Listen to Story Indian-origin American pop singer-songwriter Nikitaa released a new single, ‘Pillow Prince,’ recently. As co-writer, co-producer, and mixer, Nikitaa crafted a hypnotic electro R'n'B club anthem that redefines gender roles, with Bollywood-inspired jazz vocals. The song blends masculine energy and subverts traditional gender narratives, capturing listeners in a sensual, queer-coded universe.
In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.In, the singer-songwriter spoke about balancing her Indian identity with the West, her inspiration behind creating music, blending Bollywood-inspired jazz with R'n'B, embracing her queer identity, using AI in music, and more. Excerpts from the interview: Tell me a bit about your process - blending R'n'B with Bollywood-inspired jazz.
It’s not a very popular kind of blend in the global music scene, if I am right? Thank you so much! And no, I guess it’s not! Although I’m sure some people are doing some variation of that. For this song, I was just looking to craft a melody that felt true to my influences and style but also felt hypnotic. And it ended up being this jazzy, Bollywood-esque R'n'B melody! I usually try not to think my way into artistic ideas because I’m already so meticulous in the way that I work.
You always explore themes of empowerment, love, and self-discovery in your music. Tell me how much do you draw inspiration from your personal experiences and straddling your dual identity of having Indian roots and bein.