Inside the Creative Universe of Indian-Australian Singer-Songwriter SHRETA

For Indian-Australian R&B songstress SHRETA, women of colour—particularly South Asian women—are at the epicentre of her creative universe:

I desire to move the needle for female artists and Indian women in the creative space as a whole. Working with my producer, Mikaili, on this single and many others, that is always a central focus for me. My music is produced, written and performed by women of colour, and I am enjoying building a catalogue of music that has POC and women placed at the very centre of its creation. I take this very seriously. 

SHRETA on her latest record, ‘Messy’

Following her collaboration with Phabo on Go Get Her, the rising Melbourne/Naarm-based singer-songwriter returns with Messy—a record that explores the “toxicity of modern dating” in a world of right swipes and voice prompts. SHRETA’s Messy cheekily toys with the idea of playful retaliation in the face of unmet desires. In the track, SHRETA issues an ultimatum to the subject of her frustration, flirting with the notion that their best friend is always an option.

Packed with wit sharper than your auntie’s tongue, SHRETA maintains her distinctive, laid-back yet tenacious sound, and Messy spotlights an artist fully in command of her craft.

We sat down with SHRETA as she unpeeled the layers of her creative universe, talking about all things heritage, inspiration, and obsession.

Our conversation has been edited for clarity and concision.

Brown Boy Magazine: Who is SHRETA? Tell us a bit about your journey to pursuing music. Did you grow up performing, or did you find music later in your life?

SHRETA: I have always loved and been influenced by music and grew up hearing a mix of different sounds around me. I grew up singing traditional Indian music (Carnatic music), which led me to perform from a really young age and fall in love with the stage. I have always loved to sing—my family tells me that I could sing before I could talk. It was always a dream for me to pursue music throughout my childhood, and as I grew older, it evolved from a dream into a sense of purpose and part of my identity.

Brown Boy Magazine: You recently performed for the first time ever in Melbourne! Congrats! How did you find it all?

SHRETA: My first performance in Melbourne was so beautiful, intimate and special. It was one of the highlights of this year for me. It was honestly so eye-opening and surprising to me—that so many people showed up, knew all of the lyrics to my songs, sang along and wanted to hear more music from me. Their beautiful words of encouragement meant a lot to me, too; it was a reminder to keep going and keep sharing music because these are the people I want to do it for and share the music with.

Brown Boy Magazine: What’s your family’s heritage, and has it influenced your songwriting and sound? Which artists have inspired you the most in your music?

SHRETA: I am South Indian, and my family is spread between Chennai and Bangalore in India. I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, so I think that growing up between two vastly different cultures has deeply influenced me and my music.

My melodies and the notes I choose when I sing are so intrinsically Indian and definitely come from having started my musical journey singing Indian music.

The artists that inspire me constantly change as I change through time, but an artist who has had a profound impact on me would be Rihanna—her music, her fashion, her energy and how she blends feminine and masculine energies in her work to push boundaries and provide us with something so unique. 

I would also say PARTYNEXTDOOR—his music led me to want to vocal produce myself, make music with whatever I had on my computer, and really kick-started my journey as a vocal producer. It made me fall in love with dark, melancholic sounds. The way he expresses emotion in his music is something I really love and am inspired by.

Brown Boy Magazine: We absolutely love your sound, especially your track Cruise, which has amassed over 1,879,000 streams. It’s been described as a mix of SZA, Kehlani, and Kiana Ledé. How would you describe your sound?

SHRETA: I want to describe my music as something that feels emotionally intense and passionate, with lush melodies and lyrics that are funny and kind of unserious, no matter what I am going through. It reflects my attitude towards relationships and life. I feel like my sound is so soft and strong at the same time—it is this blend of energies that makes up who I am. It is assertive, surprising, and energetic but also smooth, sensual, and laid-back.

Brown Boy Magazine: Who are you listening to right now? Any South Asian artists you’re obsessed with?

SHRETA: I have been listening to so much Leon Thomas and Tame Impala. It’s a very different mix, but my music taste is really diverse. A South Asian artist who I love and who is one of my dear friends is ASHWARYA. She is so unique, talented and the sweetest soul ever.