French-Sri Lankan Musician Nilusi Has Forged A Sound That Cuts Across Cultures

French-Sri Lankan singer Nilusi started singing Sinhala songs in Buddhist temples in Paris when she was just five years old. Entering the industry when she was this young did put a lot of things in perspective for her, “I think it comes with both positives and challenges. No one really teaches you how to handle that level of expectation and pressure so early on. You grow up faster, and you’re suddenly surrounded by adults who don’t always have your best interests at heart. But in a way, that experience shaped me.” 

That early exposure quickly translated into professional milestones. At just fifteen Nilusi was already touring across Europe with her Paris based pop band, ‘Kids United’, created to support UNICEF campaigns. Both their debut and second album, achieved Diamond certification in France, selling over 3 million records. In 2017, after being a part of the band for 2 years she charted out on her own to create her own solo career. 

She started her own music label, Gleam Records, where she produces and writes her music while also taking full control of the visual language accompanying her songs, co-directing most of her music videos. This commitment to complete authorship and autonomy over her art comes from years of experience in the entertainment industry, and from understanding the importance of taking charge in a space that isn’t always built for you to succeed.

Speaking about her evolution within the industry, Nilusi says, “Over time, my perception of the industry has completely changed. For me now, it’s about putting the art first, always. The industry is there to support and amplify, but it will never define my art.”

Nilusi’s music, like herself, feels like a coming together of different worlds and genres. “I grew up listening to so many different genres,” she says, and that is reflected in every song on her latest album, Lettre à l'Univers. From jazz and R&B to South Asian ‘bols’ interspersed throughout her music, as heard in the opening track, “Tereketena”, her sound is richly layered.  For her bridging her two identities her two identities musically has been very seamless, “In the world we live in, having multiple identities can sometimes feel complex, but in music I’ve been able to build the bridges I needed. It allowed me to embrace every part of who I am equally, and I think that also resonates with people who share a similar experience of having more than one culture.” 

Reflecting on what shaped her sound, she says, “From traditional South Asian music to a lot of R&B and soul, but also rock and jazz. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson were a big part of my early influences. I’ve always loved playing with genres and styles, both vocally and musically.” Like in her song, Boru Kata, which translates to ‘false words’ in Sinhalese where she talks about being betrayed by someone you love. She moves through every note on the album with breathy vocals, almost as if she’s whispering resounding lullabies.

“It’s been a long journey because I’ve been making music my whole life, but I’d say it’s really only been in the last four years that I’ve truly found my sound and my identity as an artist. Since then, everything feels much more aligned and intentional”, Nilusi points out when it comes to her time spent developing and evolving her craft to establish the global sound and creative world she has created today.

As Nilusi continues to carve out a space that is entirely her own, her music feels deeply rooted in memory yet constantly evolving, her sound carries traces of everywhere she’s from, and hints at everything she’s still becoming. With creative control over her sound and story, Nilusi stands as a reminder that having your own voice is a necessity. Nilusi’s music resists any simplification, and exists in the multiplicity, and what emerges is an artist who is not just redefining the game for herself but also for those that are yet to come.

Follow Nilusi on Instagram here and listen to her album 'Lettre à l'Univers' below.

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