Indo-American Artist Subhi Turns to Dramatic Pop on ‘Wake Me Up’

Unlike the lilting, easygoing side she’s explored with her Hindi songs, Chicago/Mumbai pop artist Subhi explores a much darker, hypnotic hue of sounds with her second English song “Wake Me Up.” 

The singer and songwriter tells us that even though she’s written music in English right from the time she was a teenager, the release of her first English single “In My Way” in October was a step towards consolidating her multicultural identity. “It took me years to accept that I don’t have to choose, and I don’t have to ask anyone. I needed to be vulnerable to be comfortable. This year I finally found the balance, my sound and wanted to share my English songs with the world,” she says. 

Recorded just before the pandemic took hold in Los Angeles with songwriter/producer Taylor Sparks, “Wake Me Up” addresses Subhi’s feelings of overcoming fears that this period has created. “This was the last song I recorded in a professional studio in L.A.. I was hoping things wouldn’t get worse but they did. It’s a song that is very relevant as many people must be feeling the way I do. I felt the story needed to be told as we all want to be ‘pulled out from the dark’,” she says. 

Both releases “In My Way” and “Wake Me Up” are part of Subhi’s upcoming debut five-track English EP, slated for release in February next year. “The EP talks about my journey as a multi-cultural artist who’s trying to find her voice, her sound, and her own identity,” the artist says. Featuring different producers and songwriters, the EP process began with Subhi sitting in with collaborators, but is now being completed remotely. “Each song is very personal to me and has a story to tell. I feel everyone will be able to release this project because the songs talk about love, the pandemic, multicultural identities, and finding yourself in all of it,” Subhi adds.

Stream “Wake Me Up” below and hear on more platforms here.