The Austin-based pop-rock artist opens up about falling in love, finding her place in the live music scene, and building a world entirely her own.
A Love Song With a Little Fear
Sriyam has a way of making vulnerability sound larger than life. With bright guitars, infectious melodies, and lyrics that aren't afraid to get a little uncomfortable, the Austin-based artist is carving out her own corner of pop-rock, one she affectionately calls being a “sparkly rockstar.”
Her latest single, “Tattoo,” released October 16, captures the strange mix of excitement and fear that comes with falling in love for the first time. It's the kind of song that feels made for singing along to, even when the emotions underneath aren't quite so carefree.
Funny enough, Sriyam doesn't entirely remember writing it.
“I woke up one morning with my acoustic guitar at the foot of my bed and my journal open next to me,” she tells Everyday Jams. “My first real memory of the song is reading those lines half asleep and deciding they were interesting enough to try to figure out again!”
What began as an attempt to write something sweeter eventually revealed a more complicated story.
“Later, when I was fleshing it out with the band, I realized it captured a type of excitement marinated in deep fear of getting hurt.”
That tension is what makes “Tattoo” interesting. Beneath its lively, guitar-driven sound is the realization that letting someone into your life means accepting that they might change it forever.
For Sriyam, that's no longer something to run from.
“I've realized that every single thing changes us, whether we allow it or not, and that change is so beautiful and worth celebrating.”
The Making of a Sparkly Rockstar
Born in Nepal and raised in Texas, Sriyam didn't grow up surrounded by the American rock records that would eventually influence her sound. Instead, she discovered much of that music herself, diving into entire discographies and studying the artists she admired.
That curiosity eventually shaped her own musical identity, pulling inspiration from artists like The 1975, Oasis, One Direction, and Lorde.
“I wanted my own music to feel big and bright and a little larger than life, but still have the raw energy of a live band,” she explains.
The result is a sound that refuses to sit neatly in one category. There's a pop sensibility to her melodies, a rock influence in her instrumentation, and a love for storytelling running through it all.
It's also a sound that's been shaped by Austin's live music community.
While attending the University of Texas, Sriyam has built a presence performing alongside her all-girl band, made up of guitarist AB Brown, bassist Anna Buendia, and drummer Gisela Figueroa.
Their chemistry extends well beyond the stage, and Sriyam credits the community surrounding them for much of her growth.
“Everyone is just hungry to create, and it's all for the love of the game.”
That sense of community has given her room to experiment, make mistakes, and discover what kind of performer she wants to be.
More Than a Viral Moment
For some listeners, their introduction to Sriyam came through “HUMBLING!,” the demo that found an audience online and has since accumulated hundreds of thousands of streams.
But for Sriyam, the more meaningful moments have come from realizing people are connecting with her music beyond that initial success.
She recalls being stopped outside her apartment by someone who recognized her as an artist and began naming her favorite songs. Surprisingly, “HUMBLING!” wasn't among them.
“It was a small interaction, but I think that was the first time it clicked that my music was starting to take on an identity of its own.”
It's an important distinction for an artist who's interested in creating something that lasts beyond a single viral moment.
And while her music continues reaching new listeners, Sriyam remains deeply connected to the spontaneity of performing live. One of her most memorable shows happened after a venue scheduling issue prevented her band from taking the stage. Rather than call it a night, they carried their equipment outside and played an impromptu set for the crowd.
People followed them out, sang along, and turned what could have been a disaster into one of her favorite memories.
It's exactly the kind of unpredictable energy that makes live music so special.
A New Chapter, and Something Worth Waiting For
As Sriyam works toward her debut project, expected in early 2027, she's thinking beyond individual singles.
She's interested in creating a larger narrative, connecting songs through shared emotions and experiences rather than simply putting together a collection of tracks.
“Rather than just releasing 8 to 10 songs with similar sonic qualities, I'm excited to take people on a journey through my own head.”
And there's already another piece of that story on the way.
Sriyam exclusively shared with Everyday Jams that her next single, “false fate,” arrives November 20.
It's a song she's been carrying with her for years, with a title she first came up with at 17. Now, working alongside producer Matt Martin, she's finally found the story she wanted to tell.
“It's unlike anything I've done before, and honestly anything I would have been capable of before, but it's the thesis of the story this whole project tells,” she shares.
It's a fitting next step for an artist who seems increasingly comfortable letting her music grow alongside her.
For all the glitter, big guitars, and rockstar energy, what makes Sriyam worth paying attention to is her commitment to writing without holding anything back.
“I hope that I can always sit in my bedroom and write about the messiest, ugliest, most grotesque and vulnerable emotions no matter how many eyes are on me, just like I did when I was 13.”
And really, that's what makes the whole sparkly rockstar thing work. There's plenty of shine, but none of it comes at the expense of being real.
Stream “Tattoo” now, and look out for Sriyam's upcoming single “false fate,” arriving November 20.
Photography: Sarah Barker
