Scottish indie-pop singer Radhika’s new single Starry Eyes is a dreamy, expansive track, tracing the things that mean the most to her. Rooted in and honouring her Indian heritage, the track also quietly explores where she’s going, clarifying her growing voice in Glasgow’s indie scene.
Radhika’s dad, Sushil K. Dade – also known as indie artist Future Pilot A.K.A – produced the track, and serves as its bass player. He also plays electronic tamboura on the single, an Indian classical instrument developing Radhika’s unique style and influences that fuse her heritage with her surroundings. The tamboura in Starry Eyes creates an ambient resonance and overtones that periodically focus into a clear harmony with the dreamlike layers of Radhikaand her collaborators’ voices.
Featuring Gerard Love, formerly of Teenage Fanclub, and Mitch Mitchell of The Pastels, the track has echoes of their DIY, jangle pop sound, and firmly situates Radhika within the next generation of the Scottish independent landscape. Paul Thomson of Franz Ferdinand will join her on one of her tour dates in Paisley, further expanding her network of pioneering Scottish sound.
The single continues its focus on intergenerational exchange with Radhika citing a moment spent looking through old photos with her grandmother as part of the inspiration behind Starry Eyes. Undeniably, the track is the melodic equivalent to browsing through an old photo album, both nostalgic and hopeful.
Vocally, Radhika is evocative of indie pop/soft rock darling Clairo or fellow Glaswegian band Camera Obscura, delivering intimate and conversational lyrics with an echoing, layered melody. As she sings “disintegration is a cosmic lullaby”, the song itself seems to open a portal into memory and the subconscious, drifting between familial pasts and shared futures.
Radhika’s debut album, Cine-Pop, is scheduled for release in May of this year – for now, Starry Eyes will have to tide us over, swaying us along with her melodic tune.
Words - Eve Riordan
