Meet SUVI: Singer and Songwriter From Southern India Who Expresses Her Authentic Self Through Her Music
SUVI is an authentic and creative artist, who is also a DJ, poet and, a mother.
Her birth name is Swetha Makalikal Suresh and her birthplace is this beautiful town in Kerala, from the southern part of India called Thrissur. Her world resonates between the artistic expressions of a very creative mind and the current affairs of the real world, often existing in harmony. Growing up in Tamil Nadu, the neighboring state to Kerala, she became an amalgamation of most of the Dravidian Culture, like many others from the same regions. The language of Tamizh and Malayalam became her conduits of transmission for her thoughts and English became her spoken form of communication.
What started as poetry when she was a kid blossomed into words depicting her feelings and emotions melodiously. In 2012, after years of working as a professional playback singer (singers who lend their voices to actors on the big screen), she moved to Los Angeles, California upon winning a full-ride scholarship from Hollywood’s Musicians Institute. She says that even though she fell in love with the music and the hustle culture of LA, it took her a while to penetrate into this world because she knew no one and had to build herself from the ground up in a brand new world.
“There were so many cold, lonely nights I spent in the city of Angels trying to figure out if I should continue my journey or pack up my bags and go back home to India but something in me never allowed me to give up”.
Nevertheless, despite all challenges, she was still able to break through. Her single Wonder Woman in 2018 was featured in MTV’s reality show, The Challenge and this opened up her world as an artist and songwriter in America. She started writing and recording vocals for other artists and one relationship at a time, she worked into making her voice and vision heard.
We had the opportunity to interview Suvi and learn about her musical expression, inspirations, and motivations.
Where is home?
Chennai, TamilNadu, India
Where is your artistic home? What city, neighborhood or country helped inspire and inform your art?
Los Angeles and Chennai
What was the defining moment you realized you wanted to do music?
I did not have one of these. My circumstances kind of pulled me into music and I never looked back from it.
Music is all about expression, what do you like expressing in your work?
Core Emotions and feelings.
How much has your style changed since you started doing music?
I have grown into becoming the best version of myself at this moment.
Name a few artists would you love to do a song with and why.
I would love to work with iniko, Earthgang, Hanumankind, and Group Therapy. I love seeing myself work with artists who are self-aware in their creation and are unapologetically themselves.
What sets you apart from other artists?
Aren’t every artist already pretty unique in their own way? That being said, I think my nonchalant nature throws everyone off. I just do me, whatever it may be, I don’t follow trends, I don’t care what opinions float around that are negative and I do all this only because I love me and my life and I wouldn’t change anything from the way it is.
As an emerging artist today, what are some of the challenges you face?
I honestly don’t see any challenges. I believe that everyone is exactly where they are supposed to be in their journey. If anything, these days, it is very very possible for someone to become a successful artist, depending on what success looks like to you.
What’s your best advice for aspiring musicians?
Stay true to your art. Don’t copy someone else because they are successful. Do what resonates with you.
The Fox Magazine is all about inspiration, what/who inspires you the most?
I am inspired by those who look at life with optimism. Rihanna is hands down one of my faves because of the commitment that she shows in everything that she does.
What motto, quote, or words to live by do you use to stay motivated when you aren’t feeling inspired?
Oh, this is my fave that my partner and I came up with- “Never be anything less than everything that you are”. We have this written down on our mirror.
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