Artist SpotLIGHT: RAJA KUMARI

BY: Sera Pisani

With the country still bubbling beneath political upheaval, it can be hard to find ways to detach and unplug. However, in these divided times, we still have music to sedate, revitalize, and soothe our aching heads after long days of family disputes and Facebook fights.

Regardless of age, gender, or political party, we still have music to bring us together. But what happens when music and politics begin to merge? Maybe it’s not so much about unplugging, but rather finding constructive ways to channel our concerns and even outrage. Conveniently and historically, art has always acted as a canvas for artists to express their personal and political discontent. With the growing diversity in musical agency (as in the diversity of autonomous artist voices), we are lucky enough to have access to countless perspectives from artists on a more worldwide scale than ever before. 

One particular songwriter and rapper who has found a political and cultural voice in her own music is 31-year-old Indian-American rapper, Raja Kumari. Kumari released her debut EP, The Come Up, in November 2016 and has gained deserved attention since. Her fresh voice and badass lyrics create a multicultural sound evocative of M.I.A.’s most recent album, AIM. Born in California as a first generation American, Kumari was given the challenge of growing up between worlds and cultures. In an interview with Grazia India, she states, “As a first-generation American, I have always been conscious of the fact that I am the American dream. But if I didn’t put out music that paid homage to where I came from, it wouldn’t be authentic. I wanted to make sure India knew it was important to me, and I am not out there culturally appropriating it or using it as a gimmick.” She also elaborates on the evolution of her music and how the integration of Indian influence has helped her to find her own voice and sound. Her hit song on the EP, “Mute” is allusive to her own journey in the states and self explanatory to her own defense mechanism for drowning out ignorance and intolerance.  

Already known for her Grammy nomination in 2015, her BMI Pop Award for Songwriting in 2016, and her collaborations with artists such as Iggy Azalea, Fifth Harmony, Fall Out Boy, and Gwen Stefani, we are very excited to see where Kumari’s own music takes her. Regardless of how one feels about walls, it is safe to say that cultural integration has been both important and revitalizing to the American music industry. So if you are feeling stressed: lay back and let Kumari remind you that all you have to do it put them on Mute. 

Editor's Note- This is what Raja, herself, had to say about this article: