Tamil-Swiss artist Priya Ragu makes a grand debut with mixtape ‘damnshestamil’
Fusing cultures and defying genres — Priya Ragu is an unstoppable force
Photo: Press
Priya Ragu: a name we need to get familiar with. When she released her debut single Good Love 2.0 last year, a revisit to the original version of Good Love, she made waves in creating post-genre sounds with her brother and producer Japhna Gold. A sound they like to call ‘Ragu Wavy’. Good Love 2.0 was included in the FIFA 21 soundtrack which garnered her listeners and everlasting fans from around the globe, eagerly waiting for her to drop more groovy hits.
She was starting to fuse cultures and blend different worlds in her music, combining traditional Tamil sounds to Neo-soul, entwined with jazz-infused hip-hop. Ragu Wavy is a musical journey you will experience like never before. Her silky-textured, glossy vocals combined with Gold’s skilled production of eclectic beats, frequented with pounding tabla and cross-genre experimentation is a unique interpretation of R&B for the contemporary times.
Her story is unlike any other modern-day songstress. Brought up in a traditional Sri Lankan household following her parents fleeing to Switzerland during the Sri Lankan civil war in the 1980s, Ragu was drawn to Western music although she was hardly allowed to listen to it. And yet, Ragu’s ambitious drive led her to constantly chase her dreams. “Un kanavugal nejam than,” she soars in Tamil in the single Kamali that translates to “Your dreams are real”.
Her music is a concoction of her Tamil roots and surrounding European culture. Raguwavy is in fact a celebration of South-Asian culture and heritage served with Western pop; an evolution of fusion music. Her debut mixtape damnshestamil is pure magic — no skips, you will want to listen to her story all the way through.
damnshestamil is an exuberant and spiritual piece of art. Every track on this mixtape has been made for a reason and no two tracks ponder over the same idea. Her songs are like fleeting moments; one thought to the next, treated with a surprise at every turn. You will be left wanting more of Ragu’s visceral, floaty voice and Gold’s sizzling beats.
Priya Ragu is the face of the next generation of music - an embodiment of musical evolution. She boldly manifests her South-Asian roots on the cover of her debut record damnshestamil: poised and distinctive. Decked in traditional silk saree and jewellery — much like a classical Indian dancer — she is striking; depicting a new wave of music in the Western world.
damnshestamil opens with the gentle and breezy Leaf High. It is an uplifting anthem for the soul — to just be high on life. “You know this life is more than ordinary,” Ragu leaves it like a passing remark. Her vocals glisten through Gold’s slick production, who also makes an appearance in the rap section of the track. All they ask of you is to immerse yourself in life itself.
“Get high up on this life / So high that I don’t wanna come down / How high can I get / If I choose to fly”
The addictive catchy tune of Good Love 2.0 follows. What appears to be a pop banger soon transcends into a rhythmic funk tune, drawing influence from a multitude of musical styles. You can feel the waves from the sea as Ragu’s floaty voice echoes through her vivid lyrics, folksy hand drums and Gold’s glitchy production. The culture seeps right through with this bop. “Boy, you had me from the beginning / Can’t deny we fell in love like shooting stars / We were young, we were reckless”: it’s an ode to rebellious young love that knows no bounds and the bond is stronger than what society expects from you.
Set in Goa, the video directed by Aneesh Malankar captures the essence of blooming young love amidst crashing waves and setting shores.
A couple of days prior to the release of her mixtape, Ragu dropped Lockdown, a vibrant and fun track depicting the realities of loneliness. Sirens rage in the distance as Ragu’s voice emerges through the lilting Balearic beats: a longing for human contact. Directed by Dumas Haddad, the video features two dancers, possibly lovers connected spiritually, mirroring movements as they are tied down and separated by barriers — a depiction of modern love in today’s age.
The mellow Sri Lankan flute resonates through the groovy bass in the evocative Lighthouse as Ragu takes off in her infectious voice, stacked with rich harmonies. Here, traditional instrumentation meets pop-infused lyricism. This track is bound to be played on loop. Ragu builds a world full of hope through lucid lyricism and moving melodies.
“Nallathu, mattum neenainga / Nallathu, mattum nadakum” she chants in Tamil, which translates to ‘think good and only good things will happen’.
The very poetic Anything fades in after; a slow jam to soothe your soul. The twitchy drum machine samples owing to Gold complements the haunting floaty vocals of Ragu. The endnote dips into Ragu’s culture which remains consistent through the mixtape, linking one song to the next.
Chicken Lemon Rice is all festive and fresh. This one is meant for a dance party. Ragu and Gold have infused their rich heritage with playful and energetic electro-pop to celebrate culture and diversity around the world. The video directed by Ragu’s frequent collaborator Dumas Haddad is a celebration in itself.
The crackling distortions on Deli infused with subtle beats of the tabla accentuate Ragu’s glistening vocals. The hook on this track is gripping and serves as a fresh take on fusion music. It slows the pace just enough to set the scene for the percussive Kamali. This track is magical, it’s pure and sounds as though it was made straight from the heart. With soul-touching Tamil lyrics, Ragu and Gold have created here something truly inspirational that will also catch you dancing to its captivating rhythm.
Inspired by a short film of the same name, Kamali is an ode to young girls to dream big and to a mother’s love and support for her children. Kamali celebrates girls and women for their godly spirits, to be curious and to envision a life full of infinite possibilities.
The video features a montage of clips from the short film with glimpses of a seven-year-old Kamali, the only female skater in Mahabalipuram in India, as she fights against all odds to skate with the support of her strong-willed mother.
The video and film directed by Sasha Rainbow is set in a rural school with Ragu decked in a similar fashion to young Kamali. It almost feels like Ragu embodies Kamali’s spirit through the video as she sings “Un kanavugal nejam than” which translates to “Your dreams are real”. We also catch Ragu in a moment where she goes all in displaying her Tamil heritage when she slickly puts on her shades — an action symbolic to legendary Tamil actor Rajnikanth. The video also features Ragu’s mother — her support system as Kamali’s mother from the short film.
As the album comes to a close, Forgot About is a serene, soulful ballad that puts Ragu’s vocals in the spotlight. “You forgot about me (Forgot about me) / You forgot about us (Forgot about us),” she sings in her honeyed voice.
Santhosam means happiness in Tamil and makes for a spiritual ending to a beautiful mixtape. Written by Ragu’s mother, the song celebrates the humble teachings of a guru, to seek blessings and follow his path. The track also features Ragu’s father on the tabla. A family collaboration, this Tamil folk track is a mighty finale to damnshestamil.
A vibrant and pure debut, this record is a breath of fresh air. Priya Ragu is a passionate vocalist and skilful rapper with a flair to fuse cultures and defy genres. As her music captures the lush Tamil culture in its binds, we are here to witness her musical prowess — an invention of skillfully crafted electrifying music.
damnshestamil is out now.