Raveena Provides Representation for LGBTQ+ South Asians
R&B singer Raveena Aurora, known professionally as Raveena, creates a much-needed space to for people from her own culture to see themselves in the music industry.
Written by Parvathy Vasudev
Photo courtesy of Raveena and House Music
The entertainment industry has managed to create stereotypical caricatures out of most artists, and, in most cases, they’ve stuck. Nonetheless, some artists resist these stereotypes, and Indian-American artist Raveena is no exception. Beyond tapping into an ethereal vibe of R&B, her portrayal and representation of the South Asian community has brought her quite a bit of attention, providing her with the platform to empower brown women.
Raised in a Sikh-American household, Raveena, who identifies as queer, integrates the traditional with the contemporary in her music. She wears traditional (or inspired by) Indian clothes and a bindi in most of her public appearances, and her debut EP, Shanti, named after the Hindi word for "peace," further proclaims her heritage. Raveena’s beats form a smoother, groovier form of R&B with soft drum patterns and layering of subtle, dazy voices similar to signature Indian songs.
Even her single “Honey” creates a delicate, mellow vibe by incorporating a tabla and a sitar, two instruments often used in Indian music, into the song’s beginning. Likewise, the music video for “Honey” draws upon visuals of vintage Bollywood, featuring embellished jewelry and clothing.
In addition to referencing traditional Indian culture, the video includes LGBTQ+ people of color, highlighting the problems with acceptance of gender/sexuality that exist within the South Asian community. In doing so, Raveena not only uses her music to bring light to South Asian culture, but also provides an opportunity for marginalized communities within the South Asian community to have a way for their voices to be amplified. As a result, Raveena creates a platform to discuss topics often seen as controversial within the South Asian community.
Photo courtesy of Ones to Watch
In her latest single for her upcoming debut album, Raveena addresses sexual fluidity and attraction. In the song “Temptation,” Raveena discusses finding comfort within a woman and falling for her. Raveena’s choice to release music discussing bisexuality is no small feat. An immense stigmatization of sexual orientation is prevalent in the South Indian culture, so her push of music like “Temptation” reinforces how she is here to open a dialogue in the South Asian community and transform the representation and reputation of South Asians in the music industry.
As one of the few South Asians in the indie music industry, Raveena has done more than just produce music: she is overcoming obstacles and opening up a platform for more South Asians. People of color, including South Asian women, are often portrayed as more aggressive and are more likely to be categorized into harmful stereotypes in popular Western media. By creating a feeling of sensuality and light femininity — an image not usually associated with South Asian women — Raveena combats these constructs and associates this group with these traits. In this sense, Raveena has taken a different approach to the way brown women are represented, juxtaposing the original mold.
South Asians are severely underrepresented in today’s media, raising questions about the stigmas and restrictions that hold these artists back. Raveena has not only managed to break through these barriers, but she works to break barriers for others by providing a space for people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals to be represented.