Neela is rising to become an original singer-songwriter. Drawing from her North Indian roots, musical studies in Lucknow School of Music and jazz upbringing her unique soulful voice has been compared to the likes of Snoh Alegra and Etta James. Her wide range, and smooth yet sultry vocal quality allows for versatility in styles ranging from R&B, Soul, Pop, Folk, and EDM.

Born to an East-Indian family, breaking out of traditional expectations and pursuing a career as an artist held challenges of its own, her persistence and dedication to her craft has not only won over her family's support, but has got her noticed by industry insiders, including Slakah the Beatchild, Chin Injeti, and Akeel Henry, Grammy-award winning producers.

The Indo-Canadian based singer is bringing her truth and vulnerability, qualities that once made her feel like an outsider, in her music and songwriting to create original and honest material. With a background in theatre and dance, she brings an electric energy to her performances, the stage being one of the places where she feels most comfortable.

Her new song You’ll Never Know is about empowerment and expressing anger and frustration with injustice. While the subject is sensitive and raw, Neela has tried to explore the other side of this pain; resentment, strength to move forward despite the hurt, and acceptance. These are just some of the complex emotions that she has expressed in this single.

You’ll Never Know is a song inspired by domestic violence and abused boundaries. “I wanted to transform this pain and turn it into music. It’s about people’s boundaries being violated-both physically, sexually, or otherwise-and how the other person will never know the damage they’ve caused with their actions. When someone has unhealed trauma the cycles of violence persist. Violence against women is prevalent and heart wrenching, I have witnessed and felt this in my personal life and globally. 4.7 million women report sexual assault at least once in their lifetime. 1 in 3 women have reported physical violence by an intimate partner. In Canada and globally, I think of the murdered and missing Indigenous women and children, and the lack of awareness this horrific issue receives”.

While the song is about empowerment and expressing anger and frustration with injustice, the subject is sensitive and raw. “I explore the other side of this pain; resentment, strength to move forward despite the hurt, and acceptance. These are just some of the complex emotions I express in this single” adds Neela.

The singer has an interesting story about the songwriting process of the song stating that her producer Akeel, asked her to go into the recording booth expecting multiple takes, but because the song is so personal and raw, Neela sang it all the way through on the first go itself, surprising her producer in the end. “We both had goose bumps listening back, as painful as the experience was, I was grateful to be able to transform and release that energy” says Neela joyfully.

One listen to the track and what hits you immediately is that the vocals are very raw. There are not too many effects, thus enabling the rawness of Neela’s vocals to really speak the song’s message.

The song brings out various emotions from pain, strength, powerfulness, anger, to truth, rawness, vulnerability, intimacy, passionate and soulful.

The music video also has a great concept which also goes for the artwork that is very symbolic of her Indian roots. Neela says that the visuals were shot in India, where she is drawing from an Indian goddess named Kali. “I resonated with her because she is a symbol of ultimate power and change. The Goddess is stated to destroy evil in order to protect the innocent. In the music video, I battle Ravana; the King of demons in Hindu mythology who represents the demon in all of us and our duty to transform our fear into love. I drew from Kalaripayattu, which is an Ancient Indian martial arts practice, alongside women warriors, demonstrating our strength and resiliency. We are wearing the colour pink to honour the Gulabi Gang, which is a vigilante group combating widespread domestic abuse and violence against women”.

Credits:

Sung by: Neela

Written by: Neela, Alvin Brendan

Genre: R&B, Soul

Produced by: Akeel Henry, Neela, Kevin Ekofo

Picture and Artwork credit: Purusha Anokhei

Social Media tags: @neelamusic @anokhei @ranii_kaur

SoundCloud link of the song: 

https://on.soundcloud.com/JxR1P4W2eiycXuam7

Here is the YouTube link of the song You’ll Never Know:

https://youtu.be/NVqqu46H7zQ

Spotify profile link:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lz7G1MhES1Bb0toy0tluz?dl_branch=1&si=XcHF547fSXSrEPL7slnWzg