the raj sisters are rewriting the rules of pop — and i’m obsessed

it’s rare to see south asian girls in pop music — and even rarer to see them taking up space with this much confidence, creativity, and personality. rhea and lara raj aren’t just rising stars — they’re the moment.

rhea, the older sister, has been building her career for years. from youtube covers at age 10 to american idol at 15, to now dropping her debut album hunter and prepping her next single mumbai (out july 9!) — she’s fully locked into her own artistic world. her music is feminine, cinematic, and full of movement, blending y2k energy with bold choreography and desi-coded visuals.

lara, on the other hand, is absolutely killing it as a member of katseye, the global girl group formed under hybe x geffen. their new EP beautiful chaos just dropped on june 27, and if you’ve seen lara in any of the visuals, you know — she eats every time.

but what really gets me about the raj sisters is that they don’t water themselves down. they’re proudly south asian, and you can see it in everything they do — from desi jewelry in stage looks to bindis in concept photos to wearing saris with a twist in photo shoots. it’s not a costume. it’s who they are.

their personal style is just as expressive. rhea leans hyperpop glamour with nods to tamil fashion and Y2K maximalism, while lara moves between streetwear, glam, and desi-inspired silhouettes like she invented versatility. they show up for themselves, their culture, and their community — every time.

and then there’s this: in march 2025, lara came out as bisexual via weverse with a level of honesty and humor that only she could pull off:

“i knew i was half fruitcake when i was like 8… probably before 8. isn’t ‘half fruitcake’ such a good way to explain it without saying?”

she opened up about how scared she was to share her identity during the debut: dream academy, and how she worried it would ruin her chances. but fans showed up with love and support, and now she’s using her platform to make others feel seen.

“so many of you have told me it encouraged you to be more confident… you can talk about it as much as you want, as long as it’s helping people — that makes me really really happy.”

what’s so special about the raj sisters is that they’re not just checking boxes. they’re setting the tone. they’re producing their own music. they’re styling themselves with intention. they’re reclaiming space that south asian girls have always deserved in pop, but rarely been given.

rhea’s solo work is all about sensuality, identity, and freedom. lara’s presence in katseye is vibrant, confident, and deeply rooted in who she is — not just as an artist, but as a desi girl, a bisexual girl, and a real person navigating a global stage.

the industry needs more of this. more girls who are unafraid to be loud, to take up space, to look different, sound different, and speak openly about who they are.

the raj sisters are doing that — and it’s only the beginning.

love,
sofia ₊˚⊹♡