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.
Swiss artist Fanny Alexandra returns with “Black Pearl Summer”, a new single that finds her exploring a more open side of her alternative sound. Released via Now Listen, the track combines coastal imagery with a story about growing through grief, pressure and the experiences that can shape a person over time.
Alexandra notes that the song is relatively summery by her own standards. She has said that her music is usually darker and that she has never been particularly drawn to the typical idea of summer, preferring cold air, jackets and rugged coastlines. That gives the release a clear sense of personality from the outset.
The song centres on Alexandra’s reflections on being 19 and spending years focused on survival rather than fully living. Those experiences are presented through the image of a black pearl, which becomes a way of considering how something worthwhile can emerge from a challenging period.
What makes the track particularly effective is the balance between its subject matter and its musical approach. The production gives the song room to breathe, while Alexandra keeps the focus firmly on the story she is telling. It means the track can be enjoyed as a seasonal release while still offering more to discover in the lyrics.
There is also a clear sense of change in the way Alexandra approaches her younger self. The song is not about returning to that period or trying to erase it. Instead, it considers what can be learned from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
“Black Pearl Summer” therefore offers newcomers a useful introduction to Alexandra’s work. It shows an artist comfortable writing about serious subjects, while also demonstrating a lighter musical side that may not be as familiar to listeners who know her darker material.
It is an interesting glimpse of what Alexandra can do when she lets a little more light into the picture.
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