Kiara Chhetri, youngest Indian artist to hit number one on World Indie Music charts: It feels surreal

All of 17, singer-songwriter Kiara Chetri is already making a mark on the global music scene. She has become the youngest Indian artiste to hit number one on World Indie Music Charts with her song Why.

“It feels very surreal. I remember few weeks debuting at number 57 first. I’d check it once a week, that’s when it’ll be updated. I never thought it’d reach number one,” she gushes.

A student of class 12, and juggling her studies along with music, she confesses that it indeed is difficult.

“There are times when I just want to do music all day. But yes, of course a balance is important. I wasn’t doing much music in class six, seventh or ninth, as I’m right now. In grade 10, there were board exams, so that year it got tough. I made sure to study as much as I could. I’m still learning the concept of time management,” the singer tells us.

Chettri’s mother runs a music school in Gurugram, Haryana, for 13 years, and she started learning there since the age of four.

“Initially, I was never interested in music, my attention span is really bad. Instead of sitting in those classes, I wanted to run around and play. My mother didn’t give up, and it’s only after two-three years that I actually started signing properly and learning musical instruments,” says the musician, whose maternal grandfather is a music composer too, and has composed Nepali songs.

Going forward, pursuing music as her career is what is on her mind. In the pandemic times, the indie music space has gotten a boost, and Chhetri couldn’t be happier.

“I’m very happy independent artistes are getting this much recognition. No one would’ve thought that. Especially because of this pandemic, no films were being filmed, there were no Bollywood songs. That’s why people paid attention to Indie artistes,” she concludes.