What are the subjects that the songs will touch upon?
PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder], self-discovery, immigration [issues], toxic love and relationships, equality, and racial discrimination. These are drawn from my own experiences.

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Your journey is quite distinct from other indie artistes. What are the challenges you face in establishing yourself in this industry?
For a long time, people didn’t appreciate my talent. I had to get through [that phase]. The first person who said I had a nice voice was AR sir [Rahman]. Only now do I feel appreciated for my art and voice. 

Do you believe you found yourself adjusting to popular choices, or did you try and carve a niche for yourself?
It was a mix of both. I haven’t shied away from who I am, so I built my audience around those who understood that. Many songs of mine fit into what others are accustomed to hearing. I never [aspired] to [appease] everyone. For instance, even if I sing a Hindi-English song, it will be in a non-conventional way. Ever since I started my career, my vision has been to bring misfits together. I always feel like I don’t fit in society. I have seen how strongly music can impact people. It makes me want to keep making good music. 

Is there a song from this lot that is most representative of your style?
I directed When I’m alone, and wrote its screenplay. If you ask anyone close to me, they will say that this song has Ananya written all over it. There is a dark, deprecating humour which is reminiscent of [my style]. There’s another one too that I shot for in Koliwada only days ago. I’m excited for that as well. A third number has the sound of defiance. I like that too.

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