How Tragedy Stirred Mumbai Hip-Hop Artist Shia to Turn to Music

Although Mumbai hip-hop artist Shia has always been inclined towards music since she was in school, the rapper never took it seriously. However, at 18, Shia was hit with tragedy when her father and grandfather – who ran their family business – both passed away in the span of a year. Shia says, “Our company went bankrupt, and I had to drop out of college because of this financial duress that came upon us.” 

It was during this time that Shia began gigging, going for open mics and interacting with like-minded artists. “I actually started considering myself as someone who might have potential in it [music],” she says. Since then, Shia has gone on to release a few singles and even perform at large events and festivals. “This is where I am today. Every day I have to sit with my beats, and I have to sit and write.” 

Shia admits that she wasn’t always into hip-hop music and was actually quite a fan of heavy music. Growing up, she would listen to music by Welsh metal outfit Bullet for My Valentine and U.S. thrash metallers Metallica. “I was in love with Kirk Hammet [Metallica’s guitarist],” she says. However, it was the influence that American rapper Eminem had on her that tugged Shia towards hip-hop. “I think it’s safe to say a lot of people were influenced by his music. I grew a little bit out of rock music and I got more into hip-hop,” says Shia.  

The rapper’s latest single is the bass-heavy and gritty “Shia Bia” (out via Found Out Records) and is produced by her go-to collaborator Zero Chill. The new song follows last year’s release, the fierce “Boon,” and touches upon modern-day sexiness.

On “Shia Bia,” the Mumbai artist deliberately adopts the style of American rapper Bia. Shia says, “This was actually kind of my way of reaching out to her [Bia]. I wouldn’t say ‘Shia Bia’ is a representation of who I am, but it is a song based on what people have told me [how to sound].” Shia was able to attain Bia’s attention on social media when the U.S. artist commented on one of her posts. “I think that was the intention that I had set out with,” says Shia. There’s also a slick music video released to accompany the track, in which Shia is seen performing the song outdoors near a beach and in a hotel room.   

Currently, Shia is keen on releasing more singles to keep the momentum going and she’s also planning on working on collaborations too. She says, “I’ll drop an album when I get a good response and when I feel like the sound is there.” The artist adds, “Hip-hop is more than just music. It’s actually [about] changing the way people see the world. I want hip-hop to bring a shift in the way the economy runs in India, and I see that the music industry is going to blow up someday and really help our country be better and more aware.”  

Watch the music video for “Shia Bia” below: