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Beginner’s Guide to South Asian-American Music n
Shruthi Krishna
My musical inventory, growing up, felt very much black and white. I would have an archive of white, American artists on one side and Bollywood, or traditional Indian artists on the other. I always felt the desire to listen to people like me—Indian American. I wanted to see these two aspects of my life, and myself blend. The lack of South Asian-American representation (in general, but specifically in the music industry) is a problem that has a long way to go before it’s completely gone. However, this small guide to South AsianAmerican albums is a start.
Lucid - Raveena
This mellifluous voice is no stranger within the South Asian-American community. Raveena has developed quite the loyal fanbase throughout the years. The masterpiece that is her debut album will take the listener on an ethereal journey exploring themes of sexuality, heritage and familial bonds. The alternative R&B bedroom pop tracks blend together seamlessly with transitions placed in between songs. The stacked harmonies and dreamy strings pay homage to the album’s title, Lucid, as they come together to form a sensual atmosphere. The track “Salt Water’’ stands out from the rest of the album with its highly memorable chorus and intricate production. This song is a symbol of the artist’s healing following a traumatic event, where she sings “A year lost in an hour, I cry into my limbs. I froze in a hot shower, I scrub away his sins.” Raveena makes use of a lot of traditional instruments on this track (e.g. piano and guitar), but the usage of the flanger effect (mixing two identical sounds, one of them being delayed) gives the
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