An Odissi girl made her K-pop debut with BLACKSWAN - Karma

Shreya Lenka, best known by her stage name Sriya, is one of just two Indian artists to crack South Korea's highly competitive and lucrative entertainment industry. A 20-year-old from the Indian state of Odisha has made her K-pop debut on the highly anticipated comeback album of the girl group BLACKSWAN from South Korea.

Sriya, who was selected at the age of 18 together with Brazil's Gabriela Dalcin, was trained in both classical Odissi and more modern forms of dance. Her ‘deep voice’ was a credit to the vocal coach she found with the help of her grandma. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she used her outdoor terrace as a studio to prepare for the worldwide K-pop auditions.

The members of BLACKSWAN dress in a variety of clothes influenced by Indian culture and couture, performing to the kind of music and choreography that have come to be associated with K-pop acts.

BLACKSWAN's newest single, titled "Karma," showcases the band's fresh lineup and artistic focus. Sriya's home state of Odisha provided the backdrop for the music video, which shows bustling cityscapes and rural ruins softened by vegetation. The high-energy performance is maintained throughout the video which also features a young Odissi dancer in traditional costume and the evocative red brick walls of a school.

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