This Indian Girl Group's Addictive Music Has Us W.i.S.H-ing For More

"Hey! I'm Ri, I'm Zoe, I'm Sim, I'm Suchi. And we're W.i.S.H!" My video call with a group of four vibrant musicians kicks off on a thrilling note as they introduce themselves in unison. Instantly, my nervousness over this much-anticipated interview fades. Before me is a bunch of cheery, young, and dynamic women -- Riya Duggal, Zoe Siddharth, Suchitra Shirke, and Simran Duggal -- who make up India's first girl group in over two decades. 

Since W.i. S.H.'s debut in March 2024, there has been no moment when they have not been the talk of the town. In less than a year, the girl group has taken over everything from our social media feeds to Spotify Wrapped; And they are here to stay. With each member's unique energy and musical style, the group resonates with a variety of audiences.

Speaking to SheThePeople, Ri, Zo, Suchi, and Sim narrated their different journeys in music and how they came together to form W.i.S.H, unarguably one of India's most sought-after groups. From pushing artistic boundaries to overcoming challenges in a male-dominated industry, they spoke about their passion for creating music that connects and inspires.

Up Close And Personal 

W.i.S.H is the brainchild of the ambitious New Zealand-origin music producer Mikey McCleary, who spent at least three years handpicking the members and bringing his vision for a breakthrough girl group to life. Born in Mumbai, this I-Pop (Indian pop) band was inspired by Viva, India's pioneering girl group that unfortunately faded out of the spotlight in 2003.

W.i.S.H is an acronym for 'World Inka Stage Hai' (The world is their stage) and also a wordplay on the Hindi word 'vish', meaning poison. True to the name, the Hinglish-language girl group has been intoxicating their audiences, right from their first original track, Lazeez, to their latest disco-themed cover, Boom Boom, an ode to Biddu and Nazia Hassan.

The girl group is a kaleidoscope of artists with diverse journeys. For sisters Riya and Simran Duggal, music was almost destiny having grown up in a family of acclaimed artists. "We've had a really cool independent artist journey before we were found by Mikey McCleary," said Ri. The siblings wrote songs, played the guitar, and performed right from their teens. 

Zoe Siddharth, who grew up in Chennai, knew at a very young age that she would pursue music as a career. "I think I learnt to sing before I spoke," she exclaimed. After studying music in Singapore, her talent took her to various noted platforms, including a reality TV show called The Stage, which became a stepping stone in her musical profession.

Suchita Shirke's journey is the most unexpected of them all. Her story begins in the eclectic city of Mumbai, where her fondness for music first started through dance. She was part of the school choir when a teacher recognised her gift for singing and encouraged her to participate in competitions. Her versatile talent in both arts carved her a niche place in W.i.S.H.

More Than Just Music

Today, the music industry is more than just about the singing or the instruments. With social media trends poised to outshine traditional artists and global phenomena like K-Pop and J-Pop setting cultural standards with their fashion and dance, the pressure on musicians worldwide is immense. Yet, W.i.S.H. seamlessly fits into this landscape, putting I-Pop on the map.

Suchi shared, "As I entered W.i.S.H, I realised that there's a lot more than singing. There's choreography, there's performance, and the nitty-gritty of presenting yourself on stage or on camera. Then there are different styles. For example, Sim likes cutesy, girly-girl vibes, while I like sporty looks. We each have distinct personalities that we like to bring out through our style."

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From my interactions with many performing artists, I have learned that the entertainment landscape, like many industries, is notorious for gender biases and social expectations of female artists. Whether it is presenting themselves a certain way or navigating industry standards, W.i.S.H has faced its fair share of hurdles. However, they have a befitting response.

Zoe explained, "Everyone's journey is different but my mentality is to block out the comparisons, the expectations, or the norms. W.i.S.H is trying to break into something new; we have to follow our own path. The expectations are what you have to set for yourself, but if we're going to follow all the rules, we're not going to stand out or become unique."

W.i.S.H's music is not here to conform or follow trends. They rather focus on raw and unfiltered themes like self-love, friendship, crushes, unconventional romances, etc. that almost any woman can resonate with. "We strive for our music to be a reflection of who we are. So it usually stems out of conversations that we're having with each other," shared Riya.

"We're always having these 'therapy sessions' with each other over some tea. We call it 'chai and chat' time, where we discuss our lives or share some problems that we're having. Those are the kind of topics we want to always have in our music."

Ri added that the girl group hopes to create a sense of solidarity among women. "We want our music to help people feel like they have us to guide them through whatever they're going through. That's the kind of sisterhood we want them to feel with us. That's the kind of community that we want to create with our W.i.S.H stars," she expressed.

Colleagues Turned Family

The bond between the W.i.S.H members transcends mere professional collaborations; it is a relationship built on trust, shared dreams, and mutual support. While Simran and Riya share a familial connection as siblings, their connection as bandmates has taken on a new dimension, marked by a deeper understanding of each other’s creative instincts.

Simran expressed, "Riya and I've been working together for so long, and now to be working with two more girls feels like I have more sisters. We have such a great bond going on. It's just an extension because we know the feeling, we've done that. So it comes very naturally now. It doesn't feel like we're working with strangers because we're so close to each other."

Ri chimed in, sharing that their goal as a group is to create a supportive understanding among their audiences. "We have noticed even our fan pages interact amongst themselves in the same friendly way we do with each other. So it's really sweet for us to see the sort of community we have built. They are a really nice reflection of our bond," she described.

Filling a gap in India's female music landscape, W.i.S.H is tapping into a deeply emotional and inspiring part of the audience, especially young women. In an industry dominated by fleeting trends, the girl group stand out not only for their magnetic tracks but also for their authenticity and commitment to creating an empowering, inspiring, and safe space for their listeners.