Individual Song Descriptions

“She’s Going Places”, one of the more experimental tracks on the EP, is an introduction to both the EP, and to me as an individual. The song travels through stages of my life and musical journey, drawing from all the different musical traditions that contributed to my sound as an artist. This song grapples with themes of identity, imposter syndrome, navigating career pressures and expectations, and resolves to an understanding of purpose.

“Through and Through” one of the more upbeat, energetic songs on the EP that discusses neurodivergence in relationships and being misperceived. The song features found sounds, as well as a viola sample library that I created myself :).  

“Pariah” is a composition featuring vocals, viola, and the parai. The parai is a prehistoric folk drum from the Southern region of India. In old Tamil, which is my ancestral language, the word parai means “to speak”. Historically, parai drums were used for many purposes—alerting upcoming battles, announcing victory or defeat, warning of natural disasters, festivals, weddings, etc. This instrument was originally associated with royals, but over time became used for funerals, leading to the instrument's association with a lower caste in India. British observation of the mistreatment of parai players, called paraiyar, led to the birth of the English word “pariah”. Despite the instrument’s painful history, the instrument has emerged as a symbol of liberation, proudly reclaimed by members of the Tamil diaspora.

The history of this instrument resonates with me. Growing up in America as a child of Indian origin, I often felt different or “other” simply due to my ethnicity. Over time, “other” translated to being “less” and I distanced myself from my culture. “Pariah” walks the listener through the journey of losing touch with your cultural identity, realizing that your differences are what make you special, and learning to embrace your heritage and take pride in it. 

This is my reimagination of the classic jazz standard, “Autumn Leaves”, originally written by Joseph Kosma in 1945. My version of the standard is in 11/8 time signature, instead of the more common 4/4, and also includes four violas. Jazz is an essential part of what defines my sound, and the genre launched my career in music with “Autumn Leaves” being one of the first jazz standards I learned. In this track, I pay homage to the legacy that laid down my musical foundation, while bringing a new, innovative twist to this classic. 

Leading into the climactic conclusion of the EP, “Chasing Birds” is a cinematic, introspective representation of the constant internal conflict that comes with being raised in two different cultures. Growing up, social pressures caused me to continually distance myself from my Tamil heritage in favor of American culture. As I grew older, and desired to reconnect with my roots, I found it increasingly difficult to make sense of  where I come from. “Chasing Birds” uses the metaphor of birds and trees to emphasize the importance of one’s roots and the loss that can come with assimilation in a different culture. The song pays homage to my heritage and features synths, dark and distorted piano, tabla rhythms, and expressive vocals.