’.

Now, with her latest release ‘Higher Love’, Subhi steps into a new spotlight. The track created in collaboration with DJ Khaled, Cardi B, and Natania, is part of the official soundtrack for the upcoming Smurfs movie.

Released on February 21, 2025, ‘Higher Love’ marks a milestone as the first Punjabi-language single to be featured in a Hollywood animated film. The music video featuring Subhi premiered on April 14. “Higher Love is more than a song—it’s a moment. It’s my voice, my roots, and my heart being shared with the world,” said Subhi. “To be part of something this global, with legends like DJ Khaled and Cardi B, and to sing in Punjabi for a major Hollywood film—it’s truly surreal. Being pregnant and shooting for this is a whole other vibe—I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. This is my higher love”.

In addition to lending her vocals, Subhi also co-wrote multiple tracks for the Smurfs movie soundtrack, which features original music from Rihanna. Directed by Chris Miller and co-directed by Matt Landon, the film is set to hit theaters on July 18, 2025, via Paramount Pictures. The movie follows the blue characters on a rescue mission after Papa Smurf is captured by the wizards Razamel and Gargamel. As they venture into the real world to save him, they discover their true purpose. Rihanna leads the cast as Smurfette, alongside Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Dan Levy, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Sandra Oh, and others.