Music career
While at university, Birla started singing and playing the guitar at pubs and clubs. She also began writing her own music.[9] Her debut single, "Livin’ the Life", was co-written, and produced, by JimBeanz (who previously collaborated with Nelly Furtado, Cheryl Tweedy and Demi Lovato) and was recorded and produced at a studio in Philadelphia.[10] A remix by Dutch DJ Afrojack of "Livin’ the Life" makes Birla the first Indian artist to get a worldwide release through PM:AM Recordings and hit over 14 million views on YouTube as of June 2017.[11][12]
She released her next single, "Meant to be" in July 2017, which was subsequently certified Platinum as per the Indian Music Industry (IMI) recognised criteria for certifications. This makes Birla the first Indian artist with an English single to go platinum.[13] In January 2017, she supported Coldplay at the Global Citizen Festival.[14]
She released her single "Hold On" on 1 March 2018.[15] On 7 June 2018, she released her fourth single "Circles".[16] On 17 January 2019, she released her 5th single and 1st song of 2019 "Better", which was viewed 4 million times on YouTube within 2 days of its release.[17]
She released her debut EP Fingerprint in May 2019, via UMG and Island Records UK. It included "Blackout" featuring Vector and Wurld, which was one of the first collaborations between major artists from India and Nigeria.[18]
In September 2019, Birla released ‘Day Goes By’ with Sean Kingston, who she met when they toured in India together.[19]
In 2020, she signed with Maverick Management in Los Angeles.[20] Later that year, she released "Let There Be Love"[21] and "Everybody's Lost"[22] becoming the first Indian artist to be featured on an American national top 40 pop radio show, Sirius XM Hits.[21]
She has performed at some of the biggest music events in Asia including Global Citizen, Oktoberfest, and Sunburn,[23] Asia's biggest electronic music festival, and has toured with Wiz Khalifa.[19]
Birla's "Hindustani Way" is the official CHEER SONG for the Indian Olympic at the 2021 Olympics, composed by A. R. Rahman.[24]
