“Music has always been a quiet passion of mine"
Malvika Sheth has long been recognised for her work as a South Asian fashion creator, combining traditional aesthetics with modern flair.
Known online as stylebymalvika, her ability to reinterpret cultural garments and create globally resonant content has earned her a loyal following.
But behind the reels and runway shots was another passion quietly growing in the background – music.
On June 13, 2025, Malvika releases her debut single ‘Love Is a Game’, a track shaped by personal experience, cultural memory, and creative reinvention.
Blending electro-pop and R&B with Indian classical music, the song marks the start of a new chapter.
In an exclusive interview with DESIblitz, Malvika Sheth opened up about what led her to music, the process behind ‘Love Is a Game’ and why sharing this story feels like a powerful act of release.
From Fashion to Music
Though Malvika Sheth built her name through fashion, music was always close by, an emotional outlet she returned to when her creative work began to feel like routine.
She said: “Music has always been a quiet passion of mine, something I turned to for comfort when fashion, which I deeply love, started feeling more like work.”
Malvika still holds deep affection for fashion, but once it became a full-time career, she felt a need to find something new:
“In many ways, fashion was my first love, but once I started building a career in it, I realised I needed a new outlet just for myself.”
That shift wasn’t forced. Over time, new interests like music simply found their way into her life.
“Every time I discover something that truly lights me up, it naturally finds its way into my career somehow.
“That’s the beauty of being a creative, your expression evolves. I think evolution is not only natural, but necessary.”
A Classical Foundation
Malvika Sheth’s early training in Bharatanatyam helped lay the foundation for her musicality, even if it didn’t directly lead to songwriting.
“While Bharatanatyam itself didn’t directly lead me to songwriting, my years of training as a classical dancer absolutely deepened my connection to music, rhythm, and emotional storytelling.”
It was actually personal experiences that sparked her lyrical side, as she explained:
“Songwriting came from a really personal place. Like so many others, I’ve faced heartbreak, rejection, and family ups and downs.
“Journaling helped me process it, and over time, those journal entries turned into poems, which turned into lyrics.”
A pivotal recommendation from a friend helped her finally take the leap.
“My incredibly talented friend, singer/songwriter Sonez, encouraged me to read The Artist’s Way, and that book completely changed my life.
“It helped me give myself permission to just begin.”
Committing to Music
The Artist’s Way was the turning point where music went from being a quiet passion to a serious pursuit.
Malvika had already been collecting sounds and fragments for months but hadn’t acted on them.
“I had little voice memos, beat sketches, and lyric drafts sitting around for months.”
But once she committed to music, there was no turning back.
“Once I committed to the creative practice, I started pulling all the pieces together, finding collaborators, building a vision.”
Key to that process were the people she worked with, like co-writer Julia Ross and producer Lionoath (Abhishek Singh).
Malvika said that without Julia, ‘Love Is a Game’ would not exist, while Abhishek “brought the track to life with such intention”.
She added: “It’s surreal to think it’ll be out in the world, it drops officially June 13th on Spotify, Apple Music, and all platforms.”
Crafting her Sound
‘Love Is a Game’ blends East and West in a way that reflects Malvika Sheth’s lived experience.
“I’m a third-generation Bharatanatyam dancer, so growing up training in this dance form meant I was surrounded by South Asian instrumentation from a young age.”
But even though the art form ran in her family, dance never came naturally.
The US-based artist said: “Although dance was supposed to be in my DNA, I wasn’t naturally gifted as a dancer.
“But I practised hard, and the music became my companion during that journey.
“I like to think I’m a proficient dancer today not because of natural talent but because of disciplined practice.”
Her creative instincts were also shaped by more contemporary genres.
“R&B, especially from the 2010s, also shaped me, it reminds me of my coming-of-age years, and I still return to it.”
“Then there’s electro-pop, which I’ve been drawn to more recently.”
Stating that her sound comes from what’s meaningful to her, Malvika elaborated:
“I always say there’s no such thing as pure originality, we’re all inspired by what came before us.
“Love Is a Game is my way of bridging past and present, East and West. Hopefully, it inspires someone else to do the same.”
Behind the Production
When it came to production, Malvika was “very hands-on”.
She continued: “I sent my producer samples of specific raags and references from my Bharatanatyam practice and asked him to draw inspiration from them.”
Those references included footage from a personal milestone.
“Some of the bits I sent him were direct videos from my Bharatanatyam Arangetram, which I gave back in 2016.”
Malvika knew from the start that she wanted to weave culture into sound.
“I knew I wanted Indian classical elements to be part of my sound from the start and that intention will definitely continue in my upcoming releases.”
Her vocal training is now catching up with her vision.
“I’m also currently training with a classical vocal coach in India, so it’s all coming full circle.”
More than just inspiration, she wanted specific experiences to shape the music:
“I didn’t want the track to just feel ‘influenced by’ my culture, I wanted to bring specific parts of my cultural experience into it.”
Writing through Complexity
The heart of ‘Love Is a Game’ lies in emotional ambiguity.
Malvika admitted: “Honestly, this was the hardest area of my life to open up about.
“I’ve never been in a traditionally defined ‘relationship’ but I’ve had intense, confusing experiences filled with mixed signals.”
Speaking about how the lyrical foundation was formed, she said:
“Two in particular stand out to me, and those are the two I wrote this song about.”
For Malvika, the writing process was a form of healing:
“Love Is a Game was my way of unpacking the confusion, not with blame or bitterness, but with curiosity and power.
“The lyrics are incredibly personal, and releasing it feels a little scary, but also freeing.”
Emotion, Movement, and Cultural Balance
Malvika Sheth’s playlist is wide-ranging, from Coke Studio to Kendrick Lamar, and that range helped shape her sound.
Rihanna, Mitraz, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Drake’s Take Care album, Atif Aslam, Ariana Grande, David Guetta, Kendrick Lamar, Coke Studio, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan… I could go on.”
What she listens for is less about genre and more about emotional transport.
“I love music that’s cinematic but grounded, something that evokes emotion and keeps evolving.”
Her goal? To make people feel and move.
She said: “I want my music to take listeners on a journey, where they feel deeply but also get a chance to feel euphoria.
“And, of course, feel like getting up on their feet and dancing.”
Representation Without Performance
While Malvika Sheth is proud of her cultural identity, she doesn’t want to feel boxed in or forced to showcase it for approval.
“A close friend just asked me yesterday if I feel pressure to expand my audience and move beyond the horizon of being known as a ‘South Asian influencer’.”
Malvika replied: “No, in fact it’s quite the opposite.”
On representation, she added: “I feel a responsibility, not so much of pressure, but a responsibility, to always make sure I am bringing my culture forward, to make the audience that does currently view my work proud, and always coming back.”
That representation must feel natural in her music:
“When I entered music, I was extremely conscious of this, but I wanted to make it happen in a genuine way.”
She summed it up clearly: “Put short, it’s not pressure, it’s both a privilege and responsibility.
“I feel a strong sense of responsibility to bring my culture forward in ways that feel organic and true.”
Looking Ahead
Whether in fashion or music, Malvika Sheth’s work is guided by sincerity.
“With fashion, if I reimagine a dupatta, it’s because I truly see the beauty in it and am excited to try something new for myself.
“With music, it’s the same. I’m having fun and creating something meaningful that I can be proud of, and sharing that journey with the rest of the world.”
She wants listeners to sense that intentionality.
“I can’t create from a forced place. I do think that people can sniff ingenuity from a mile away.”
On ‘Love Is a Game’, Malvika is proud of her debut single:
“I didn’t pile on Indian instrumentation for the sake of it. I think I have struck a really good balance for this song.”
And when it comes to what’s next, Malvika exclaimed:
“So much more. I’ve been writing constantly, and a few more songs are already in the works.”
For Malvika Sheth, ‘Love Is a Game’ is more than a song, it’s a personal release and a new path forward. The track holds her history, her doubts, and her hope, now handed over to the world.
She said: “I’m so excited (and nervous!) to finally share this side of me and I hope it resonates.”
As the song releases on June 13, she’s ready for others to make it their own.
“This story isn’t just mine anymore.”
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