Outlaw by Sidhu Moose Wala

Outlaw works because it does not try to do too much — it finds one feeling and holds it perfectly. The music, composed by Byg Byrd, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

Sidhu Moose Wala inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. Hearing Outlaw without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Outlaw.

2019 was a strong year for Punjabi music, and Outlaw was among the reasons why. Listeners have described the experience of Outlaw differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 2:55, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The track stands as evidence that Sidhu Moose Wala and Byg Byrd, working together, are capable of something well above the ordinary.