Start Listening To: Radhika

Glasgow-based dream pop artist Radhika on memory, cinema, and turning family history into something softly otherworldly.

Radhika’s music lives in a hazy space between nostalgia and imagination, where dream pop textures meet deeply personal storytelling. Drawing inspiration from cinema, poetry, and her Indian heritage, her songs feel carefully built to linger rather than rush past. Her latest single ‘Starry Eyes’ brings together intergenerational memory and shimmering melody, featuring contributions from Gerard Love and Mitch Mitchell, while nodding to a lineage that runs through Teenage Fanclub, The Pastels, and the dreamlike pull of Cocteau Twins. With her forthcoming album CINE POP envisioned as a soundtrack to an imaginary film, we spoke to Radhika about family, film, and creating music that feels intimate, immersive, and quietly transportive.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make? 

Hey! I’m Radhika, I am from Glasgow and I make dream pop music.

How did the collaboration with Gerard Love and Mitch Mitchell come about for 'Starry Eyes,' and what did they bring to the song?

The collaboration came about as we would often see them around the Glasgow scene, when writing Starry Eyes, I was listening to lots of Teenage Fanclub and The Pastels, so naturally they seemed like a good fit to the track. When both Mitch and Gerard agreed to come to the studio after they were invited, I was quite shocked that they were so up for it. Mitch brought their beautiful ethereal style vocals to the song and Gerard’s Beach Boys influenced harmonies worked a treat.

Can you share more about the themes and emotions that inspired 'Starry Eyes,' particularly the connection with your grandmother?

Starry Eyes is a song that I wrote about the passing of souls onto the next realm. It was written after visiting my grandmother and looking through old family pictures together. When we were going through photographs of my grandmother’s family when she was younger, she gently said that she missed her mother. As I was writing Starry Eyes, many thoughts were travelling across my mind. Particularly themes of family history, my Indian heritage and yearning for someone who is no longer here.

What does the title 'CINE POP' signify for your forthcoming album, and how does it relate to the music you’re creating?

As a cinephile, I am constantly in awe of the creation of intricate moments in cinema. When making this album I wanted to create an experience for the listeners, rather than a short lived occurrence. The band and myself have worked so hard to create an innovative technicolour album that is thought provoking yet nostalgic. All of last year, I was in awe of the work of David Lynch and his creative vision. His films inspired me to carefully structure the album in a unique way. I didn’t want to create an album but rather a dream pop soundtrack for an imaginary film.

How does your Indian heritage influence your sound and lyrical content, and how do you weave that into your music?

Growing up my dad very often shared music from his eclectic, diverse vinyl collection. A fond memory I have as a child is listening to the sounds of old Bollywood soundtracks. Subconsciously the psychedelic sounds of sitars, tanpura and drones heavily inspired the meditative sound of Starry Eyes and the upcoming debut album. Throughout the whole record the warm sounds of Indian drones make me feel connected to my roots and almost act as a grounding form within the soundscapes.

What role do visual elements play in your artistic expression, especially in relation to your music videos and artwork?

With music videos and artwork I am particularly fond of keeping the visuals fluid and dreamy to complement my style of music. I am also a photographer, so I love being creative visually as well as musically. I actually took the cover photo of Cine-Pop, so it feels really special to create art for something so close to home. I also quite like keeping my identity mysterious so I had a dear friend model for me.

How do you approach the songwriting process, and what methods do you use to capture your ideas when they arise?

When writing my songs I don’t have a particular method. Usually I will have a vague melody in mind alongside a chord progression that I would have loosely wrote in my bedroom. I like to vary the way I write, most of the time I am inspired by cinema and reading poetry. Recently I have been intrigued by the “cut up” method which was prolific in the beat generation in the 60s. This allows for me to write lyrics that I would not have thought of before.

What has been the most rewarding feedback you've received from fellow creatives after they listened to your music?

I think the highest praise feedback I have received is that Starry Eyes is reminiscent of 90s dream pop music ( specifically Cocteau Twins ) my favourite band. I find it very sweet at how appreciative fans seem to be of me experimenting with Indian sounds alongside writing about subjects close to my heart.

In what ways do you think the Scottish music scene has influenced your sound and the artists you collaborate with?

As a kid I loved bands like Aztec Camera, Teenage Fanclub, Camera Obscura and The Pastels. When listening to their albums, they made me feel like making music was doable as all of my heroes from the 90s Scottish music scene made my dream seem feasible. I thought if they could do it, maybe I could. I was completely obsessed with the jangle pop sound specifically on the album “Songs From Northern Britain” so it is still very surreal to have worked with Gerard Love on Starry Eyes, and have been fortunate enough to have played live with Norman Blake. I feel so blessed to have been brought up in a place that has influenced me musically.

What inspired you to explore themes of intergenerational connections in your latest single 'Starry Eyes'?

I think as I am getting older, I am realising how precious time is, especially time with the elders in your family. When my grandparents share stories with me, I get quite emotional. As a third generation immigrant, I never take for granted the comfort of my life. Hearing the harsh realities that a lot of my family had to endure makes me want to honour their presence even more. Hearing stories from your elders is really important. I think moments like these should never get overlooked.

What do you love right now?

I love going to the cinema. I try to make it a habitual routine to go to the movies twice a week. It is one of the many art forms that touches me in a profound way and I am constantly inspired by this powerful form of artistic expression. It makes me sad when I realise cinema is slowly becoming a dying art. It is such a valuable time spent and the onus is on us to keep movie theatres alive and support our independent cinemas.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

I have been listening to a lot of The Ronettes, specifically “Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica” My dad made sure I was brought up on music created by women, that was very important to him. Singing along to girl groups like The Shirelles, The Ronettes and The Bangles is a vivid memory engrained in my mind. When I was being dropped off to primary school, my dad and I always played a different CD in the car each day, and these girl groups from the 60s to this day are still some of my favourites.

When someone hears your music for the first time, what do you hope sticks with them?

I hope that there is a feeling created that is individual to each person. All I dream is that my music evokes an intimate experience for each listener.