NIVAA’s done it. She’s cast a net, and we’re caught.
Singer-songwriter Nitya Mohan, musically known as NIVAA, released “Fisherwoman,” a song inspired by a painting of a boat created by her mother. NIVAA confesses that the song practically wrote itself.
In "Fisherwoman," NIVAA gives a soul-drenched narrative delicately layered with her Indo-Global style. The opening melody feels as if it was pulled from an ethereal realm, setting the stage for NIVAA’s angelic vocals to sweep you into a serene seascape.
“Fisherwoman” tells the story of a woman leaving behind the city’s gray sprawl, choosing the timeless pull of the ocean over concrete and crowds. NIVAA sings, “I am the water, the water is me,” reminding us of the simplicity and beauty in things we often overlook.
Growing up in India, she was raised by a musically rich family, and she was surrounded by sounds from around the world. She didn’t leap into music right away, though. Life pulled her into engineering, and a move to Texas, but music found her again in Austin, thanks to supportive musicians who pushed her to pick up her passion.
With “Fisherwoman,” NIVAA’s voice stands as a reminder to stay close to what matters, to remember where you came from, and to find your way back when life pulls you off course.
“Fisherwoman” also serves as a strong message to other women—especially Asian women—encouraging them to take risks and reconnect with what feels like home, even if it’s a little wild and unpredictable.
It’s great to have you here at BuzzMusic, NIVAA! Congratulations on releasing “Fisherwoman.” How would you describe how your song reflects your core as an artist?
I have wanted to tell a story through a song for a long time. However, I’d always have difficulty with words, unable to convey emotions authentically and rawly. With Fisherwoman, the words and the melody just came to me and fell into place like I was meant to create it and sing it. I looked at one of my mother’s paintings of a boat at sea and brought it to life through this song. Fisherwoman also describes my music style - a unique global sound. It might feel like an Irish shanty at the outset, but then you have these electronic pop layers and Indian taranas blending. That’s the kind of sound I wanted to introduce to the world. Something you can groove to but one that has diverse music styles interwoven unassumingly.
The imagery of water and the sea in “Fisherwoman” is powerful and layered. What does water represent to you, both as an artist and as a person?
You feel it too, don’t you? Yes, my relationship with water is interesting. I grew up in a coastal city, and staring into the vastness of the Arabian Sea was a frequent affair that helped me disconnect and contemplate. On the other hand, I had a near-drowning experience as a child, and that made me fearful of deep water for a long time. About two years ago, I didn’t know how to swim! I remember that exact moment when I learned how to float without fear. It was like a spiritual bond with the water. A surreal feeling! Water is so essential to all living beings. It is inside us and around us, and we should never take it for granted. As an artist, I love incorporating natural sounds, and the sound of water is second to none!
Your music seems to blur boundaries—between genres, cultures, and even identities. How do you feel your multicultural background has shaped your sense of self, and how does that influence your music?
We strive so hard to be different from others, but we all want the same things. The lines between the richness of diversity and stifling dichotomy are blurring. We live in a polarized world today, and there is unrest. Music has and will always be a means to bridge our differences. I want to continue to show that through my music - how myriad cultures and backgrounds can come together and make something as beautiful as a heartwarming melody.
You’ve spoken about healing through music. What would you say has been the most healing or transformative moment of your career so far?
People have often called me logical, practical, and even stoic. I would agree with them for the most part, haha. Music has always been around me, but this music-making process has been a revelation and a pivotal moment in my life. It helped me come to terms with feelings of hurt from my family’s separation, past wounds that had resurfaced, and general skepticism toward life. Also, I had never truly experienced the freedom of creative expression until I put my music out into the universe. I’m just grateful to have been able to do it.
In what ways did the experience of living and traveling in different countries shape your understanding of what it means to “belong?"
A feeling of belonging is integral to who we are as humans and as social beings. I have always liked to think of myself as a global citizen. People are not that different at the core. I have found them to be warm and welcoming. Traveling has allowed me to carve a lovely place for myself that I call home, where I acknowledge and feel pride in my roots, but I do not let it shackle or seclude me. Instead, it’s open to assimilation. It’s where I can respect or even embrace new cultures and ways of life. When you can imbibe the best of all worlds, why not?