Sid Sriram on reshaping Indian playback music for a new generation

Sid Sriram isn’t just a playback singer—he’s a phenomenon. Born in Chennai, raised in California, and trained in Carnatic music since the age of three (his mother was his first teacher), Sriram embodies what it means to live between worlds. He’s been called the “Arijit Singh of the South,” a tag he doesn’t dismiss but prefers to expand beyond. His journey, as he puts it, has been “kaleidoscopic”—a constant exploration of sound, culture, and emotion. In a conversation with Cosmopolitan India, Sriram opens up about reviving classical traditions, working with A R Rahman, bringing Indian music to global stages, and why performing always feels like coming home.

Sriram’s career took off in 2016 when he spent six months in Chennai, forging a deep bond with the city and its people. Since then, he’s lent his voice to Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam hits—including the regional versions of 'Kesariya'—and built a reputation as one of the most soul-stirring voices of his generation. “Playback singing happened right after Berklee,” he shares, reflecting on his leap from classical training to cinema.

Yet for Sriram, labels and comparisons are only part of the story. “One part of my pursuit growing up was spiritual—the other was chasing stardom,” he admits. “At some point, you lose ownership of your music, but that’s also when you learn who you are as an artist.” He credits Carnatic music as his foundation and his mother as his guru, saying it’s his responsibility to carry the form forward with integrity. “If we take classical music into new contexts, we must do it intentionally—not as a marketing gimmick.”

Influenced by Black gospel and jazz—which he calls “aesthetic cousins of Carnatic music”—Sriram has shaped his sound into something entirely his own. He describes performing as entering a meditative state: “I close my eyes on stage to tune inwards, to centre myself. My music demands hyperpresence.” And when the stage lights go off? He’s a cookie guy. “My go-to late-night studio snack is chocolate chip cookies,” he laughs. If his voice were an ice cream flavour? “Rocky Road—smooth, a little nutty, but with a surprise crunch.”

Today, Sid Sriram is more than just a singer; he’s a bridge between cultures, languages, and generations. Whether he’s performing in Hyderabad, preparing for a yet-to-be-revealed Bombay show, or dreaming of jazz concerts in Switzerland, Sriram remains committed to being a student of music—always learning, always evolving. “I feel like a vessel,” he says. “Every day, I wake up knowing I’ve just scratched the surface.”

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