Authenticity is a core value at the heart of award-winning singer-songwriter Devika’s creative success.
“I pour my heart and soul into my creation. I love to explore, experiment and collaborate,” she says. “I don’t worry about conforming to a formula but follow my feelings in pursuit of deep emotional impact.”
Her new release Wisteria – a collaboration with Grammy-nominated composer and producer Michael Brook – is a new benchmark in Devika’s career and unmistakably authentic. With its rich fusion of languages, styles, and emotions, the song is set to be submitted for Grammy consideration in the World Music category.
Rooted in Punjabi lyrics, the song’s universal themes of unrequited love and restlessness come alive through Devika’s soulful vocals and Michael Brook’s masterful production and composition.
A mother’s influence
Devika’s journey began in the heart of her family home in New Delhi. She was just seven years old when she returned from school one afternoon and announced that she wanted to learn to sing. Her mother didn’t hesitate. “She left no stone unturned to fulfill my passion,” Devika recalls. “After a ton of research, she found the right teacher, enrolled me in lessons, and drove me there several times a week, braving the chaos of Delhi traffic for years.”
Now based in San Francisco, Devika credits those early years, and her mother’s unwavering support, for laying the foundation of a career that has since spanned continents and genres. From patiently listening to her daughter practice, balancing honest critique with encouragement, to opening up the world of Hindustani Classical Music for her, Devika’s mother instilled not just a love for song, but a commitment to excellence.
“She pushed me to do my best and instilled in me a deep pursuit of beautiful music and excellent vocal performance,” Devika says.
A dream collaboration with Michael Brook
Grammy-nominated composer and producer Michael Brook
Fast-forward to today, and Devika’s name is synonymous with ground-breaking global music. Wisteria – a soulful Punjabi ballad that blends the traditional with the contemporary. Teaming up with Grammy-nominated composer and producer Michael Brook, the track represents a career-defining moment.
“I was obsessed with Night Song,” Devika says, referring to the iconic collaboration between Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Brook – an album that revolutionized cross-cultural music by blending Eastern folk traditions with Western electronica. Years later, Devika found herself sitting in Brook’s home studio, beginning a creative partnership. “I always hoped and dreamed that I’d work with him someday,” she says. “We started our collaborative process with me listening to a few short guitar sketches from his library, and there was one riff that inspired me to create a melody and lyric that just emerged from deep within.”
The song writing process became a seamless exchange; Devika recording vocals and lyrics in San Francisco, Brook layering guitar and instrumentation from his studio, each iteration building upon the last. The result is Wisteria, an emotionally charged exploration of love and longing.
The production is lush yet subtle, weaving nylon and 12-string guitars, bass, cello, violin, and other string instruments into a soundscape that elevates her evocative vocals. Devika’s ability to shift between vulnerability and strength in her singing only heightens the song’s emotional depth.
The sound of modern South Asia
Grammy award-winning artist Devika
Devika’s music has always existed at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Her breakout track Kehnde Ne Naina from her first solo album was an instant hit, blending Sufi influences with contemporary sounds. It aired constantly on television and radio in India and was featured on top-selling compilations alongside legends like Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and A.R. Rahman.
“This propelled me forward,” she says. Her second album Saari Raat climbed to the top of the charts in India and stayed there for years. Soon after, Punjabi rapper Bohemia approached her for collaborations, and their hip-hop tracks Ek Tera Pyar and Dil, released by Universal Music, broke records in the Punjabi hip-hop genre.
With more than 100 million streams across YouTube and Spotify, Devika has built a career defined by reinvention. Whether crafting contemporary Sufi ballads or collaborating with hip-hop artists, she remains steadfast in her commitment to authenticity.
A Voice for the Future of Global Music
Today, Devika is seen as a champion for modern South Asian music on the global stage. Her songs resonate with a growing community of listeners who crave authenticity and emotional connection.
As for the advice she’d give her younger self? “Lean into the tools and practices that make you more productive,” she says. “They’ll help you stay ahead of the curve and continually unleash your creativity.”
With Wisteria, Devika proves she’s not only staying ahead, but she’s paving the way for a new era of cross-cultural music.
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