Anusha Savi, the ultimate Tamil American singer who runs Carnatic music in her veins

Aspiring to combine all her Carnatic style influence into her songs, Anusha Savi is a rising artist focused on bringing authentic stories of strength, tragedies, triumphs, and vulnerabilities she had experienced as an Indian-American woman.

"Singing was one of the main ways I became confident in myself - by being on stage, performing, and dazzling other people."

Photographer: Ash Ramdas

Origins, childhood, influences, and first steps into the music world

Anusha Savi gives her first steps into the music world as an Alternative, R&B/Soul, and Pop artist. She was born on February 13, 1996, in East Bay Area, San Francisco.

Her first start rose with Carnatic music at age four. "Learning Carnatic music was a big part of participating in my heritage culture and my first personal touchpoint with making music. Looking back, I'm very grateful for that exposure. However, it posed some challenges at the time because that part of me wasn't accepted in my predominantly white, conservative hometown. Because of that, I never really spoke up or had a huge friend group", she said to My Sweeter Place.

Carnatic music keeps marking her style by using some instrumentation in her productions. "I would say that Carnatic music has best influenced my style in how I phrase my vowels and my agility when creating quick runs. Also, it has influenced me to write very repetitive melodies that are almost trance-like because Carnatic music compositions are typically very long and have many repeated melodies with slight changes through the songs."

During her Youth, she immersed herself in the western world, singing through choirs and musicals and being a part of a self-run Acappella group in college called "The Spokes," a remarkable phase of her life. "We made music as a group and crafted sound together with the work of our amazing student leaders to create impactful productions. (...) We were a group based on sisterhood, friendship, and support. The bonds that we built as a group through every rehearsal, performance, retreats, road trip, and more are a huge part of how I made a lot of confidence as a performer, musician, and leader."

Music has always been a topic in her family, and her influences started there as well. "Being a singer has always been a part of me and my identity. I was really shy as a kid - growing up in an immigrant household, my parents wanted to make sure that my brother and I were aware and proud of our heritage. That meant we were only allowed to speak Tamil in the house, reading and doing homework was the highest priority, and participating in Indian cultural events was my entire world."

Anusha Savi began creating and writing original music at the age of 21 "(...), and it all started as an exploration - no expectations tied to it. (...) As the years have gone by since then, making music has become a more intentional, thoughtful, and cathartic endeavor." She realizes that the process ends up finding herself" (...) be vulnerable with the world, and hope to connect with people. I wouldn't be an artist without my collaborators and friends who create with me, and that is my favorite part about the process."

Her musical inspirations are plentiful when asked, but her top three are transparent: Beyonce, AR Rahman, and Cam. "I grew up listening to AR Rahman. (...) He creates timeless music that captures one's attention and heart - regardless if it is slow, fast, sad, happy. Beyonce is probably the closest thing I regard to God outside of God itself. (...) Her impact on this world is greater than herself in the bold choices she has made in her career to make music that puts social justice, women's empowerment, and self-advocacy at the forefront. Cam is so honest, genuine, and down to earth in her music and as a person. I feel grateful to call her a mentor as I've gotten to connect with her since she was one of the founding members of my collegiate a cappella group, and she's been incredible in supporting me." But the list doesn't end here. She's been inspired by independent artists putting out unusual and provoking art like Sanjana, Jordan Occasionally, Raveena, Rohan Payola, and Toni Mack.

As a South Asian musician, her response was clear when asked if she's interested in bringing authentic stories about Indian-American people to the forefront of her songwriting. "One hundred percent, yes. Every song that I have written and released has been tied to my life experience as a human and an Indian-American. (...) My goal is not to put the entire diaspora on my back and represent every single person because one, it would be impossible, and two, it wouldn't be accurate or a fair representation (...)"

"I hope that the stories and the feelings that I share through music resonate with people in my community and continue to push the narrative that south Asians, Indian Americans, Tamilians, etc., are cool, inspiring, unique, and don't fit the constricting stereotypes."

Photographer: Ash Ramdas

"Back," "Bright," and "Blue Skies:" The Beginning

The three songs released so far, "Back," "Bright," and "Blue Skies," have in common the love/disillusionment theme. Savi's songwriting is personal and reflects her experiences.

"Blue Skies" is the newest, released on April 4, and it has the most direct tie to love and romantic relationships. It's the most vulnerable piece of music that she puts out yet, and it shows her in a state of delicateness. "Back" and "Bright" centralize friendship and hope, being the first ones the first to be written.

"Love for me is something that I am extremely motivated by and something that feels very natural to write about - it is one of those forces that have such large impacts on my emotional, mental and creative states." The inspiration behind the lyrics could come from a dream or a thought too. The goal is to transmit a "narrative and have a point of view - whether it be literal or figurative."

But love isn't the only journey theme. There are others in the scene to come, like "Women's empowerment and showcase even more of the strength, tragedies, triumphs, and vulnerabilities in those stories that I have experienced as a girl and woman. Additionally, I would be honored to write a song that shows perspective on the real world and impactful events."

Anthony Gonzalez is a central persona in her career as his producer and songwriter in her songs. He started his journey as a drummer, influencing his style and music point of view. "We met during undergraduate studies at UC Davis in our first year because our social circles connected, but we became creative friends during our third year. Anthony was running the audio at an open mic performance on campus that I performed. After the show, he came up to me and mentioned that he was a producer and that he loved my voice and then pitched the idea that we should work together."

The inspiration can be blocked sometimes for an artist, but when it comes, there are solutions. In her case, "I'll listen to music, watch my favorite music videos and performances, I'll laugh and chat with my friends, go for a walk and breathe in some fresh air, or even do some creative drawing. Other times, a block means that I am keeping myself from fully expressing and being scared to be truly vulnerable. My safe space in those moments is in my journal." If she could dare to risk another genre to get out of her comfort zone, it would be a pop/rock/country song. "I'm deeply inspired by great powerhouse female artists like P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lavato, Christina Aguilera. They impart such soulful messages with unapologetically powerful delivery. I'm searching to create a song with that similar energy of impact, passion, and strength. I'm working on it every day, and all of my favorite songs in this multi-genre have a message that resonates and incredible courage."

Anusha Savi is working on an EP that has been a passion project for a few years. The release date isn't confirmed yet, but we can hear the fresh ones until then.

"It encapsulates my opening statement as an artist, and I cannot wait to get it in front of people. In addition, I'm working on new music to play with daily and also making new visuals."

Her interaction with fans is recent because she had released all songs during the pandemic, so she didn't perform yet or be Anusha Savi in public. However, she sang and performed in some virtual concerts, which has been positive. (...) The reactions I've received from my listeners, friends, families, fans, supporters have been amazing and full of love. The best comment I got from a fan was that my song "Back" helped them get through a tough and trying time, and it was an incredible gift to know that."

Photographer: Ash Ramdas

Anusha Savi is an emerging artist to watch as she puts music into his main focus. She's ready to make her mark, carving out her own unique artistic space and delivering music in the process.

"I didn't know how loud my voice could be until I started singing and singing in front of others through talent shows, school musicals, and choirs. Singing was one of the main ways I became confident in myself - by being on stage, performing, and dazzling other people."

Additional Information:

• Influences: Carnatic Music. It's a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka. The main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in gāyaki (singing) style. Various Carnatic music festivals are held throughout India and abroad, including the Madras Music Season, considered one of the world's most significant cultural events.

• Favorite tracks at the moment: "Y" by Citizen Queen; "Met Him Last Night" by Demi Lavato feat. Ariana Grande; "Till There's Nothing Left" by Cam, and "Naive" by Asha Gold.

• Curiosities: Before making music her priority, Anusha's past experiences include different areas. She worked in pre-health, technology, business, wine-making, and scientific research. At the moment, she's learning how to play the guitar and when she was a kid, she used to play violin and piano.