YOUR FAVOURITE MTV SHOWS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON PARAMOUNT+

Get To Know: Priya Ragu

This week we introduce you to the "Ragu-wavy" sounds of Priya Ragu!

Carving her own independent sound that knows no boundaries, Tamil-Swiss singer Priya Ragu is making music that is “worldly, special and tasty.” Signing a record-deal back in 2020, Priya released her debut single ‘Good Love 2.0’ which combines a funk groove, with R&B melodies and elements of her Tamil musical influences. Her latest release, ‘Chicken Lemon Rice’, is another upbeat track which she says is all about embracing diversity and different cultures.

She says it was her father’s Tamil band in Switzerland who inspired her music career, with her brother, Japhna, playing the keys and Priya providing the vocals when she was nineyears old. Priya also continues to work with her brother on her music to this day! She says he writes and produces all of her music with her, calling their music ‘Ragu-Wavy’!

Priya says 2021 is “all about making dope music” and if these first two tracks are anything to go by, we just know that’s what she’s going to do!

Get To Know - Priya Ragu
Get To Know - Priya Ragu

1) For those who don’t know about you and your music, tell us a little bit about who you are and where you’re from…

I am the lucky bird who signed a record deal in the middle of the crazy year that was 2020. I was born and raised in Switzerland - I make music with my brother Japhna Gold and we call our music - Ragu Wavy. You’ll understand when you listen to it!

2) Describe your sound in three words…

Worldly, special and tasty.

3) Who inspired you to start a career in music?

Well my father had a Tamil band when I was around nineyears old or even younger. He made me sing songs in Tamil at Tamil events. Japhna, my brother played the keys, my dad played the tabla and I was on the mic singing duets with Tamil Uncles from my hometown St. Gallen (Switzerland).

4) Who are your biggest musical influences?

Music composers from Tamil Nadu, India such as Deva, Ilayaraja and A.R. Rahman. My parents used to play a lot of Tamil songs at home with some Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley in between. Brandy, Lauryn Hill, Stevie, Donny, Marvin, Musiq, and the list goes on.

5) Tell us about the writing and recording process for your new single/album…

I write all of my songs together with my brother Japhna. He usually sends me a beat draft, I come up with a melody and we take it from there. There is not one way of writing songs tbh. It really depends on where we are, with who we are in the studio etc.

6) What can we expect from your live shows?

MAGIC! I defintely want to take y'all on a beautiful journey that you will never forget! I want to make it memorable as possible.

7) What has been your biggest career highlight so far?

To see the glow in my parents' eyes when friends and relatives called up to say that they have seen mein the newspaper or when they heard me on the radio. For the longest time they thought that a music career in Switzerland is just impossible, so for them to see how destiny took it's course like this, is just incredible.

8) Have you met anyone and been totally starstruck?

I was at a book launch from Sadhguru in Berlin back in 2016. Iused to watch a lot of YouTube videos of his, but when he suddenly stood infront of me I couldn’t speak a word. I just didn’t know what what to say or ask.

9) What’s on your playlists that people wouldn’t expect?

Hall & Oates, Bee Gees, Phoenix and Jorge Ben Jor.

10) When can we see you live?

Right now it's really all about making dope music. I believe this year we’ll have live music again. Time will tell!

Latest News