Sijya

Embodying the wave of fresh ideas and distinctive musicianship emerging from South Asia, Sijya’s artistic voice is a gradual rebellion against preconceived notions of approach, forms and styles led by her ability to strike a balance between the known and the outlier.

With records that showcase a defining commitment to originality without losing upon emotionality and live shows that create the most immersive atmospheres, the New Delhi artist has emerged as one of the most hotly-tipped up-and-coming talents from the region’s alternative music space.

As a composer, producer and designer, the multi-faceted talent lays down textural abstractions of her inner monologue onto musical and visual canvases alike to deliver the most well-rounded artistic offerings. Dreamy untamed synth layers and raw rhythms come together with emotion-led vocal lines creating a concoction of art pop, downtempo and ambient discoverable through her debut single ‘Have To Make My Bed’ as part of boxout.fm’s compilation ‘SUCHI SELECTS’ and her debut EP ‘Young Hate’.

Released via British music royalty Matthew Herbert’s Accidental Records, an institution known for launching artists with an independent-minded approach, ‘Young Hate’ and their respective music videos showcase Sijya’s creative stamp as a music and visual artist at its most synchronous and far-ranging. The 6-track release has received support from notable outlets such as BBC 6Music, Crack Magazine, Kaltblut, NOWNESS, Mixmag, DJ Mag, Feel My Bicep, NTS, Rolling Stone India, The Wild City, A Humming Heart, Indulge Express and Rinse.FM while Sijya has since been championed by the likes of Four Tet, Machinewoman, Openlab, NARR Radio and more. The release has also been celebrated through guest remixes with the companion EP ‘Young Love’ and earned the artist the title of “one to watch” by multiple platforms.

Meanwhile, Sijya has been extending her unique artistry to the live setting – opening for The Cinematic Orchestra on their India tour, performing on stages like SAUCE India and Echoes of Earth, delivering a Boiler Room set, creating a bespoke A/V show at Mumbai’s G5A and touring across the UK to perform at spaces like Tate Modern, Bristol’s Trinity Center and London’s Servant Jazz Quarter. The tour also saw her lead workshops for Saffron UK, provide guest mixes for NTS and Noods Radio, and perform at YES Manchester alongside Nabihah Iqbal, for whom Sijya would also release a remix via the prominent label Ninja Tune. All of this within little more than a year of making her live debut with the coveted opening spot at the 2022 edition of India’s premier music festival Magnetic Fields.