At just 19 years old, singer-songwriter Shriya Rao, has already released 5 singles, and has more than 50 live performances to her credit at prestigious venues across Mumbai.

Shriya’s music blends contemporary R&B/Soul and Pop, and is inspired by the music of Daniel Caesar, Summer Walker, Erykah Badu, Mac Miller, and Tate McRae. When Shriya is not producing original music or performing live, she has lent her voice to doing TV commercials for leading brands such as Nykaa Fashion, Tang, and Lenskart.

Sometime back, Sony Music India, sub label DayOne released two of her songs Ride for Me and On My Mind. Both tracks were viewed over 180,000 times on YouTube, with On My Mind alone crossing 50,000 streams on Spotify.

Verus Ferreira spoke with the Mumbai based artist to know her musical journey and her new EP ‘In A Box’. www.musicunplugged.in had reviewed the album in February 2025.

How did music get to be part of your life?

I have been singing as far back as I can remember. Disney movies and my dad singing to me as a toddler were definitely my biggest inspirations. My family was super supportive and started my formal vocal training when I was 9-10 years old. From then on, there was no looking back.

Do you recall your first ever performance and the first track you ever sang. Were you nervous?

I did sing at many school assemblies, but my first performance on stage outside of school was at an event at the Royal Western Turf Club for my vocal teacher Stephen Fernandes. I still remember that I sang a super intricate jazz song by Nikki Yanoufsky called Something New. Interestingly, my first ever studio recording was also with my teacher of Something New when I was 12 years old.

Did you take up any vocal training to polish your singing skills?

Yes, I trained extensively with Stephen Fernandes (Sobo House of Music), and also did the Pro-junior course at the True School of Music. Then when I was 16 years old, I started training with Stacie Dunlop, a Toronto-based vocal technique coach.

How do you manage to shift between making music and your academics? Academically what are you doing?

I’ve been super lucky to have a very supportive environment academically. My school, Bombay International, allowed me to drop Physics and Chemistry at the IGCSE level, and take on Music as a core-subject instead. My music subject teacher, David Williamson, is probably the best teacher I’ve ever had, and has enabled me to freely explore the universe of music theory and history. Currently I am completing my A-levels (12^thStd) with an online academy called the GoSchool, where I am studying English, Math, and of-course, Music (with David again). The school is super-flexible and allows me to reschedule classes alongside my music commitments. So I’m very grateful for the entire support system that I have that allows me to spend the most amount of time on what I love doing creating music.

You have released 5 songs so far, what do your songs usually speak about?

My songs speak about the challenges and feelings coming with love. My most recent release, Written in the Stars is capturing the timeless essence of true love and the belief that some connections are simply meant to be. Ride for Me is all about that spark you feel when you lock eyes with someone across the room for the first time. On My Mind talks about a bittersweet romance, and the acceptance that comes with it. Tell Me, the first song I ever released, is about questioning if you can really trust someone. Whereas Dreaming, a song I released at 15, was about a sweet teenage relationship.

The inspiration and the lyrics for the song On My Mind came through a television program featuring a reference to chess maestro Bobby Fischer.Can you tell us how you wove this theme into your song and what was the concept behind it?

It’s actually quite Interesting how that came about. I’ve been watching a reality show, ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ for years now. It’s quite honestly my guilty pleasure. But there’s a scene where the cast got into a really heated argument and Kyle Richards said, “being in a friendship with you is like playing chess with Bobby Fischer’. And I thought that’s an interesting analogy,something I could take inspiration from in my next song! I was also going through an interesting phase in my life, navigating through friendships, and I thought that this analogy was very apt.

Also on this track On My Mind you worked with Mumbai multi-instrumentalist producer Yohan Marshall. How did the collaboration come about?

I've known Yohan for a really long time, ever since I was 11 years old when he conducted my first audition at the True School of Music. It's incredible to think that 6 years later, we would start collaborating on several exciting songs together. Yohan was deeply involved in the production and song vocal arrangement process from the beginning. During our initial production sessions, we experimented with different elements and instruments that complemented each other, creating a soothing vibe. It was during this phase that we began brainstorming ideas for the hook (chorus of the song). What's intriguing is that typically, I would be the one to come up with the hook or have a clear theme in mind, before even creating the track, but this time, it happened the other way around.

How did the deal with Sony Music sub label Day One happen?

That was actually quite interesting. I released 2 songs, Tell Me and Dreaming, when I was 14-15 years old. Then I realized that a lot more is involved in being an Artist than just producing songs for e.g. Marketing, Networking, Copyright etc. So, for almost 2-3 years, I was cooped up in my room just creating new music – I must have composed around 15-16 songs in that time. My dad got me to go to a music conference called All About Music (AAM) in Mumbai, where I met the A&R of DayOne Mr Tanmay Kedia. We got to chatting and he called us into the Sony Music office multiple times to interact and listen to my music. Those interactions resulted in a 2-song deal with DayOne, where we released On My Mind and Ride For Me.

Do you play any musical instrument?

Yes, I play the piano and Ukulele. I like to use the piano as my main instrument for songwriting, even before I put a melody together, its usually the chords that come first.  I’m picking up a bit of guitar too.

In July 2024, you recently released a new song, Like That. What was the approach in the creative and writing process?

In Like That, I dive into the excitement of intimacy with some slick production that mixes up a lively rhythm section, taking you on a trip through vibrant scenes. The song exudes romantic energy with lyrics that pull you right into my world, where passion and intensity collide, When I made this track, I totally pictured it pumping through the speakers in a nightclub, nailing that sweet spot between laid-back vibes and irresistible groove. It’s an absolute vibe and I can’t wait for people to hear it!

What are the challenges you have faced so far in making your music heard?

There is so much amazing Indie music coming out of India at the moment, so getting your music heard is really tough. I’ve been writing English R&B songs, which is my style, so finding the right audiences for this kind of music is challenging. When I started releasing music I did not have a team or strategy so it was just a shot in the dark. DayOne did help me make some connections in the industry and guide me on strategy. Since then I’ve been trying to work with professionals in the Industry to help promote my music, which I now think is critical for any Indie artist.

Your influences include Erykah Badu, Mac Miller and indie sensation Kayan. What do you take away from these artists that fuel your songs?

I always loved the way Mac Miller uses orchestration in his music to express how he feels. I believe it was the intro to 2009 that begins with a string arrangement- right out of a Disney movie. It has a very beautiful and nostalgic sound. I wanted to make people feel something with my music too. I’ve been listening to Erykah Badu for as long as I can remember. She’s the first artist I think of when it comes to R&B/Soul. Her music really authenticates and defines the genre. When it comes to Kayan, I’m absolutely in awe of the way she carries herself. And I think the confidence comes out in her music too. She’s definitely been a big inspiration for me, and I think she always will be, coming from India and singing in English.

What is Shriya when not making music?

Well, I am making so much music that I barely have time for other activities. But I love hanging out with my friends and family because they unconditionally support everything I do. I also actively volunteer at an NGO called Down to Earth, where I get to teach kids English and Math. I really enjoy my volunteer time because it puts me right back into the real world and keeps my feet on the ground.  I’m also a big animal lover. So, all my remaining time goes to my cat, Charlie. He really understands me in ways I don’t think most people do. After a long day of recordings, I look forward to coming home, snuggling up with Charlie and watching a movie.

What advice would you give to young people like you who have aspirations to make singing a career?

Don’t expect immediate success. You have to be ready to grind and pound away for the long run. Develop a very thick skin. Take everyone’s opinion into account, but back your own decisions. Take as much help as you need from anyone you can.

So what's next for you?

2025 is going to be filled with music. I just released an EP called ‘In A Box’, featuring four songs in January 2025. This EP is truly a representation of what goes on in the vast mind of an 18-year-old. 

Follow Shriya on:

Instagram: @justshriyarao

Spotify:  SHRIYA

YouTube: SHRIYA RAO

Photos: Courtesy of the Artist

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira