We Speak Music
Aashika Reddy’s LOOK AT ME: A Teenage R&B Diary with a South Asian Twist
At 17, Toronto’s Aashika Reddy is balancing high school life with a fast-rising music career – and her new EP LOOK AT ME proves she’s not just another teen with a dream, but an artist with a vision.
The six-track project marks her first EP, following a string of singles that have already introduced her as one of the most exciting young voices in Canadian R&B/Pop. But LOOK AT ME feels different: it’s not just a playlist of songs, it’s a teenage diary cracked open and set to music.
Teenage Chaos, Captured in Sound
If growing up feels like an emotional rollercoaster, LOOK AT ME is the soundtrack for the ride. The title track, with its biting hook “look at me like you look at her”, sets the tone for a project full of heartbreak, infatuation, and self-discovery. Aashika swings between playful delusion and raw vulnerability – singing about falling too hard, ignoring red flags, and rediscovering joy in new crushes and friendships. It’s messy, emotional, and honest – just like being 17.
South Asian Representation in Real Time
What really makes Aashika stand out is how naturally she brings her South Asian heritage into R&B and pop. On tracks like Time Machine and 3 Steps, traditional tabla percussion sits next to trap beats, while her toplines borrow from the Carnatic vocal runs she grew up practicing.
“My priority is amplifying South Asian creatives and carving out a space where our voices, stories, and artistry are celebrated on a global stage,” she explains. “The EP features Carnatic-inspired vocal runs, thabla percussion woven through most tracks, and melodies rooted in my cultural heritage.” The result is music that doesn’t feel forced or tokenized – it’s personal, experimental, and global all at once.
Bigger Than Just an EP
Aashika Reddy’s goal is clear: she wants to be the kind of artist she didn’t see growing up. “This project is bigger than music – it’s a cultural statement,” she says. “These songs are for brown girls who’ve never seen themselves in this space, for chaotic romantics who vent in their notes app, and for anyone who’s ever felt ‘too much.’”
Her independence adds to the statement. Not only does she sing and write her music, but she also directs and edits her own visuals – taking creative control into her own hands while collaborating with Grammy-winning producer Yonatan Watts (Ariana Grande, Muni Long).
Why LOOK AT ME Matters
With performances already under her belt at venues like TD Music Hall and Nathan Phillips Square, Aashika Reddy is no longer just “one to watch” – she’s already proving herself. LOOK AT ME is both a milestone and a mission: a call for more representation in pop culture, and a reminder that teenage chaos can make for timeless art.
LOOK AT ME is available now on all streaming platforms.
Stay updated with Aashika Reddy by following her on Instagram @_aashikareddy or visiting her Linktree.
Reece Rosé is not trying to reinvent the wheel. He is here to remind you why it worked in the first place. With “Misbehaving”, the rising electronic artist taps into something instantly familiar, then flips it into a feel-good house cut that lands right where nostalgia meets the dancefloor.
Teaming up with Capri Everitt, Reece Rosé leans into warm textures and groove-driven production that echo the roots of early ’90s house and UK garage. The result is effortless but intentional. Smooth chords, playful rhythms, and just enough bounce to keep things moving without overcomplicating the mood.
“Misbehaving” plays like a memory you did not realize you still had. Late nights, no responsibilities, music loud enough to blur everything else. It pulls from that space where time felt slower but nights somehow lasted longer. “It’s a reminder of those carefree high school days, when life felt simple, the nights felt endless, and the only thing that mattered was the music and the memories we were making,” Rosé explains. And that feeling runs through every second of the track.
What makes it click is that it never gets stuck in the past. The influences are clear, but the execution stays sharp and current. This is not revival for the sake of it. It is a continuation. Rosé understands the DNA of dance music and builds on it, keeping the energy light, summery, and forward-facing.
That balance is quickly becoming his signature. With international airplay on Kiss FM UK and Insomniac Radio, plus support from names like AC Slater, Zeds Dead, Boombox Cartel, DJ Q, REH4B, and DJ Craze, his momentum is building in all the right places. On Beatport, his releases are already making noise, proving that his sound connects both in clubs and beyond.
“Misbehaving” does not try too hard. It does not need to. It is light, nostalgic, and built to move. The kind of track that makes you look back for a second, then pulls you straight into the moment.
-
We Speak Music1 week ago‘Miscommunication (Lost In Transmission)’ by Irem Bekter Is Where Language Fails, But Music Speaks
-
We Speak Music7 days agoRasta Man Jay Builds Momentum with Destined For Greatness 2 and a Growing Independent Empire
-
We Speak Music5 days agoVinyl Floor’s Balancing Act Proves That Honest Rock Still Matters
-
We Speak Authors1 week agoNicole de Moulpied Releases “Still a Snack” — A Bold Midlife Glow-Up Guide That Refuses to Play by the Rules