The search for happiness generally is a lifelong and infrequently elusive journey, one thing Priya Ragu is aware of intimately. Because the daughter of Sri Lankan refugees who fled from the nation’s civil battle, her childhood within the Swiss metropolis of St Gallen was at Westernised odds along with her Eastenised, Tamil heritage. How does one separate the expectations of their elders from their very own goals? And as somebody navigating a cultural in-between house, is it ever attainable to consolidate the 2?
These are questions Ragu seeks to reply on her danceable but considerate debut album ‘Santhosam’, which is known as after the Tamil phrase for happiness. Dreaming large shouldn’t be one thing that has ever phased Ragu; her debut mixtape, 2021’s ‘damnshetamil’, happened after she stop her job working for a Swiss airline and relocated to New York. It marked the beginning of her working relationship along with her producer brother, Japhna Gold, that developed right into a sonic model the duo coined ‘Raguwavy’. This floor-filling, South Asian-infused sound has grown ever extra formidable and experimental on ‘Santhosam’, with standouts ‘Uyiree’ and ‘Energy’ delving into Sade-esque smoothness and cinematic jazz orchestrations respectively.
The album begins with an announcement of intent on its forceful opening observe. “I’ve obtained a lot life in me that I ought to be dwelling,” Ragu states on highly effective opener ‘College Me Like That’ – a response to her grandmother asking why she nonetheless isn’t married. Underpinned by infectious tabla rhythms, the observe explores the strain on South Asian girls to cool down, but additionally celebrates the enjoyment Ragu has present in her personal, extra leftfield path. Ragu sings about her ambition and resilience on the grimey ‘Adalam Va’, whereas current single ‘Trip’ reminds fellow grafters that their output will solely be nearly as good because the care they provide themselves.
The theme of discovering glee via life’s turbulence permeates the album. ‘One Approach Ticket’ celebrates togetherness with gang-like vocals and bouncy rhythms that seize the playfulness of the dancefloor. Household and group is rarely removed from Ragu’s ideas, both. ‘Hit The Bucket’ is a bass-laden ode to household jam classes, whereas the mild Tamil-language nearer ‘Mani Osai’ is a collaboration uniting Ragu, her brother and their father. In the meantime, Ragu seems to be outwards on ‘Black Goose’/’Let Me Breathe’, written within the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. This observe is a rallying cry of anger and solidarity that abates right into a heart-tugging plea for humanity to be higher and select love. Finally, with ‘Santhosam’, Ragu invitations the world to hitch her on a religious quest to be free.
Particulars
- Launch date: October 20, 2023
- Report label: Warner
