Sanaya is a Dallas based pop and R&B artist whose sound blends early vocal training with a modern, genre fluid approach to music. Raised as a vocalist, she studied both Indian classical and Western classical (aria) styles from a young age, building a strong vocal foundation.
Her music lives in extremes, either slow, emotionally driven R&B heartbreak track or confident, high energy baddie anthems, with no in between. That duality reflects her personality just as clearly, equal parts lover girl and unapologetically confident.
After her 2024 R&B heartbreak release “Call Me Baby,” Sanaya returns in 2026 with a fearless new side. Her new single “Do What I Do” is an upbeat dancehall pop track with a chorus that taps into an almost egotistical level of confidence. It carries an energy that’s bound to get stuck in anyone’s head. At its core, it’s about knowing your worth and moving through the world with the mindset captured in the song’s hook: “You Could Never Do What I Do.”
I make music that lives in extremes, either really vulnerable and emotional or high energy and a little cocky
Describe the moment you knew that you wanted to pursue music:
I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, so it never felt like a single moment, more like something that was always there. I studied opera and aria at a performing arts high school, and later trained in Indian classical in college, which really shaped how I hear and approach music. I actually released my first song in high school, but took everything down because it didn’t feel like me yet. When I got to college, I started fresh and began releasing music again as a real emotional outlet. Now, I work in the music industry on the business side as well, and I love being in it from every angle, whether that’s strategy and building artists or being in the studio creating.
How does your heritage impact your art?
My heritage has always been a big part of how I approach music, even if it’s not always obvious in the final sound yet. I trained in both opera and Indian classical, and that foundation really shaped my voice, especially in terms of control, tone, and how I move through melodies. At the same time, I grew up loving and singing Hindi music, so that influence is naturally there in how I feel and interpret songs. I’d say I’m very connected to my heritage, and while I haven’t fully explored blending it into my releases yet, it’s definitely something I would explore down the line.
What moment are you most proud of in your music journey so far?
I think what I’m most proud of right now is realizing that I’m still early enough in my journey to really experiment and figure out what feels true to me. Through making music, I’ve understood that my sound comes from two very different sides of me, one that’s vulnerable and emotional, and another that’s confident, almost a little cocky. That’s honestly how I process things in real life too. Learning that about myself and being able to channel it into my music has been a big moment for me.
Your next music goal:
release more, collaborate more, grow my monthly listeners and streams
If you could collaborate with anyone, who and why?
I’d love to collaborate with an artist named Bybem, he’s a really great up and coming Afrobeats artist and I love his voice. Since I’m still experimenting with my sound and not boxed into one genre, I’m excited to work on something that blends our styles and brings that kind of global energy into my music.
A song that has shaped you:
A song that’s really shaped me is “More Than” by Sincerely Suave. It’s been on repeat for me, and I resonate a lot with the lyrics and how he approaches love. The song touches on emotions and patterns I’m honestly a little scared of experiencing from other people, but at the same time, I recognize those same tendencies in myself. That duality really stayed with me, and it’s influenced how I think about relationships and how I express emotion in my own music.
3 songs you're listening to right now:
More Than – Sincerely Suave
Diamonds on My Teeth – Claudia Valentina
Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight – Cecilia Dang
Your community shout out:
I’d shout out Shreea Kaul (@shreeakaul). She’s an artist I work closely with, but beyond that, I’m genuinely inspired by how she’s carving out her own lane and genre as a South Asian artist on a global level. Her music blends so many influences while still feeling rooted in the South Asian scene, and she’s one of the first to really do it in this way. I was actually a fan of hers before I started working with her, which makes it even more special. She’s incredibly intelligent and an amazing songwriter, singer, and visionary.
Anything else you'd like to share:
I’m pretty much a jack of all trades when it comes to the music industry. I make my own music, I’m in the process of building my own management company, and I’ve worked closely with record labels on the business side as well. I really love being in it from every angle because I learn so much, and it gives me a deeper understanding of both the creative and business side of what I do.
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CHAMPIONING ASIAN HERITAGE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Across West to East Asian heritages - We aim to shatter stereotypes and help build bridge between genres, languages and sub regions. Evolving the definition of what being an Asian in the Western music scene entails.
We also have a strong focus on supporting and developing our community in the UK grassroots live scene. With 30 shows to date with 100+ artists on our stages.