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Shuba @shubamusic Bello Creative Minds October 2025 edition
Brought to you by @buttonsearbuds
Shuba is a first-generation Indian American singer and rapper known for blending Bollywood influences with modern pop and rap. Drawing inspiration from artists like Eminem, Ariana Grande, and Freddie Mercury, she delivers a unique mix of powerful vocals, sharp lyricism, and genre-bending creativity. Her work reflects both her cultural roots and her journey of self-acceptance, resonating with listeners who feel like outsiders. Recognized by icons such as Celine Dion and Shakira, and even collaborating with Brian May of Queen in a virtual jam session, Shuba continues to carve her own path as a bold and dynamic voice in today’s music scene.
B: Creativity often strikes in unexpected ways, where do you find yourself most inspired, and how do you capture those ideas before they slip away?
S: I’m one of those people who’s constantly humming voice notes into my phone or scribbling lines in my notes as they come up during ordinary conversations. For me, it’s less about waiting for inspiration and more about being ready for when it decides to show up. When an idea begs at me enough after I’ve written it down—like the melody comes back around after a week of not listening to it, or a phrase that I keep stumbling upon—I try to pay attention to it and see it through. Walking and taking showers also seem to be the prime times for coming up with lyrics and melodies for some reason. It’s a lot harder and less natural for me to sit in one place at a designated time and write every day.
B: Every artist has a “why.” What drives your creative process at its core?
S: At the heart of everything, I make music to empower, liberate, and give people strength. When I listen to music that I love, I end up feeling one or all of those ways and I only seek to do the same. I also don’t take myself toooo seriously and try to make people smile or laugh through it all.
B: Can you share a moment when a creative risk you took completely transformed your work or your perspective?
S: Writing and releasing my song “Indian Summer” was definitely a risk for me. For a lot of people, it might just be another sensual baddie song, but for me, it was tricky to put some of those words and visuals online as I knew my mom would eventually hear and see them. As a Desi girl, I do come from a slightly more conservative headspace, and it’s something I want to culturally preserve while also reminding people to let themselves feel liberated and desirable—it’s a delicate balance but one I strive for with most of my music.
B: How do you balance the tension between staying true to your personal vision and creating work that resonates with an audience?
S: This is something I’m in the process of figuring out right now. I think so far, I’ve mostly made music that carries more general messages of empowerment, but I’ve been pushing myself to bleed more through my lyrics. I think there is something so stunning about letting your guard down in songs and showing your audience your scars and truth. There are some songs that I want to keep lighthearted, some I want to empower with, and now I want to be even more vulnerable as that’s usually where people truly connect the most.
B: If your creative journey were a canvas, what colors, textures, or emotions would define it right now?
S: It would be bold, almost chaotic brushstrokes—deep blacks, purple and electric blues clashing but somehow harmonizing. The texture would be layered, like you can still see the mistakes underneath but they add depth to the picture. Emotionally, it’s equal parts hunger and hope—messy, imperfect, but alive with energy and global touch.
B: Looking ahead, what kind of impact do you hope your artistic output leaves?
S: I hope my music becomes a reminder to people—especially anyone who’s ever felt like a misfit or underdog—that their story matters and that they belong. If years from now, someone can look back and say my songs gave them courage or comfort when they needed it most, that’s the kind of impact I want to leave. Moreover, I want the South Asian dreamer kids and adults who listen to my music to see that they can push boundaries and break barriers.
Note: Shuba just dropped her latest EP, “felt cute, won’t delete l8ter,” where she explores her softer side.
Photographer / Videographer Yash Singh @yashxsinghofficial
Stylist AmbiKa B Sanjana @styledbyambika
Interview Isha Parekh @isha_parekhh
Production @bellomediagroup × @maisonprivee_
Left: Nil+Mon @nilandmon Right: Samuel Gartner @samuelgaertner Tell the Truth @tellthetruth.shop Nil+Mon @nilandmon Earbuds Button @buttonsearbuds