AR Rahman's 'Koncham Nilavu' shaped my childhood: Hasika Neethi

Singer-songwriter Hasika Neethi is a Chennai girl who has gone global. Currently based in the US, Hasika puts out music that’s primarily in English. Through her songs, including her upcoming single Take Control, she is blending cultures and breaking boundaries. During her recent visit to the city, we caught up with her to talk about her favourite Indian artistes, spreading happiness through music, her relationship with Chennai, and more.

A LITTLE ABOUT HER MUSIC...I work in a genre that is mostly pop and dance EDM. The reason I make music is to make people happy. Through my music, I like to talk about self-love, taking control over your life and being happy. My very first song, Dancin, was about how you can always turn a bad day around.

ON INCORPORATING INDIAN INSTRUMENTS INTO HER MUSIC...India has a whole array of instruments that the world doesn’t know about. My new song, Take Control, starts off with a nadaswaram. I want to incorporate Indian instruments into my music because India is a country where every state has its own music. It also gives an Indian touch to my music. I also want to include Tamil words that we use a lot into my music.

ON BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSIC...I choose music over myself every day. Sometimes, I don’t sleep and eat as my practice routines are hectic. It’s hard, but I enjoy it. I’m a little too passionate about what I do. My go-to playlists are very vast. I listen to English songs more, but I do listen to a lot of Indian artistes, too. I like upbeat music, and melodies are not really something I connect with a lot of the time.

INDIAN ARTISTES SHE HOPES TO COLLAB WITH...There are a lot. Hanumankind would be number one. Also, I really like Ritviz’s music. I would also love to collaborate with AP Dhillon and Diljit Dosanjh.

On being a Chennai girl...Chennai is home. I grew up here. For me, the beaches and the rivers here are really important. I feel calm while being near water, and growing up here has had a huge influence on my emotions and who I am as a person

‘Sid Sriram’s songs are very vocally strong’I love Sid Sriram’s voice. His songs are very vocally strong. I really love listening to Maruvaarthai, Yennai Maatrum Kadhale and Kannaana Kanney. AR Rahman’s Konjam Nilavu is a song that shaped my childhood because it was so vocally strong and I used to practice that song when I was a kid.

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