Check Out Karisna Harjani’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karisna Harjani.

Hi Karisna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Hong Kong, but as both a US and British citizen, I’ve always felt like a bit of a citizen of the world. Because of that, music became my home — the one thing that stayed constant no matter where I was. My Indian heritage and upbringing across Hong Kong, the UK, and the US have deeply shaped both who I am and the kind of artist I want to be.

Honestly, my music journey started as soon as I could speak. My parents always say I used to “sing to the moon,” and apparently one of the first little songs I ever made up was called Moon in the Sky. When I was four years old, I begged my mom for piano lessons. Growing up in Hong Kong, learning an instrument was often very exam-focused and centered around classical training, so my mom actually had to ask my piano teacher if I could learn pop songs alongside the classical pieces. All I wanted to do was sit at the piano and sing Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez songs like Love Story and Who Says. That was really the beginning of everything.

I started songwriting when I was around seven years old, and from that point on, music became how I processed emotions and understood the world around me. Over time, I realized the essence of my music is emotional contrast. My songs often begin in vulnerability, confusion, or heartbreak and build toward clarity and empowerment. I love creating tension and release — both sonically and emotionally. Some songs are cinematic and story-driven, while others revolve around one emotionally charged phrase or hook, but they all live in that space where heartbreak meets glamor. I always say my music feels like “walking through fire — but doing it in heels.”

Moving to New York to attend the Clive Davis Institute at NYU was a huge turning point for me creatively. It pushed me to take myself seriously as an artist and helped me develop my sound: emotionally charged, high-drama pop with a heart. My music blends influences from pop, R&B, soul, and more recently house music, all tied together through strong storytelling, powerful vocals, and big emotional moments.

Since releasing music independently beginning in 2022, I’ve been building my audience online through TikTok and Instagram while also learning the business side of the industry through internships and now working professionally in music. Having both the creative and business perspective has taught me how much intention it takes to build a sustainable career as an artist today.

At the core of everything I do is representation and connection. I want people — especially young women from multicultural backgrounds who have never fully seen themselves reflected in mainstream pop — to feel seen, heard, and empowered through my music. My audience is made up of people who feel deeply, who love a dramatic pop anthem, and who want songs that feel like both a diary entry and the soundtrack to their life. If someone walks away from my music feeling stronger, more understood, or more unapologetically themselves, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. I think one of the biggest challenges has been choosing a path that felt very different from the people around me growing up. A lot of my friends went into more traditional careers — math, medicine, economics, computer science — paths that felt stable and expected. Meanwhile, I chose music, which is beautiful and fulfilling but also incredibly uncertain at times. Even now, pursuing a creative career can still feel scary because there’s no guaranteed roadmap.

Growing up in a conservative Indian community also added another layer to that. Success was often defined in a very specific way, and becoming a pop artist didn’t necessarily fit that mold. There were definitely moments where I questioned myself or felt the pressure of comparison, especially watching people around me move into careers that seemed more secure or socially accepted.

At the same time, I’ve learned that when you choose a nontraditional path, you also have to learn resilience much earlier. I’ve had to balance being both the artist and the businessperson — building my music independently, creating content, networking, learning marketing, and figuring things out as I go. There’s also the emotional side of being an artist: putting vulnerable experiences into songs and sharing them publicly can feel terrifying sometimes.

But despite all of that, I’ve never really been able to picture myself doing anything else. Music has always felt bigger than fear for me. Every challenge has pushed me to become more confident in who I am and more certain about the kind of impact I want to make. I think the struggles have actually shaped my artistry — my music is all about turning vulnerability into empowerment, and a lot of that comes directly from my own experiences navigating this journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a singer-songwriter creating emotionally charged pop music that blends vulnerability, empowerment, and cinematic storytelling. My sound pulls from pop, R&B, soul, and house influences, and I’m especially drawn to creating songs that feel both intimate and explosive — where the verses pull you into a personal moment and the chorus feels like an emotional release. A lot of people describe my music as “crying in the club” energy, which honestly feels very accurate to me.

I specialize in writing songs built around emotional contrast. My music often starts from heartbreak, confusion, longing, or insecurity and builds toward strength and self-awareness. I love creating tension and release — both lyrically and sonically. Some of my songs are very cinematic and story-driven, while others revolve around one strong emotional hook or phrase. No matter the style, I always want the listener to feel something deeply.

I think I’m most known for combining big vocal moments and emotionally honest songwriting with a strong sense of identity and visual world-building. My music lives in this space where heartbreak meets glamour — high-drama pop with a heart. I want listeners to feel empowered through their emotions, not despite them. There’s a lot of main-character energy in what I create, but it’s rooted in real experiences and vulnerability.

What sets me apart is my perspective. Growing up Indian across Hong Kong, the UK, and the US has given me a very global lens on both music and identity. I didn’t grow up seeing many artists in mainstream pop who looked like me or shared similar cultural experiences, so I’ve always felt driven to create the kind of representation I wish I had growing up. I think my audience connects with the fact that I don’t fit into one box musically or culturally — and I don’t try to.

One of the things I’m most proud of is staying committed to this path even when it felt unconventional or uncertain. I’ve independently built my artistry from the ground up — writing songs since I was seven, releasing music independently, building an audience online, performing live, and learning both the creative and business sides of the industry. I’m proud that I’ve stayed authentic to who I am throughout all of it.

More than anything, I’m proud when someone tells me that a song made them feel seen, stronger, or understood. That’s always been the goal for me.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’m very open to collaborations and connecting with new people, especially other artists, producers, songwriters, creatives, and anyone passionate about building meaningful work.

The best way to keep up with me and my music is through my socials — Instagram is probably where I’m most active creatively and visually, and TikTok is where I share a lot more behind-the-scenes moments, songwriting content, and personality.

You can find me here:

Instagram: @karisnaa
TikTok: @karisnaaaaa

For collaborations, music opportunities, songwriting sessions, performances, or industry inquiries, people can also reach out via email at mgmt@karisna.com.

I’m always looking to work with producers, writers, artists, DJs, and creatives from all over the world. I love blending influences and pushing my sound into new spaces, especially recently exploring more house and dance-inspired music alongside emotional pop. At the end of the day, I just love connecting with people who are passionate about storytelling, emotion, and creating music that makes people feel something real.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://karisna.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karisnaa
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Karisnaaaaa