12 Dec 2025
Exotic
RIKA
WE SAY
Rising British-Indian singer-songwriter RIKA is our final Ones To Watch 2026 this week. With more than 55m streams to date, she has carved out a distinctive East-meets-West sound, blending Bollywood-inflected melodies with polished contemporary pop. We first spotlighted her in early 2024 with the gorgeous ballad 'Long Shot' featuring Jamie Miller. Since then, she has released her 'Conversations I’ve Never Had' EP, opened for Miller on his UK and European tour, and returned this year with her most ambitious single yet. Produced by Oscar and Grammy-winning legend A.R. Rahman and penned by the iconic Diane Warren, 'Exotic' is a beautiful love song that marries Eastern nuance with widescreen pop drama and Rika's gorgeous, emotive vocals. ELLE India, The Hollywood Reporter India, and Rolling Stone India have all championed the collaboration, alongside a wave of support at DSPs, and she also performed the track live at Rahman’s sold-out O2 Arena show. In the UK, her music has garnered support from notable tastemakers, including BBC Radio 1 (Future Sound), BBC Introducing, BBC Asian Network, BritAsia TV, Spotify UK, Wonderland, and Spindle, among others. With its cross-cultural ambition and refined pop craft, 'Exotic' underlines RIKA as an artist with remarkable crossover potential, making her one to watch.
CONTACTS
Label: Warner Music India
Publishing: Warner Music India
Marketing, Radio, Streaming, Online, Press, TV, Club & Live: Amogh Thanawala, Warner Music India
Management: Irit TenHengel
Photo Credit: Warner Music India
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