Priya Ragu is carving her own path in the industry

New album

Priya Ragu is carving her own path in the industry

At 37, the Tamil-Swiss artist released his first album “Santhosam”, which means “happiness”. It symbolizes a successful reconversion.

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This article from October 16, 2023 was imported from Femina.ch and republished on our site on January 7, 2025.

Priya Ragu has found happiness. In any case, this is what she assures us when we meet her in Lausanne, in the middle of promoting her album, the release of which is scheduled for October 20, 2023. The 37-year-old Tamil-Swiss singer unveils fourteen tracks with R&B sounds. , influenced by his atypical and authentic universe. “I feel like a unicorn,” she admits, reflecting on the lack of Tamil singers in the music industry, “but that allows me to have room to maneuver to create the music I want.”

His melodies, his style, but also his clips and visuals are inspired by his origins. Santhosaam is Priya Ragu’s debut album. It is made in his image and means “happiness” in Tamil. But what allows her to be happy today? “The fact of making a living from my music, of being where I am currently and of having been able to free myself from certain social expectations,” she defines.

Manager chez Swiss

You should know that music is a career change for Priya Ragu, who worked as a manager for the Swiss airline for several years. “I had a stable financial situation, a prestigious job, but I was not satisfied, I felt a great void within me.”

In 2017, she traveled to New York for a few months and began writing her own songs before releasing a first mixtape in 2021 called damnshestamilunder the prestigious Warner Music label.

Her rise is underway, she is spotted in particular by the BBC and MTV, has a series of concerts, but it will still take a little more time before leaving her job for good: “When I finally stopped, I felt the best of times. sensations”. The artist wants to reassure everyone about the possibility of changing careers, like her, along the way.

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However, his love for music was already present during his childhood. Her family even organized jam sessions during which she sang. Priya Ragu was born in Switzerland to parents who were refugees from the Sri Lankan civil war and grew up in St. Gallen, before moving in her twenties to Zurich to work for Swiss.

“I’m a very family person, even if at first I didn’t think that was the case,” she admits. His music is also produced in collaboration with his brother and producer Japhna Gold. A family tradition was also to write a song every year with their father. Repeated experience with the title Mani Osaiwritten as a trio.

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Origins anchored in her

During her childhood, however, she had to face the severity of her parents who did not look favorably on a career as a musician. “They have now accepted it and they are very moved and proud to discover the references that I make to our culture, they did not expect it.”

In fact, Priya didn’t immediately feel connected to her Tamil origins: “As I grew up, I realized that they were ingrained in me and impacted the person I was. It also helped me to talk about it with other people in the community.”

As a Tamil woman, she also rebels against the racism that persists within society, the theme of her title Black Goosewritten after the murder of George Floyd. “I was angry. It is tiring to see that such violence continues. It is important that musicians fight for such causes even if we sometimes feel helpless, we must not give up.”

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Priya Ragu’s life journey with many hats has shaped the woman she has become. “I wouldn’t have had the maturity to write this album sooner. I now know who I am and what I want to do,” she says.

Bio express

1986 Born in St. Gallen

2020 Priya Ragu signs under the Warner music label in London

2021 Nomination in the BBC Sound Poll, which rewards new talent

2022 Portrait of Priya Ragu in British Vogue

June 2023 Interview with Priya in Vogue India

December 2023 Moving to London

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Sonia Imseng is a journalist in the digital editorial team. It covers social and cultural themes as well as current events. She has also worked for Femina, RTS, Le Temps, Le Courrier.More info @SoniaImseng

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