Hailing from New Delhi, Sijya has become the first Indian artist signed to the UK-based label 'One Little Independent Records', home to the alternative music legend Björk. The ultimate multihyphenate, Sijya writes, composes, produces, and performs her music, on top of being a designer. But, despite her laundry list of talents and your expectations, she hasn’t always been a musician. 

Sijya started as a graphic designer, dipping her toes into the world of music by designing album covers for other artists. It wasn’t until 2021 that, after years of circling the music industry, she finally took the plunge and explored the art form herself.

Her start, like almost everything else about her, is somewhat unconventional compared to other artists. So many musicians started singing or playing instruments before they had even reached double digits. They fondly recall performing for their families, or dreaming of reaching the world stage before they could do their times tables. But, for Sijya, her deep love for music didn’t translate into a career as a musician until she was 27 years old. And honestly, she’s better off for it.

Sijya’s artistic identity is built around her defiance of the norm. Where other artists may stick to a specific form or approach, she takes the road less travelled. Her latest single, ‘Tabla,’ is a prime example of this. The song is a haunting sonic exploration of what it means to believe in yourself and take on challenges on your own. Rather than following a conventional structure, Sijya plays with texture, using layered synths, stacked vocals, and a single, simple tabla sample to build a rich, pulsating soundscape.  The song ebbs and flows, carrying you with it like you’re sitting in a lazy river.

Even the song’s title, ‘Tabla,’ defies our expectations. The singer stated that what started with a placeholder title, named after the single tabla sample used throughout the song, transformed into an ironic commentary on the commodification of South Asian culture in art.

Sijya will be releasing her second EP, 'Leather and Brass', under One Little Independent Records this September, making waves not just in India, but across the globe, in the alternative music space. 

Follow Sijya here. 

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