Indian electronica artist will also unveil a new live set on her India tour in August travelling to Delhi, Mumbai and Goa; EP releases on London-based label One Little Independent on September 12
Watch the video for ‘Do I Know’ here
Sijya, the New Delhi-based composer, producer, and graphic artist, is releasing her EP ‘Leather & Brass’ via her new label One Little Independent Records on September 12. A bold, visceral dive into raw textures and unfiltered emotion, it marks a pivotal chapter in her sonic evolution.
Sijya embodies the wave of fresh ideas and distinctive musicianship emerging from South Asia. With records that showcase a defining commitment to originality without losing upon base instinct, and live shows that create the most immersive atmospheres, the Delhi-based artist has emerged as one of the most hotly tipped up-and-coming talents from the region’s alternative music space.
‘Leather & Brass’ is a testament to pushing boundaries, both musically and personally, and meticulously crafted through a blend of digital synthesis and analogue grit. From distorted synths run through abused guitar pedals to lyrics that linger in ambiguity, ‘Leather & Brass’ is an exploration of weight, density, and contrast, in sound and in sentiment. It was shaped with the guidance of Accidental Records’ Matthew Herbert and Hugh Jones (aka Crewdson).
The first single from the EP, ‘Tabla’ released earlier in May 2025.
New single ‘Do I Know’ was a spontaneous innovation. The presence of a “guitar riff” within a synth-driven track is yet another example of Sijya’s subconscious inclination toward the language of electric guitars, despite working primarily with electronic tools. “Funnily enough, people have often referred to parts in my music as guitar sounds and riffs,” she says, adding, “I guess I’ve always been drawn to electric guitars and I’m maybe always trying to make that sound with my synths.”
Its accompanying video explores “the idea of ineffective armour”. Both in terms of brass as physical object, ornamental, adaptable, as well as metaphorically; Sijya’s relationship to the illusion of safety, being seen, and performing or creating publicly.
Sukanya Baskar, who conceptualised the film, writes: “Forged and worn over time – a brass armour glistens on a figure standing in the doorway. In the act of donning an armour, the artist considers her own relationship with visibility and invisibility as a performer, but also as an individual in the public eye. The material history of brass as a malleable yet sometimes ineffectual metal for matters of strength and protection, sparked a point of departure for this narrative. Performing an auto fictional, absurd, oneiric piece, the artist navigates a Delhi reframed through its heterotopias, disturbed yet empowered in her presentation of otherness.”
The making of ‘Leather & Brass’ was relentless. Each track was pushed to its limits, revisited, abandoned, and then resurrected through cycles of experimentation. Recording engineer Jay Panelia played a crucial role, working alongside Sijya to strip digital synths of their sterility. By running them through compression, slapback delays, and mono reverbs, the sounds took on an analogue warmth – gritty, heavy, physical.
The EP’s title reflects this transformation; soft sounds were hardened; refined surfaces were roughed up. Final mixes were taken to Seth Manchester at Machines with Magnets, ensuring that every layer of distortion, every nuance of weight, was not just preserved but elevated. The process was long, but it left a lasting impact, not just on the music but on Sijya’s own sonic sensibilities.
The artwork, a manipulated photograph from Sijya’s childhood, ties into her personal history and paternal influences. A memory reworked, much like the sounds on the record. Accompanying visuals, one ‘Leather’ and one ‘Brass’ dissect the meaning of these elements both materially and existentially. The themes themselves are in conflict and resist interpretation. In a world that demands clarity, Sijya insists that meaning should be felt, not dictated. ‘Leather & Brass’ is not a statement. It is a search. And Sijya’s search continues.
Ahead of the EP release in September, Sijya will tour India with a new live set in August. Cities confirmed so far are Goa, Delhi and Mumbai with an intimate listening session at Diggin For India record store in Delhi planned for July 6 to celebrate the release of ‘Do I Know’.
Leather & Brass Tour (live)
Date: August 23
Venue: Hideaway, Goa
Date: August 24
Venue: Oddbird, Delhi
Date: August 25
Venue: NMACC, Mumbai
Come July 3, ‘Do I Know’ will be available across all streaming platforms.
