Raja Kumari was born Svetha Rao in California. She is an Indian American artist. Her music is a mix of pop, rap and dance music. Her first official EP( Extended Play) is The Come Up released by Epic Records in 2016. Before starting her career in music, Kumari received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies with an emphasis in South Asian religions. Starting at the age 7, she learned 3 out of the 5 classical Indian dances styles and began freestyle rapping at the age of 14 as Indian Princess (which is what Raja Kumari roughly translates into in Hindi.) Before producing her own songs, Kumari wrote songs for Fall Out Boy, Iggy Azalea and contributed to songs by Gwen Stefani, Fifth Harmony, Twin Shadow, and Dirty South.
The first song I heard by Raja Kumari is Mute featuring Elvis Brown. The song’s beat and feel instantly caught my attention and gave me goosebumps. She mixes her family cultural background and her ‘American side.’ Which I can understand as a person who is a blend of two cultures-- which at times can have opposite views on topics and ideas.
I understand and resonate with her because she did not see herself in the people who were portrayed on social media and on television. Along with loving people who are not within her cultural realm which can (and will) be damaging to a young child’s self-esteem (not seeing a representation of yourself out there in the world.)
I love the fact that Kumari did not change her name to something “easier to pronounce” when she was told her name was too hard to say. Which was her way of saying “I’m here and you have to hear me.” To me, this is bold because she saw that there was no one in music who she related to so she made her spot. Conquering up her own style which she calls Bollyhood.
Unlike most artists, Kumari does not put importance on the words rather the importance is on the beat and tones. She first learned music through the rhythms of the 3 classical dances she learned as a child. She applies English raps and lyrics to the melodies and sounds that she learned as a kid. Which makes her unlike anyone who is producing or singing music this makes the audience want to listen to what she is saying.
I personally am grateful that Kumari stopped writing music that “Christina or Demi Lovato” would sing her songs. Her album The Come Up is amazing and each song had a unique feeling from her bad side (“slum god” as she calls it) and her good side (which can be seen in her classical and cultural background.) You can hear either side in each song. The binary that comes with being a part of two divergent cultures and ways of seeing the world.
If you want to know more you can check it out.
