Four indie sirens, Lisa Mishra, KAVYA, Dot. and Kayan, are rewriting the rhythm of the music scene. Catch these tunemakers sharing their musical journey and love for denim with ELLE India.
On KAVYA: Trucker jacket, women’s graphic print t-shirt and women’s 94’ baggy jeans, all by Levi’s. Bow tie choker by Eurumme. Jewellery. Medium gemela studs by MISHO. Rings, Kavya’s own. Uri by E3K Jewelry. Sculpted motion 55 by ECCO
On Dot.: Women’s knit top and women’s 94’ baggy jeans, both by Levi’s. Triplet hoops and stackable enamel ring by MISHO. Linked chain rings by Ishhaara. Sculpted LX55 by ECCO
On Lisa Mishra: Shirt and women’s low loose jeans, both by Levi’s. Mini round trip hoops, mini link chain, flow ring, faun ring, cupola ring, large pebble ring, tavros stackable, all jewellery by MISHO. Shoes, Lisa’s own
Kayan
In the vibrant tapestry of Mumbai’s music scene, Kayan emerges as a distinctive voice, carving her path through the Indian independent music landscape. Known for her versatility and innovation, Kayan wears multiple hats; however, it’s her solo venture under her stage name (which is her surname spelt backwards) that has garnered significant attention. In an industry often driven by trends and commercial success, Kayan stands as a beacon of authenticity, infusing her music with soulful depth and unwavering honesty. As she continues to push boundaries and redefine the indie music landscape, she invites Mokshaa Shivlani into her world.
ELLE: What does music mean to you, and how do you express yourself via music?
Kayan (K): What music means to me is something that I cannot describe in words because, as cliche as it may sound, music has saved my life many times. How I express myself through music is probably my strongest form of communication.
ELLE: What does progress mean to you? How does it reflect in your music?
K: I feel like progress is getting to know myself better and being able to accept change, whether it has a positive or negative outcome.
ELLE: Who was your musical inspiration while growing up?
K: While growing up, I had many musical inspirations, from my mom to pop stars on TV. But there was this one CD that my friend had given me called ‘Punk’s Not Dead.’ On that CD were a lot of artists who, I think, changed what music meant to me at that age. I was 12 years old, and I was introduced to The Offspring, Green Day, Blink 182 and Avril Lavigne. It defined a musical moment for me in my childhood.
ELLE: Talking about fashion, what’s your go-to denim outfit?
K: My go-to denim outfit would be any comfortable blue jeans and a white tee or a white tank. That is ideal. I love that. I could wear that any day, any time.
ELLE: Tell us something about your upcoming songs.
K: I have a lot of new music coming this year. I’m working on an album, and I’m very excited that I finally get to share that. Over the last few years, I have written a lot of different music, experimented, and worked with different people, and I finally feel like I’m coming into a sound that is more me, that I understand better, and that I want to share with the world.
ELLE: What is your go-to on-set playlist?
K: ‘Crew’ by Brent Faiyaz, ‘On My Mind’ by Jorja Smith, ‘Stop Calling Me,’ which is by me and Yashraj and produced by Lil Help, ‘Pon de Replay’ by Rihanna and ‘Baby Girl’ by Disco Lines.
Lisa Mishra
Since she was four, Lisa Mishra knew she wanted to sing. From her viral rendition of the Bollywood track ‘Tareefan’ to collaborating with artists like DJ Khaled, Divine and Badshah and making her own music, the American-Indian singer and songwriter has created waves in the Indie music scene. With songs like ‘Sajna Ve’ and ‘Nai Chaida,’ she hits all the right spots with soothing vocals and relatable lyrics. And now, the artist has dropped a new album, ‘Sorry, I’m Late.’ In a candid chat with Isha Mayer, Mishra discusses her music and more.
ELLE: What does music mean to you, and how do you express yourself via music?
Lisa Mishra (LM): Music, to me, is freedom and personal exploration. So, I express myself by writing my words and composing the melodies in the same manner that I feel the emotion.
ELLE: What does progress mean to you? How does it reflect in your music?
LM: I just try to level up every time with myself. I don’t see competition other than with myself. So progress, for me, is evolving as a songwriter, composer and vocalist, always challenging myself to be even better than my last work. And then, of course, as a performer on stage as well.
ELLE: How do you feel as a female artist in the Indie music space in India?
LM: We have a long way to go, but we’re making many strides this year. I’m seeing more and more full-length albums and EPs (extended plays) helmed by women in our industry. I think our space will keep expanding so long as we, as women, keep making songs, telling our stories, and not relying on other people to do the melody and lyric writing.
ELLE: Talking about fashion, what’s your go-to denim outfit?
LM: Very loose, baggy, light-wash jeans with a white t-shirt. I’m always in denim. I pretty much live in jeans, no matter what the weather is. So, in some ways, denim is my preferred style.
ELLE: Tell us about your recent album.
LM: ‘Sorry, I’m Late’ has eight beautiful tracks, all composed by me and co-written and produced with a team of incredible musicians. I’ve also directed the music videos for ‘Aadat’ and ‘Saza’. Since I was so directly involved in making the album, I think people will see a much more vulnerable and authentic side of me as a musician and a person through this project.
ELLE: What is your go-to on-set playlist?
LM: I love ‘I Don’t F**k With You’ by Big Sean. It just gets me in a great mood. Probably ‘Clique’ by Kanye West. I’m currently hooked on ‘Jump’ by Tyla, and there’s ‘Inta Habibi’ by a great Moroccan French artist, Nej’. The last one is ‘Energy’ by Beyonce. So I like to listen to rap, hip-hop, and Afrobeat music. It gets me moving and fuels me for the rest of the day.
KAVYA
Amidst the avant-garde realm of New Age music, where creativity knows no bounds, KAVYA combines both ethereal melodies and cutting-edge fashion, embodying the essence of the modern-day muse. With her distinctive melange of cinematic, sombre and dance melodies, KAVYA’s music transcends genres, captivating a worldwide audience and extending beyond the melodies. As she gears up to release her new music, Trehan invites Ekta Sinha into her world.
ELLE: What does music mean to you, and how do you express yourself via music?
KAVYA (K): Music, for me, is like a timestamp of feelings that are better articulated in mantra-like melodies versus long-standing conversations. All my milestones have been given a soundtrack, and songs have become true memory capsules of great lessons.
ELLE: What does progress mean to you? How does it reflect in your music?
K: Music has been an incredible mentor in redefining what progress means to me. It is shaping the internal being and propelling the creator to be ever-morphing, not getting attached to failures or successes, and feeding the curiosity for emotional and technical growth. I am extremely welcoming to other mediums, such as dance, film and drama.
ELLE: Who was your musical inspiration while growing up?
K: I went to Mirambika (in New Delhi), an incredible school. During our music classes our teacher, Michael taught us classic tunes like ‘Octopus in the Garden’ and’ 100 Miles.’ There would be a very interesting exercise at the end of the session where we had to write a verse from our own imagination. That inspired me to give freedom and ownership to my thoughts and feelings in a musical space.
ELLE: How do you feel as a female artist in the Indie music space in India?
K: It’s my responsibility to make sure that any artist, male or female, is aware of what it takes to be a musician in today’s times and focus on maximising their economic portfolio. At the end of the day, I really want to see line-ups in India which represent good music and empower tomorrow’s musicians!
ELLE: Talking about fashion, what’s your go-to denim outfit?
K: Denim on denim is my thing with an excruciatingly dramatic and elaborate hairstyle.
ELLE: Tell us something about your upcoming songs.
K: I recently released a single, ‘Fences’, with Goya, that revolves around a psychological test, and I have been enjoying the organic tilt towards meaner soundscapes. I’ve spent the past few months scouring for old demos and writing new music with dream collaborators globally. After much contemplation, I’m finally writing a record that represents my upbringing, which has been extremely female-led, where each song breaks down a ritual unique to my household. This is my opportunity to share my record wholesomely, and I am developing the visual language simultaneously.
ELLE: What is your go-to on-set playlist?
K: ‘In Love With It All’ by Khushi, ‘Fences’ by KAVYA, Goya, ‘We Are’ by Nosaj Thing, ‘210’ by Matt Karmil and ‘Fall Back’ by James Blake.
Dot.
An ardent believer in embracing progress by virtue of repetition, Dot.’s discography (and budding filmography) offers insight into the many roles she can effortlessly juggle. Laced with nostalgia yet incredibly contemporary in feel, her music is a breath of fresh air in a swarm of unrelated tunes that could easily pass as remixed versions of each other. Here’s her conversation with Ipsita Kaul.
ELLE: What does music mean to you, and how do you express yourself via music?
Dot (D): Writing music has become one of the few things that puts me in a state of flow. I can start writing in the morning; the next thing I know, it’s the evening, and I’ve forgotten to eat lunch. So I have to switch on the lamps, stuff my face, and continue. And when something clicks, it’s like a dopamine hit.
ELLE: What does progress mean to you? How does it reflect in your music?
D: For me, progress in writing and technique just came because I wrote tons of songs, but there are also those moments when I’ve had to look at it objectively and ask important questions about where I want to go with my writing. That kind of progress is more gratifying. It takes longer. The refining and honing. But when it results in a change that is visible to you, it’s worth it.
ELLE: Who was your musical inspiration while growing up?
D: The vocal stylings of jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald Billie Holiday, and Peggy Lee are my favourites, as well as alt stuff like KT Tunstall, Fiona Apple, and Edie Brickell. And finally, there was the popular stuff around me growing up. I distinctly remember my first CD being Miley Cyrus’ first album.
ELLE: How do you feel as a female artist in the Indie music space in India?
D: Honestly, I feel that though there are a lot of female singer-songwriters, there is a lack of women in specific roles in the industry. For example, where are all the female studio engineers? Producers? Instrumentalists?
ELLE: Talking about fashion, what’s your go-to denim outfit?
D: I don’t know about go-to outfits, but I’ve had these Levi’s jeans in my cupboard for at least a decade. They are probably on their last leg. I’ve patched up so many of the rips! I don’t know about outfits, but I love them and will continue to love them until they’re all shredded up.
ELLE: Tell us something about your upcoming songs.
D: I’ve got a single featuring Chirag Todi called ‘Bus Station Poetry’. I’m also working on my new album, ‘Sea Creature on the Sofa,’ which will hopefully be released by next year.
ELLE: What is your go-to on-set playlist?
ELLE: What is your go-to on-set playlist?
D: This is the order: ‘Not Your Fault’ by FELIVAND, ‘Could You Help Me’ by Lucy Rose, ‘Lemonade’ by Tash, ‘No ID’ by Tank and The Bangas and ‘Show Me the Right’ by NEIL FRANCES.
ELLE India Editor: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi, Photographer: Dhruvin Shah, Fashion Editor: Zoha Castelino, Asst. Art Director: Sanjana Suvarna, Hair and Makeup: Kinchangthui Bariamtak(Dot), Rami Halder (Kavya), Adhishree P. (Kayan), Aratrika Das, Lucky Saikia (Lisa), Bookings Coordinator: Anushka Patil, Assisted by: Komal Shetty, Aaryaa Chhabria (styling), Tanveemua (hair and makeup for Lisa), Artist Management: Yash Raj Films (Dot), Aneesha Kotwani, WAVLNGTH(Kavya), REPRESENT (Kayan, Lisa), Production: CutLoose Productions, Location Courtesy: Istituto Marangoni Mumbai, Videographer: Akshay Pawar, Video Editor: Mariaweknow
