Pragya Pallavi, First Openly LGBTQIA+ Artist from India to Release New Single

LGBTQIA+ singer songwriter and musical artist Pragya Pallavi is breaking down barriers in her homeland of India and is now targeting the rest of the world. The latest offering from her forthcoming eclectic and multi-genre debut album, Queerism, is Girls You Rule, an acoustic sing-along track which combines her powerful message of championing inner strength with an easy listening, funky vibe. Queerism is the first LGBTQIA+ themed album to be released from India by an Indian queer artist since the legalisation of homosexuality in the country in September 2018, presenting an original new talent to the global stage.  

Listen to Girls You Rule here:

Mumbai-based Pragya is a singer/songwriter, musician, percussionist and performer who is classically trained as a Hindustani vocalist. Her compositions combine diverse influences such as EDM, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, alternative rock, and fusion, as well as classical Indian music, Sufi and folk music. She describes herself as a gender-fluid lesbian.

Pragya says:

“I am a person who is not confined to any single genre, nationality, religion or gender. I want to bring together Indian and Western, contemporary and traditional musical influences in a way that all types of people can relate to. And I want to be an inspiration and sing for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people all over the world.”

The first single released from her album, “Lingering Wine,” features Pragya’s powerhouse vocals, a soulful composition, and has a universal appeal that can entice lovers of all genders. The single’s retro, Latin flavour gave listeners a first taste of the feast of musical styles to be discovered on Queerism, which range from discoand EDM, hip-hop and jazz soul, to Indian-fusion, funk, and dancehall. 

Watch the video to Lingering Wine here:

The album features English and English/Hindi compositions, with collaborations with National Award-winning sound engineer, K.J. Singh, and Indian DJ and “Mother of Electronica” Ma Faiza.

Thematically, Pragya has dedicated both her debut single and album to the LGBTQIA+ communities of India and the world. The 9 track album’s lyrics talk about the struggles of queer people, celebrate the decriminalisation of LGBTQIA+ identities in India, and address issues such as millennial feminism, social justice, global warming, suicide prevention, and love.