NYVC Singer Spotlight: Radhika Agarwal

How did you discover your passion for singing?

The arts, in general, have always been something I was passionate about. I danced for a while when I was a kid and also took art classes. As for singing, I would often perform at occasions and celebrations in the community where we lived—that's how it all started.

From there, my father, Vikash, played a significant role in getting me proper training. He saw potential in my voice when I was still too young to recognize it myself. When I was 10, he enrolled me in a music academy, where I began my musical journey studying Hindustani classical music.

What’s something recent or exciting in your singing journey?

If I were to talk about more recently, I'd say there are so many things. I'm learning more and more about who I am and who I want to be, and that has directly reflected in my singing journey, as singing is such a huge part of who I am. I'm also stepping into a completely new genre that I've discovered is truly my passion at the moment: metal music! It's a big step for me because I'm entering a whole new world, but that's exactly what makes it so exciting.

What is an interesting or funny fact about you?

I absolutely love System Of A Down and baking unique cakes.

What led you to studying at NYVC?

The credit for this would once again go to my father. We realized early on that I would thrive in Western music. After studying Indian classical music for three years, we decided it was time for a change and began exploring Western vocal training instead. That's when my dad discovered New York Vocal Coaching online. We sat down together to explore the instructors, and we were both drawn to Andy as my teacher. That's where my journey with NYVC truly began.

Who or what are your biggest musical influences?

If we're talking about influences, I'd say I'm simply an absorber. Whether it's a pop star or a rock star, I've taken inspiration from every artist whose music I've listened to since I was a teenager. Being Indian, I've also often been compared to some of the legends we have here, with Usha Uthup being one of the names I hear most often.

As for my current inspirations, they're mostly rock and metal vocalists, including Gerard Way, Serj Tankian, and Emily Armstrong, along with timeless icons like Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson, of course! Every genre, artist, and style has something unique and exciting to offer, and that's what excites me most. I love learning from different musicians and finding inspiration in the individuality each of them brings to their music.

What styles of music do you sing?

I would say anything and everything—I truly believe in learning as many styles as possible, and I'm still exploring. Over the years, I've sung in different languages, explored a wide range of genres, and performed music by all kinds of artists. I think every new style has something valuable to teach me, and I'm always excited to keep learning and growing as a vocalist.

My journey has been diverse from the very beginning, starting with Indian classical music before transitioning to Western vocal training. I still dabble in opera every now and then to challenge myself and expand my range. I also grew up with a deep love for jazz, a genre I'm still exploring and learning from. I've never felt the need to limit myself to just one style or genre of music, and these days I'm especially passionate about rock and metal.

What is one piece of advice you’d love all singers to know?

There is so much that can be said, as even I have learned numerous, countless things over the years. Put faith in yourself, try to understand your voice, and remember that no one can understand it better than you! It's a big part of you, so be kind to it and treat it with love.

As for technique and learning, know that when they say "practice makes perfect," it's really true. You may struggle in the beginning, but remember you can't be good without being bad at it sometimes initially. So learn to be comfortable with not only your good, but also your bad. Whether you're starting from scratch or already pretty good, I promise that with practice you'll always get there! And most importantly, have fun. Don't stay in your head too long because you'll get there.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist?

I think I've had to deal with multiple challenging things over the years. I have a deeper voice, which was initially a little damaged from being pushed without proper technique, so opening it up and making it flexible took some time. My head voice and falsetto were also pretty weak, but I got there and still am. It's a success in progress, as I like to say.

Lots of credit goes to my vocal coach, Andy, for this—I wouldn't have been able to do it without him. I had a hard time believing in myself at 14 when I started, and he helped me greatly. Since then, we've come a long way. Learning to be more confident and sure of myself has impacted the way I am able to conduct myself and my stage performance, for sure, which has been a blast.

What has been your greatest victory as an artist?

My biggest victory as an artist will always be being celebrated, recognized, and loved in whatever capacity I am in now and whatever capacity I will be in the future. No achievement is greater than being seen and heard for my art, especially by my friends and family.

My biggest goal as a singer is to be able to move people, add energy to a room, connect with people, and enjoy the experience—as art, and especially music, is meant to be.

Where can people find more about you and your music?

You can email me at radhika.ag0501@gmail.com