Lady Skavya Talks Debut Album ‘How Much Is Too Much’

On the opening track from Goa-based artist Lady Skavya’s debut album How Much Is Too Much, she exudes what she’s aptly titled as “Main Character Energy.” She says in the regal, resolute song, “I walk in like a VIP because I’ve earned it.”

With a few Indian classical music elements worked into it, the song can hook anyone in because Skavya presents an unfiltered look at her life and her opinions about life. The 13-track album was in the works for at least two years as Skavya cycled through a few producers before finally working with Hal Wheeler aka Arrival Soundsystem and Clifr. “I tend to overdo a lot of things and at some point, I really had to back off and say yes, I’m done with my album,” she says. Another big role in envisioning an album project also came after she was signed to U.K. label Kamani Records.

The label push helped Skavya release two music videos from the album – “Mind Body & Soul” which pays visual homage to Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill and most recently, “Enough For Me.”

Watch the video for “Enough For Me.”

In the video for “Mind Body & Soul,” Skavya actually gets a tattoo with the album title. When asked about what came first, the tattoo idea or the album title, the artist says, “I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo of my first album title, so I made an impromptu decision to get the tattoo just two days before the music video shoot. The director thought it would be a great idea to incorporate the tattoo into the video, which added a sentimental twist to it. People do all kinda weird things for their art and this is just the start.”

In the video, there are visual references to Amy Winehouse’s “Fuck Me Pumps” video and Lauryn Hill’s “Vocab” on the rap front. “Growing up, Amy Winehouse had a huge influence on me. Her experimentation and vocal style have always inspired me. Lauryn Hill’s legacy has also had a profound impact on me. I’m honored to reference these legendary artists in my music video,” she says.

Watch the video for “Mind Body & Soul.”

How Much Is Too Much is primarily intended as a pop album, but one that also traverses hip-hop, dancehall, soul, reggae and of course, ska. The prologue is mostly a cappella and gets into “daytime jobs and nighttime dreams.” Fanfare is mixed with grit on “Sky’s The Limit.” Elsewhere, Hyderabad-based saxophonist George Hull adds melancholy hues on the nocturne “Good People.” Lady Skavya channels anger and hate soulfully on “Enemies” and gets introspective about it all on “Too Much Emotion” with Bengaluru/Mumbai artist Ranj, with the two vocals blending seamlessly. Skavya says about the song with Ranj, “[It] features clever wordplay and a narrative that contradicts the album’s title.”

Elsewhere, “Thesis” has a beat switch about growing as a person, and “Epilogue” opens with a powerful classical vocal portion. “Enough For Me” has the resolute rhythms of a fully realized music mind, who swears by her earthen, Indian-accented vocal approach rather than adopting a more clean, Western sense of pronunciation.

Skavya says, “I’ve always been conscious of staying true to my roots and authenticity. English is one of my most comfortable languages, sometimes even the voice in my head, but it’s not my first language. Growing up in a metropolitan South Indian city has had a profound influence on my voice and style.” True to the thematic intentions of the album, Skavya says she doesn’t believe in putting up a front and points to inspirations from reggae, raggamuffins, singjay style and hip-hop MCs alike. “I’m used to engaging with my audience and gauging their response. This blend of talking and singing has become an integral part of my artistry,” she adds.

Stream ‘How Much Is Too Much’ below.