Sreeja Chakra is a Bengali singer/songwriter, music business graduate and musician who is now based in Dubai. Deriving her music from her Bengali culture and the UAE in the early 2000's, she is committed to creating art and music that brings an introspection to RnB, Neo-soul and South Asian music elements.
What inspired you to get into music? Who are some artists that inspire you?
"Since a very young age, I have always been fond of singing and drawn to playing the guitar for my own pleasure and self-expression. Until my first ever performance at a summer camp singing competition, I realized I might have something more than a hobby. Especially when I won which seemed to anger one of the contestants a lot, asking for a revote and the judges couldn't deny my ability. By the age of 12, I started performing at open mics, school events and many other social gatherings to work on my skills as a performer as well as writing poetry to slowly work up my way to songwriting.
I grew up in a Bengali household which always put a huge emphasis on the healing power and sense of belonging music creates. As I started to see my ability as a musician and performer, I searched for artists that spoke to my soul. Rihanna was and always will be my biggest role model and inspiration for taking up music professionally. Strong and heavy belted WOC singers and songwriters that wrote from their hearts was mostly what I am drawn to such as Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Kehlani, Jorja Smith and Kelela."
Anything exciting in the works?
"My EP ‘Hourglass’ is an ode to the younger me. Having the privilege and opportunity to leave everything familiar and moving to Denver independently for undergrad in my early twenties, I found a sense of gratitude and grace for my growing years of awkwardness, guilt and shame for not being at the top of academics and social expectations, for not finding the love that would save me, for giving too much and overjoyed at the bare minimum, for trusting too easily and falling for the ones who drained me of my energy and strength. Hourglass is a reminder to myself of who I was and who I have become, if it wasn’t for the little insecure and awkward girl, I wouldn't be the courageous and heart-willed risk-taking person I am today. "
What is the story behind the Hourglass EP?
"I am always working on new music, the release is always a little bit of a secret. But I have recently released a podcast episode called ‘Art vs. Artist’ on ‘Youth on Rewind’ with Youth on Record to discuss cancel culture and its impact, the music consumption by listeners as well as what it really means to be an artist in the age of heighted accessibility of an artist's personal life through social media. "
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