Between Nethmi Sithara’s Lines

Soft But Rooted is a goal for a lot of us to maintain this year. Amongst the chaos of the world, many resides in comforting music. Music has healing qualities; as much as the melodies heal the listener, it heals the artist also. Healing isn’t linear and it isn’t fast. It is a journey of the ugly and unexpected, resulting in a flourish and peace within. Nethmi shared Soft But Rooted with the world as a testimony, a sign of hope for others at the beginning of the self-love journey and comfort for those who choose to dwell within it. Rather than just a project of songs, this EP is a story comprised of harmonics that could be considered meditative. Although Nethmi explores and reflects deep truths and sad events, her voice soothes you throughout the EP, reminding the listener that it is all okay. This is not a typical self-discovery project, this is unique, personal, almost whispered, suited for a particular crowd who is keen on self-growth, grounding and self-confrontation. Nethmi’s lyrics weighs heavy and aims for the soul. I had the pleasure of interviewing her to gain perspective of her creative artistry leading up to this point. I dived straight in by presenting the question:

Some people aim for fame, others for expression-only. What did you aim to achieve?
I’ve always aimed for expression first. For me, music is a way to be honest and to connect with people on a deeper level, to help someone through a melody. If my work can make someone feel seen or understood, then I believe I’ve achieved something meaningful. At the same time, I recognise that reaching a wider audience can amplify that impact, so I want to be successful in what I do.

When did music become important in your life?
Music became important to me when I started my first violin lessons. My teacher also introduced me to his choir, as well as vocal training, keyboard, mandolin, and he constantly encouraged me to grow. Through his influence, I began to understand what it truly means to be a musician. When I wrote my first composition with my cousin in 2019 (a Catholic hymn), it brought me so much joy that I began to build confidence in myself and discover my artistic values. Since then, music has been a part of myself.

What is the core meaning of your music?
It’s difficult to define, because a year ago, I was still trying to understand my style and fit it into specific genres. Over time, I’ve realised that my music isn’t about categorisation. At its core, it’s about connecting with the listener, being authentic, speaking my truth, and representing people’s stories through songwriting.

Does your music reflect real-life emotions and circumstances?

Yes, my music has always been a reflection of real-life emotions and circumstances, and I believe it will continue to be so in the future. Coming from a Sri Lankan community, where many people face injustice on a daily basis, it was only after moving to the UK that I began to recognise how deeply rooted discrimination can be in Sri Lanka and across South Asian societies.

My choice of themes is influenced by social media, daily news, and the aftermath of those events, as well as my own lived experiences in Sri Lanka. Observing how women are often disrespected and mistreated, (both in everyday life and online) has strongly influenced me to address these issues through my music. I hope to raise awareness not only within the Sri Lankan community but across wider audiences. For my most recent EP, Soft, but Rooted, I focused more on my personal experiences. This was challenging, as I wasn’t used to writing so openly about my own life, but I realised it was an important step in both my personal growth and my development as an artist.

Last year, May 2025, you performed 5 original pieces that confront deeply rooted social issues in South Asia. How did you begin composing those songs lyrically and sonically?

That performance is something that will always stay with me. I often find it easier to write lyrics based on real stories rather than creating entirely fictional narratives, because it allows me to stay true to my artistic voice. Prior to this, I had already written songs addressing issues such as rape and sexual abuse, and I noticed that audiences began to question and engage with the raw emotions I was trying to convey.

For this performance, I started by selecting topics that are essential to discuss, yet are often dismissed or normalised in South Asian societies. I then researched and wrote down true stories, highlighting key words to build the structure of each song. For example, my first piece focused on child abuse, based on a real incident in Sri Lanka in early 2025. I structured it through different perspectives: verse one from the witness’s point of view, verse two from the victim’s perspective, and the chorus from the ally’s perspective. I also chose to write in both English and Sinhalese. While most of the audience were English speakers, incorporating Sinhalese allowed me to maintain the authenticity of the stories while still creating a strong lyrical connection with the audience.

Sonically, I approached each song differently. One of my main aims was to create a fusion of R&B and South Asian classical music, particularly drawing on Carnatic vocal techniques. I see this blending of genres as a reflection of my journey as an artist. For my fourth piece, which explored the effects of violence against women on mental health, I chose to create a non-lyrical composition. This was both to demonstrate versatility and to represent the voices of women who are often silenced. I wanted the audience to understand the emotional weight of the story without words, using only Carnatic-inspired vocals. The addition of drums was intended to evoke a sense of trauma and act as a warning, symbolising the breaking of silence.

Are you a planned and calculated artist, or do you go with the flow?
I think I’m a combination of both, depending on the situation. I usually plan ahead, I like to set goals, make lists, and create deadlines to maintain consistency in my work. At the same time, I’ve learned to adapt when things don’t go as planned and to make decisions based on what feels right in the moment, while still thinking about the bigger picture. For example, when I released my EP, I had already completed the tracks more than six months earlier. I hadn’t initially planned to release them as a project, but I decided to bring them together as an EP, hoping it would be a meaningful starting point for my artistic journey.

Where do you see yourself heading after your recent EP, Soft but Rooted?
After Soft but Rooted, I see myself continuing to grow both sonically and conceptually. This EP was a starting point for exploring my personal experiences, and moving forward I want to expand that by combining personal storytelling with wider social narratives. I also plan to revisit the songs from my performance last year and release them on streaming platforms. In addition, I aim to release an album before the end of 2026. I’m particularly drawn to exploring the intersection between culture, voice, and identity, especially through blending genres and experimenting with vocal expression. Ultimately, I want to create work that feels both intimate and impactful, while continuing to build and connect with my audience.