GETTING TO KNOW PRIYA RAGU: THE JOY AND SOUND OF ‘MADRAS’
The Tamil-Swiss artist is bringing the South Asian-inspired grooves and a whole lot of feel-good energy with her new single ‘Madras’ - and trust us, you’ll want this one on repeat.
You know that feeling when you’re in the back of a taxi with your best mates, heading out for the night or exploring somewhere completely new? The music’s on, the windows are down, someone’s singing at full pelt and the questionable bum-shuffling has officially begun. Suddenly, the whole vibe of the night is set. That’s exactly the energy Priya Ragu is serving with her new single, ‘Madras’, out today.
High-energy from the very first note, the title track from Priya’s forthcoming album is a vibrant, joy-filled introduction to her next chapter. Blending South Asian influences with contemporary sounds and infectious grooves, it’s the kind of track that makes sitting still feel like a personal challenge. And with party season fast approaching, consider this your sign to add it to the playlist immediately.
But while ‘Madras’ is undeniably built for those joy-filled moments, there’s a deeper story behind its infectious energy. For Priya, the track is closely connected to the place that inspired it: Chennai, the South Indian city formerly known as Madras, which has played a meaningful role in her life since childhood.
As a Tamil-Swiss artist, Priya has long explored the meeting point between her cultural heritage and the sounds shaping her contemporary musical world. Having spent extended periods visiting India growing up, Chennai holds a particular sense of familiarity, nostalgia and return. With ‘Madras’, that connection feels less like looking backwards and more like embracing everything that has made her the artist she is today.
The forthcoming album was written across Zurich, Goa, Mumbai, Chennai and Kerala before being recorded in Chennai itself. Working alongside her brother and longtime creative collaborator, Japhna Gold, Priya stepped away from the usual structures of everyday life to let the music unfold at its own pace. No stopwatch, no unnecessary pressure... just the freedom to explore, experiment and see where the creative process takes them.
That freedom is woven throughout Priya’s sound. Tamil melodies and South Asian rhythms sit alongside left-field R&B, hip hop and disco-leaning grooves, creating something that refuses to be boxed into one genre or expectation. On Madras, live instrumentation, orchestral strings by veteran players and the warmth of a children’s choir add further depth to the record, bringing a human quality to its musical landscape.
It’s this ability to bring seemingly different worlds together without losing their individuality that makes Priya such an exciting artist to follow. Her music doesn’t ask her to choose between the traditional and the contemporary, or between the different parts of her identity. Instead, she allows them to exist together, creating a sound that feels entirely her own.
‘Madras’ follows ‘Finally’, released in September as the first taste of the forthcoming album, due November 26. While the earlier single introduced this new era, the title track brings a buoyant, playful energy to the forefront, offering another glimpse into an artist continuing to push her creative boundaries.
With the new album on the horizon and her first live dates of this era taking her to Australia in November, Priya Ragu is stepping into a chapter that feels creatively expansive, culturally connected and unapologetically joyful.
So, whether you’re getting ready for a big night out, or simply want to inject some sunshine into your day, let ‘Madras’ do its thing. Windows down, volume up. You know the drill.
