Fusing traditional Indian sounds with Western pop, Vedika’s newest single proves that the two genres can complement one another.

Embracing her cultural roots, Vedika Sinha – who performs as Vedika – released her latest single, “take it as a compliment,” on Feb. 19, bringing a fusion twist to her signature sound. The third-year music industry student said the track explores themes of empowerment and self-growth, focusing on finding the silver lining in emotionally challenging situations. While her previous releases have been firmly rooted in pop, Sinha said she wanted to infuse her own background into her music, intertwining Carnatic influences with her formerly pop-leaning style.

“My life was very much a fusion of my two cultures, and music was the escape and the culmination of that,” Sinha said. “So I always wanted to have that representation in music, which I felt like I never really had growing up.”

Sinha said the single’s genre-bending nature serves as a reflection of the bilateral element of her upbringing, as she was raised in Australia by Indian parents. Sinha said her mother’s background as a former actress and model provided her with an immersive perspective of the Bollywood industry at a young age. While her mother never pressured her to follow the same path, Sinha said she has remained a supportive figure throughout her musical career, sharing invaluable advice for her growth as a performer and as an artist.

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Maintaining an equal balance between the two genres, Sinha said the lyrics of “take it as a compliment” are entirely in English, while the South Asian culture-influenced twist lies in the instrumentals, incorporating traditional Indian instruments, such as the tabla and shehnai. Sinha said taking her first step into fusion songwriting came with a layer of uncertainty and vulnerability, as the market for the multifaceted genre is less developed and remains unfamiliar to many Western listeners. Drawing inspiration from both Bollywood and contemporary pop artists, Sinha said she hopes this single will introduce new listeners to Indian and Carnatic music while preserving the Western influences that can draw in a greater audience.

“I want the rest of the world to know how amazing Indian instruments are,” Sinha said. “Incorporating them in a catchy way, where you can’t ignore it, … it really ignites that interest and passion for Indian culture.”

Producer and ethnomusicology alumnus Gavin Hudner said the track underwent a significant amount of trial and error in order to create a cohesive blend of the two styles that fit with Sinha’s clear vision. Hudner added that incorporating traditional Indian instruments into the track allowed for greater depth in the song, as the tabla creates a broader range of tones and pitches than a conventional drum. Despite collaborating with Sinha on previous projects, he said this single’s process was much lengthier, evolving through nearly 10 different versions to ensure the final result reflected Sinha’s artistic direction.

“I think the genre-bending thing definitely makes her stand out,” Hudner said. “Utilizing multiple genres in one song can really grab people’s attention, and I think that’s done really well on the song. I think that’ll stick with people.”

After starting the songwriting process with solely the title in mind, Sinha said she crafted the lyrics around that initial concept, adhering to her overarching theme of female empowerment. Solidifying its status as a pop anthem, “take it as a compliment” encourages listeners to approach difficult situations with a constructive mindset and seek the silver linings in their everyday lives, she added. Writing the song about moving on from a past relationship, Sinha said the single emphasizes the value in using tough conversations as motivation to grow rather than fixating on the negative elements.

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Sinha’s friend Alexandra Ewing said the musician will often share the various iterations of her songs with her before they are released, yet she keeps specificities of the song’s meaning up to interpretation. Since meeting during their first year in Rieber Hall, the third-year environmental science student said she has been inspired by Sinha’s growth as an artist and the ways in which her music has matured to reflect her personal identity.

“A lot of her music has become so authentic to her and so ‘Vedika,’” Ewing said. “You can just feel like it’s her through her music. … I love how it sounds like her, that her music is so connected to who she is.”

Sinha’s musical career originated on social media, where she posted covers on her YouTube channel as a teenager, she said, and she has continued to embrace social media as a digital diary to support her newest release. Sinha said music has always been an integral and constant part of her life after participating in choir while growing up and writing songs as a child. Overcoming the initial hurdle of balancing multiple genres, Sinha said she plans to continue exploring fusion music in future releases, blending South Asian representation into her evolving musical identity.

“My mom would always find me singing around the house,” Sinha said. “I felt like no matter how much I traveled, moving around to different homes, different cities, I always had my voice, and that was a source of comfort for me.”