EXCLUSIVE: Introducing W.i.S.H. – India’s Newest Girl-Pop Group

Global pop music has reached a momentous peak in the recent past, with the rise of short-form video content platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok. Riding the wave that K-pop superstars have created, countries across the world have seen a resurgence in the naughties-era of pop ensemble groups. This time, it’s India’s turn to enter the game.

In a never-before-seen collaboration with Sony Music India and renowned producer Mikey McCleary— who has previously worked with legendary artists such as A.R. Rahman and Lucky Ali—together they present, W.i.S.H. Credited as India’s first all-female major pop group in 22 years, W.i.S.H. consists of four unique performers; Ri (Riya Duggal), Sim (Simran Duggal), Zo (Zoe Siddharth) and Suchi (Suchita Shirke). In an attempt to showcase their group’s identity of dazzle, glitz, and glamor, catered to a young and passionate Gen-Z audience, the name W.i.S.H. stands for their larger motivation, “World inka Stage Hai”.

The two sisters, Ri and Sim, who were originally part of the duo ‘Simetri’, have experienced a degree of individual acclaim with their memorable Hindi-pop releases. As has Zo, who recently accompanied the musician Aadya Rao on guest vocals on stage during his debut Lollapalooza India 2024 performance. The group also welcomes a newcomer, Suchi, the youngest member of the girl group who carries with her a significant arsenal of vocal abilities.

While the girls have known each other, coincidentally, for multiple years, they have been brought together to form W.i.S.H. by the curatorial powers of McCleary and Sony Music, who will be releasing the group’s debut single “Lazeez” on March 1, 2024. The track’s name, which means “delicious” and “tasty” in Urdu, is an attempt to redefine and reclaim female autonomy, independent of any external gaze or stereotype. In an exclusive preview with Rolling Stone India, the music video for the track invokes captivating visuals of beauty, sexuality, and energy, all of which are key elements that W.i.S.H. invites the world to witness.

With distinct, yet cohesive, personalities, the girls project confidence and likeability, with the singing and dancing competencies to back it up. Suchi, the group’s youngest member, known to be the “sporty one,” hopes to bring her competitiveness and energy to the group’s dynamic. Zo, who has publicly shown her obsession with K-culture and gaming, loves to engage online with her fans. The younger of the two sisters, Sim, is “fiery and rebellious” and likes to do things her own way. Finally, the group’s leader, Ri, evokes a level of fashionableness and the “it-girl” quotient that glues the group’s styles together.

W.i.S.H.’s debut single “Lazeez” is set to release on all streaming platforms on March 1, 2024.