DESI TRILL’s Subhi Cites Inspiration Behind ‘BILLO’: ‘Its About A Bold Girl From India…’ – News18

Subhi, the Delhi-born singer-songwriter, emerges as a vibrant force in DESI TRILL’s latest creation, ‘BILLO.’ In this musical offering, Subhi cruises through the streets of Los Angeles in style, effortlessly captivating viewers with her magnetic presence. As she navigates the city’s landscape, her seamless transformation between outfits mirrors her versatile essence, showcasing a blend of confidence and flair that is uniquely her own.

Accompanied by fellow DESI TRILL artist Natania, Subhi’s collaboration in ‘BILLO’ is a celebration of self-expression and empowerment. Their infectious track not only highlights their musical artistry but also invites listeners to join in their journey, resonating with audiences on a profound level that transcends boundaries.

‘BILLO’ marks a significant milestone for Subhi, as she delves into Punjabi music for the first time, drawing from her roots and experiences as a Punjabi girl raised in Delhi. The song encapsulates the story of a bold, independent woman who brings her Indian heritage to life in the rich tapestry of Los Angeles, embodying a fusion of cultures with unwavering authenticity and pride.

Subhi’s personal reflection on ‘BILLO’ emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s identity and culture fearlessly, transcending conventional norms to create a harmonious blend of traditions and modernity. Through her music, Subhi aims to inspire girls worldwide to celebrate their heritage with confidence and vigor, staying true to their roots while navigating the complexities of contemporary life.

Hailing from Delhi, Subhi’s musical journey began at a young age, eventually leading her to Mumbai, New York City, and Los Angeles, where her voice has captivated audiences across the globe. With a diverse range of experiences, including performances alongside Grammy-Award winning artists and collaborations with renowned directors, Subhi’s talent shines brightly within DESI TRILL, where she continues to craft musical magic by blending multiple influences and cultures into her captivating artistry.

Here are the excerpts:

Subhi, your musical journey from Delhi to cities like Mumbai, New York, and Los Angeles is truly inspiring. How have your diverse experiences influenced your music?

I have lived a nomadic life – From Delhi to NY to Chicago to LA. But I am a full on Desi at heart. These places exposed me to different genre of music (Broadway, Jazz, Opera) and I added my own desi touch to them. Living away from India all these years has made me appreciate and cherish the Indian culture a lot more. Hence, I try to stay close to my Indian roots especially while creating and writing music. I feel living in so many different cities and traveling extensively in these past 10 years have shaped my writing as well. I tend to gravitate towards metaphors and visual imaginary while writing lyrics.

Can you share a bit about your early musical training and what initially drew you to pursue a career in music?

When I was 8 years old, encouraged by my grandmother, I started learning Indian Classical music. On the other hand, every evening, my grandfather would recite some of his favourite poems and explain their meaning. My childhood instilled a love for poetry and music in me. I started writing my own songs as a teenage and that process continued for years. I was doing it as a hobby as I never thought it could be a viable career option. It wasn’t until I interned for Mira Nair in New York, during the making of Monsoon Wedding the Broadway show, that I realized music is it for me. When I worked on that project, it gave me immense happiness and that’s when I decided to pursue music professionally.

Congratulations on the release of ‘BILLO’! What was the inspiration behind this track, and what does it mean to you personally?

The inspiration behind this song is my life. It’s a song about a bold and individualistic girl from India who has moved to the bustling streets of LA. Despite being in the city of glamour and galore she stays true to her roots. Living in LA, I am still unapologetically Indian and proudly write and sing in my native languages Hindi & Punjabi.

‘BILLO’ is your first song in Punjabi. What was the experience like creating music in your native language for the first time?

This song is special for multiple reasons. It’s my first single with Desi Trill and it’s also my first song in my native language, Punjabi. Creating and releasing a song in Punjabi feels like I’ve come a full circle. I’ve come home. It’s my way of paying homage to my towns Amritsar and Delhi. My mother is from Amritsar and Dad from Delhi.

How did the collaboration with DESI TRILL and Natania come about, and what was it like working together on this project?

For the past couple of months, I was working on multiple projects with Desi Trill artists as a songwriter. While writing for briefs and artists, I was also writing songs for my own artist project. When Shabz & TyTy heard Billo they loved the song and I am grateful that the song released through the label Desi Trill. Natania and I have been frequent collaborators on many projects. When we were working on Billo, it was a no brainer that I’d want Natania to feature on it. It is always a pleasure working with her.

Can you take us through your creative process when writing and composing ‘BILLO’?

Aman Moroney and I started jamming at his studio one day and that’s how the initial skeleton of the song was created. We came up with a

bunch of melody ideas and I started thinking of the concept of the song. It became clear to me that I wanted to write about a girl who’s all about bringing her Delhi Swag to LA. She’s going with the current times but also being true to her Indian roots. We had started the song and then felt that this would be the perfect track to collaborate with the Indian Connect on.

(Indian connect consists of Natania Lalwani, Subhi Khanna, Zaiyd Patni and Aman Moroney). We did a session with Natania and Zaiyd, where we brainstormed a bunch of melodic and lyrical ideas and eventually landed to what you hear today. The end chop section was something I really wanted to add to this track. That was the most tricky part to figure out. I am so proud of everything this track is.

What are some of the musical elements and cultural influences that you incorporated into ‘BILLO’? How do you balance staying true to your cultural roots while also embracing the influences of the places you’ve lived and performed in?

My vocals have a raw and earthy tone to them. When they are combined with lyrics in Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi, the vibe of the track becomes very authentic. I try to bring my roots through my writing and vocals. But I also want to be contemporary and move with the current times. Being conscious of these choices, the music for this and my upcoming tracks are all very contemporary and modern. I feel this combination is where the balance is for me as an artist.

The visuals for ‘BILLO’ are captivating and showcase your vibrant presence. How involved were you in the conceptualization and execution of the music video?

I was very much involved in every aspect of creating the music video for Billo. We were a very small team of about 8 people who put this music video together. We did not have a production house on board so whether it be my looks, outfit changes, location scouting, video concept – every part was very hands on and I participated in all of it. The seamless outfit changes and scenes in Los Angeles add a dynamic touch to the video.

What message were you aiming to convey through these visuals?

The outfits are all very western yet my look had hints of India in them. Natania was a big contributor towards my styling and we picked every outfit with a lot of precision. From wearing a shimmery jumpsuit to a tennis dress to cargo pants, every look was well thought of. We wanted toshowcase the vibrant colors that represent India through all the different outfit changes. Although the outfits were very contemporary and fashionable, my hair was styled in a traditional braid representing the image of a Punjabi girl from India; ‘Billo’. We wanted to give traditional Indian accessories a modern spin and added tons of Gota, Kinari, Parandi

to my hair and accessories included Indian earrings and colorful Indian Chudiya.

DESI TRILL aims to create a unique blend of Hip Hop, R&B, and South Asian music. How do you see this fusion evolving, and what role do you hope to play in it?

Music has started and enabled cultural revolutions for many generations. The fusion of Hip Hop, R&B, and South Asian music is already happening. Projects like Mumbai Magic and Billo can open up a whole new genre of music at the global stage. “Brown is everywhere” was the perfect project to launch Billo. Desi Trill highlights the rising power of brown artists. Billo fits well into this narrative. I want the next generation of girls, and especially artists, to be bold and yet authentic. I hope this song and my upcoming music inspires young girls to be themselves, carry their culture proudly and weave it into their art. The time is ours now.

Who are some of your musical inspirations, and how have they influenced your sound and style?

The list for musical influences is long but here are a few names: Gulzar, R.D.Burman, Carpenters, ABBA, A.R.Rahman, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Amit Trivedi, Shankar Mahadevan, Amrita Pritam. When I started reading poetry by Gulzar, I was amazed by how he would personify things around him so beautifully. I feel his style has really

influenced the way I write. I tend to use a lot of imagery and metaphors in my writing thanks to Gulzar Sahib. I was part of A.R.Rahman’s Nexa Music mentorship program and one thing he mentioned was that – you could stay anywhere in the world but always bring your roots into all that you do. I feel that has had a big

impact on me and I try to stand by those words while creating music.R.D. Burman’s melodies are infectious. Melody is king and that’s something I always keep in mind while writing songs.

What upcoming projects or collaborations can we look forward to from you?

I am working on a ton of new music for my own artist project. I am eagerly looking forward to my next release where I am a featured artist on a track by Natania coming out this month.

What are some of your personal and career goals for the next few years?

My goal for these coming years is to do exceptional work – to experiment and push boundaries while creating music that is fresh, new and powerful. I am focusing on honing my skills as a singer, songwriter and poet.

What has been the most challenging part of your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?

The most challenging part is to stay inspired and find new ways to say things irrespective of what’s happening around you. I feel travel, reading books and collaborating are great ways to stay fresh and on top of things.