Rhea Raj’s day in Chennai begins at 5am. “I think I am still a bit jet-lagged,” she laughs. “I get to have a nice long morning. I sit with my grandfather, have two cups of chai back-to-back and pick up a book to read. I went to the beach yesterday, and it was so rejuvenating,” she says.
The Indian-American pop artiste has had a packed year. After performances at the iHeartRadio festival and her stage debut at Lollapalooza Chicago alongside Aliyah’s Interlude with a performance of their hit song ‘Haute Couture’, Rhea released her second EP, Commotion, and in December, went on her first headline tour of the same name, across five venues in the US.
It has been over a year-and-a-half since her last visit to Chennai and over the last few days, Rhea has been treating her fans to several updates; from walks at Besant Nagar beach, a visit to the Ashtalakshmi temple, attending a Bharatanatyam class, shopping for fruits, and decoding the dishes in an elaborate ela saapad she thoroughly enjoyed. “I feel like I go back to the US after a trip to Chennai feeling so much more alive and refreshed,” she says, over a video call from her grandfather’s house, looking every bit as relaxed as she describes her time here.
Rhea has been keeping fans updated by sharing photos from her days in Chennai
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Special Arrangement
Rhea and her sister Lara Raj, who is part of the pop girl group KATSEYE, have drawn attention not only for their artistry, but also for their Tamil roots; a rarity in mainstream pop music. Their South-Asian, and Tamil identity in particular, is something both sisters speak about, and flaunt with pride.
Born to Tamil Parents Kavita and Sri Rajagopalan in the US, 25-year-old Rhea says her childhood and teens were filled with Bharatanatyam classes, regular visits from her Chennai-based grandparents, and a steady supply of Indian food. “All of this was always part of our DNA; something we’ve always really loved and cling on to very strongly. We feel really proud of our identity. We are at this global stage right now where we have a lot of eyes on us, and we want to bring forward parts of our culture that are important to us,” she says.
Rhea and her sister Lara
Both onstage and in her music videos, Rhea is often seen sporting bindis, maang tikkas, and chunky Indian jewellery. Earlier this year at the Billboard Women in Music Awards, Rhea walked the red carpet draped in a sari that once belonged to her grandmother. “This felt like a big moment, a cultural statement; but is also something that has been a part of our lives forever,” she says.
Rhea recalls how growing up in the US, there was very little to no representation in the entertainment field for Indians, specifically South Indians. “I now feel really proud, and excited to explore new ways of bringing the culture forward, even if it means something as simple as showing people the food that I’m eating every day at home like my rasam, which I absolutely love,” she says, smiling. “Our fashion, food, music, and everything else is so vibrant and cool. I hope young kids see this, and they feel empowered and proud,” Rhea adds. During the Commotion tour as well, Rhea performed a Bharatanatyam dance break in her song ‘Hunter’, choreographed by her mother.
“I spent about two months prepping for the tour, and was in dance rehearsals basically every day for eight to ten hours, getting my costumes ready and going in for fittings. I got to work with many women designers as well, and it was really cool,” she says, describing the whirlwind lead-up to the tour.
As a composer, producer, and lyricist on her songs, Rhea also has songwriting credits on ‘Priceless’ by Maroon 5, featuring Lisa of Blackpink. Be it in her latest EP Commotion which featured songs like ‘Mumbai’, ‘Killer’ and ‘Now That Ur Gone’, or her debut EP Hunter, Rhea’s songs are backed by her strong vocals, and themes of femininity and empowerment. “It is also about being the fiercest version of myself; that’s what also makes me feel good when I am performing onstage,” she says.
Something she is excited to explore more in her next era of music, Rhea says, is more vulnerable storytelling that delves into her relationships, past experiences and even her connection with spirituality.
“The Commotion tour was so energizing for me, and it was honestly like the best experience of my life. So, we are very much right now in the works of planning more live shows in the US, but also outside the US and being able to take the tour globally. And of course, the next big thing is new music,” she says, of what fans can expect from her in 2026.
Looking back at 2025, we ask Rhea about a moment that truly stood out for her. “From my tour, it was my show in Los Angeles where I got to perform at The Roxy. Not only was I concluding the tour in my hometown, but to be able to perform at a legendary venue which has hosted greats like Guns N’ Roses felt surreal. I woke up the next day thinking how I haven’t felt this level of gratitude and fulfillment before,” she says.
Rhea and her parents were recently joined in Chennai by her sister Lara, as well. What are her plans in Chennai over the next few days, we ask. “Shopping! I am buying a lot more bindis, tikkas, and jhumkas to take back, for music videos, red carpet appearances and everything else. There are temple visits being planned, and I also just love to eat good food, so I am eating all the amazing food here,” she says.
