When music director-producer Mikey McCleary first brought Ri (Riya Duggal), Sim (Simran Duggal), Zo (Zoe Siddharth) and Suchi (Suchita Shirke) together, it wasn’t about chasing overnight fame; it was about building something real.

After three years of trial, error and raw self-discovery, the quartet launched as W.i.S.H in March 2024 with their debut track Lazeez.

Signed to Sony Music India in 2023, they have since carved a space where pop appeal meets personal truth. Their track Boom Boom was featured in an episode of Netflix’s Dabba Cartel, and were featured in the official event song for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The pop band has also fronted campaigns for adidas and Maybelline.

With a new album and a merch line on the way, W.i.S.H is building for the long haul.

In our August issue (click here to buy a copy), the quartet unpacks finding their voice, performing for the algorithm, and why authenticity remains their loudest statement.

Those early years were anything but instant.

“It was a lot of trial and error writing songs, testing chemistry, practising dance,” Zo recalls. They were figuring out not just the music, but whether their voices and personalities could blend into something that felt real. That groundwork meant that by the time they pitched to Sony Music, they already had a clear sense of who they were and what they wanted to sound like.

Landing Sony’s support, says Suchi, was transformative. “They’ve guided us every step of the way.” For Zo, the label’s experience has been just as valuable in teaching them how to connect with audiences and market their music without losing their identity.

And that identity is central to everything they do. “W.i.S.H is about chasing whatever sets your soul on fire,” Ri says. For Suchi, it’s also about making music that feels relatable - the kind that listeners see themselves in.

Part of that connection happens online. “Our content reflects who we are - real, unfiltered, relatable,” Suchi says.

Each member brings her own personality into the mix, whether it’s Ri’s love for style, Zo’s playful energy, or Sim’s grounded charm.

For Sim, the goal is bigger than music: “We want younger girls to see that homegrown girl groups can thrive in India.”

That same authenticity guides their collaborations. “As long as we can stay true to ourselves, that’s what matters most,” Zo says. When Maybelline approached them, Sim says, it just clicked as a vibrant, youthful match with personal meaning for each member.

They’re equally intentional with their music rollouts. Short-form content, Reels and Shorts are central to their strategy. “Reels and Shorts are how we discover music now,” Ri says, pointing to how a hook step can push a track like Bolo Bolo into wider circulation before it even officially drops.

And there’s plenty more coming. Sim teases a new merch platform. Zo talks about touring. And Suchi delivers the big one: “Our album, Sweetburn, drops this August.”

To read the full interview, get the August issue here.

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