GenZ pop singer-songwriter Ridi Oswal on her journey: ‘Music always helped me express myself in ways that words couldn’t’

Indie pop singer-songwriter Ridi Oswal loves developing music at the “intersection of Indian heritage and Western influences”. The 19-year-old’s pop melodies, such as Merry Go Round, and Happier, have had a dedicated fanbase, amassing over 65,000 monthly listeners on platforms like Spotify.

Her latest single is Guilty Feet, which she describes as a vibrant mix of self-love and an expression of women’s unapologetic desires. “Growing up as someone who was blessed enough to experience so many different beautiful cultures, I saw how some cultures (including the Indian culture) made girls especially feel ashamed of having certain desires and expressions. I believe a woman has a right to want to feel beautiful, strong, and independent, which is the whole crust of Guilty Feet, hence the word guilty, incorporating this Indian touch with tabla and sitar. I was hoping to empower young Indian women, of course, all women, as well. No one should feel ashamed of wanting self-expression and independence,” described Ridi.

Ridi, currently pursuing a degree in chemical engineering in London, feels “fusion music is a reflection of my own life” — a blend of Eastern and Western cultures. “Growing up with a rich Indian heritage while immersed in Western culture allowed me to appreciate and combine different musical styles. This blend feels natural to me; it’s a way to express my dual identity and connect with listeners who, like me, live between worlds. Music always helped me express myself in ways that words couldn’t,” Ridi said.

Beginning her musical journey at around eight, Ridi attended a music academy in New York and was taught Jazz and Opera. “That’s when I knew that I wanted to continue in music. At 9, I attended a boarding school in Switzerland – this was not an easy experience; I couldn’t figure out at first how to balance all my passions, and I couldn’t figure out who I truly was. I was transferring schools a lot and couldn’t find my true voice, but music always felt permanent, and that’s when I found a true friend in songwriting and singing,” said Ridi.

Indie-pop artist Ridi Oswal on her newest single (Source: PR Handout)

By 17, Ridi released her first single, Top Guy. Recalling that she “finally felt that music was the correct path, ” Ridi said, “During the years I spent in Switzerland, I had a newfound appreciation for French music – which is why I deeply relate to fusion music. I’ve been blessed to have been able to live and appreciate so many different cultures,” said Ridi, looking forward to two more fusion singles, Let You Close and Love Till You Lose Me.

Meanwhile, Ridi also started an anti-bullying campaign page with her sister Vasundhara Oswal a few years ago to raise awareness through social media. “It’s about empowering individuals to stand up against bullying and fostering a culture of kindness and respect for all beliefs and values. The page is doing well with more than a dozen trending reels (shows even a concept as cliché as bullying can be turned into a positive force of action) and we hope to turn it into an NGO in the future,” said Ridi.

Addressing how social media is a “double-edged sword”, the GenZ singer mentioned that while such platforms offer a connection with fans, “it can also be overwhelming”.

“I navigate it by staying authentic and using it to engage with my audience genuinely. But I’m an artist, not a content creator; I am against this new era of promoting music, where social media is the go-to tool. As artists, we are not meant to make 15-second reels/TikToks to make our music heard,” said Ridi.

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