By Ranya Iyer, Jocelle Koh
Whether she’s snowboarding in a Lehenga, or paving the way for South Asian female artists, Indian-Swiss artist BombayMami is a queen of balancing acts. Be it through her lush, seamless fusions of classical Indian music and her R&B/Soul roots, or her striking, colourful ensembles that speak to her dual heritage, this artist is certainly one to watch for the softness and strength with which she champions her heritage and culture.
By no means a newcomer to the scene, BombayMami has in fact been releasing music since 2014, originally under the moniker ‘TASHAN’. In essence, ‘BomabyMami’ is a renewed sense of intention towards everything this force of a singer believes in.
Two singles into unveiling her ‘BombayMami’ project, the 33 year-old artist went viral with over 5 million views on reels over a visualiser for her new single ‘Fire in Delhi’. A 30 second reel showing her snowboarding effortlessly down the Swiss Alps in a dazzling red and gold lehenga, it’s no surprise why her music has started to gain traction. And the reason behind her bold choice? Intuition.
“Honestly, it was a fusion that came naturally — I grew up snowboarding in the Alps and wearing Lehenga at family functions. The contrast felt true to me. I didn’t do it to go viral — I did it because it looked and felt fire! The response has been wild though — it’s beautiful to see so many people connecting to the image.””
The viral moment garnered responses from new adoring fans, including entertainment heavyweight/ South Asian female leader and comedian Lilly Singh. Despite the shortness of the clip, it told us everything we needed to know in a captivating, regal image paying homage to the duality of BombayMami’s background.
Raised by an Indian father and Swiss mother, Mami expanded further on the importance of this momentous rebrand to her, as she reclaimed a renewed version of her full self. “The Swiss, the Indian, the girlie who trained in Indian classical music, and the woman now building her own world. It felt like time to step into a name that embodied all of that — soft power, drama, elegance, and chaos too.”
While evolution is the current that envelopes BombayMami’s artistry, the one thing that has remained the same is her ability to return to her roots and express them in unexpected, striking ways.
“The music, the food, the community — even the tension of being the “only one” in so many Swiss spaces(shaped me). I used to hide parts of that heritage to fit in, but now I realise it’s my superpower. My Indian roots give me rhythm, depth, language, and a different lens on everything I do.”
In a world where contradictions and conflict have become the norm, Mami redefines dichotomies in the world she has built as ‘BombayMami’. Here, contradiction is more than welcome as she experiments voraciously and fluidly in her new sound. She shares how her sound has expanded over time.
“I’ve gone way deeper into my Indian classical training — especially rhythm and melody. But I’ve also allowed myself to play more — with pop, R&B, even reggaeton or afrobeats. I want my music to reflect the contradictions I live. The older I get, the less I want to fit into one genre. I want to build my own.”
And even of the unique fashion aesthetic which has contributed another level to her identity, Mami shares how it is merely a peaceful fusion of everything she stands for as a person.
“I don’t see it as a balancing act, I see it as a blend. I love wearing a sari with sneakers. A bindi with a leather jacket. That’s how I live — mixing Swiss minimalism with Indian drama. I think of my aesthetic as a dinner party where all my cultures sit at the same table and nobody has to translate.”
When asked to describe herself in three words, the artist chose “bold, rooted and experimental”. While her roots ground her, tapping into them gives her the power to be bold and experimental. The topic of ‘roots’ indeed came up multiple times in our discussion, as the creative referred to it not just in the sense of cultural roots, but also in relation to sustainability.
“As creatives, we have a responsibility to reflect the times we’re living in and right now, the climate crisis is one of the biggest realities shaping our world. Sustainability isn’t just about switching to eco-friendly materials; it’s about rethinking our relationship with the earth, with each other, and with the systems we participate in. As someone who’s vocal about embracing my culture, I often think about how many sustainable practices are already deeply rooted in our traditions. Things like reusing fabric, cooking seasonally, or even just the respect older generations had for nature and resources. In that sense, sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a return to our roots. It’s a way of honoring where we come from while building something more conscious for the future. ”
As Earth Day fast approaches, we are in awe of the intersectional care with which BombayMami approaches her art, and acknowledges that it does not exist independent from the world around her. On ‘Fire In Delhi’, the singer-songwriter explains the empowering message that simmers behind the track:
“To me, “Fire in Delhi” is about claiming your space — even when it burns. It’s about desire, heat, chaos, and power. In the video, I wanted to show that no matter how cold or icy the surroundings, there’s fire inside. I hope fans feel like they’re allowed to be all of themselves — complex, unapologetic, emotional, powerful.”
BombayMami’s music often speaks to the higher selves that she believes everyone including herself can attain. In 2024 earworm afrobeats-inspired track “DhinDhinDha”, Mami also talks about making her mother and father proud, and always moving towards more positive versions of ourselves.
“You just want to make your mama proud proud/ See her light up when you wear that crown crown”
A proud feminist, while her music does not overtly speak to these themes, her authentic and edgy presence says it all. We asked BombayMami who inspires her the most, and she drew on her community of women who not only hold power in overt ways, but quiet ones too.
“My Mama, first of all — the OG Mami! She’s grace and strength in one body. Also the women in my friend circle — artists, mothers, rebels, caretakers — they hold so much power, often in quiet ways. Seeing them push through life with softness and fire reminds me that my voice matters too.”
This sense of stewardship; heritage, and community has shaped Mami’s music profoundly, and she is certainly the kind of intersectional baddie we need to hear more from in today’s fractured world. Mami speaks about the importance of a ‘care culture’ in her music.
“For me, embracing my cultural identity means not just wearing my heritage proudly, but also protecting the planet that shaped it. As creatives, we have the power to make these ideas feel personal, visual, and emotional, to turn care into culture”
The return to authenticity as artists has been a focus of the pop landscape in recent years, especially in the context of Asian acts and their cultural impact in the West. South Korea’s BLACKPINK rewrote history with their appearance at Coachella 2023, the first time a Korean girl group has headlined an American music festival, while Chinese-Jamaican-British artist Griff and Filipina-British Beebadobee opened for Taylor Swift Era’s Tour in 2024. These trends bode positively for how long-awaited doors are opening for Asian artists and artists of minority groups to take the main stage.
“There’s more visibility now — and that matters. We’re starting to see South Asian artists who aren’t being boxed into stereotypes or token roles. Also, fans are becoming more global — they care about good music and strong visuals, not just categories. There’s still a long way to go, but I feel the door’s cracked open, and we’re kicking it wider every day.”
And what is so special about BombayMami’s presence is not only how this generous artist brings such an effortlessly authentic approach to her sound and visuals, but also the all-encompassing kindness and care that comes with her message. Through her striking visuals and sound, Mami reminds us constantly and patiently that our uniqueness and ability to be kind are not at odds with each other; and instead enhance our artistry and community in leaps and bounds. We continue to look forward fervently to BombayMami’s next move, which we are sure is primed to set the world ablaze in the best way possible!
Follow BombayMami on Instagram and TikTok, and stream “Fire In Delhi” and “DhinDhinDha” on Spotify. Apple Music or your streaming services!
This article is part of Asian Pop Weekly’s 2025 resurgence of our ‘Earth Emergency’ article series (originally launched in 2021) raising awareness for the importance of sustainability efforts given the irreversible effects of climate change that are already impacting our livelihoods through the lens of musical friends who inspire change in their own unique ways. Check out the rest of the articles in the series here.
