TikTok is a place where for many young creatives and budding public figures, dreams really do become reality. For most, it's a comfort zone for shameless doom scrolling, dance challenges and live battles, a means to connect with people on the other side of the globe through an up-and-down swipe. But on the flipside, it has long held a reputable history of breaking the ground for emerging, DIY musicians – its bewildering power proving time and time again to push young artists into the spotlight.

For 18-year-old Sydney-based singer-songwriter Esha Tewari, TikTok sparked the beginning of an electrifying career in music. Within the confines of her bedroom, a 17-year-old Esha began crafting up melancholic, heartfelt indie-folk songs that described her experiences with teenagehood. Wilting roses and acoustic guitar melodies set the tone for stories that recount yearnful experiences of troubled love, often from the perspective of people outside of herself. Young, freethinking and motivated by the rawness and vulnerability of humanity, Esha Tewari’s music instantly began to resonate with young people online. 

@heartofesha

this is not my best recording i mess up a couple times but its fine #singersongwriter #originalsong #phoebebridgers #jeffbuckley #beabadoobee #gracieabrams #songwriter #fyp #awesome #VoiceEffects

♬ promises that fall through song - esha tewari

She explores the intricacies of life in a way that makes you forget she's just 18. Her grasp on complex human emotions and the weight of a doomed relationship makes her appear older and wiser beyond her years, as if she were that older cousin in your ear dishing out stories about the one that got away. Once you peel back the layers and simply listen, you come to realise just why Esha Tewari is such a rising star.

The Tewarians (the name of her fanbase) have become a loyal, consistent foundation for Esha to soundboard her most wildest thoughts and unrestrained ideas, with fans all around the world rejoicing in every release. In the span of just over 16 months, Esha has amassed over 800k monthly listeners on Spotify, and released two EPs: i can and better off. As she plots the release of her forthcoming EP wraith, we chat to Esha about her journey with music and the beauty of writing as a teenage girl, for teenage girls.

Tell me about growing up. Are you part of a musical family?

None of my parents play any instruments. But when I was four, I started playing violin, and I learned how to read music, for about nine years. I played piano for a bit for about three years, I had lessons, and then I also started learning guitar by myself when I was in year 7, and then I started getting lessons in year 9, 10. And then in year 10, I started singing, since I did musical theater.

Although your parents didn’t have a musical background, were they supportive of your interest in music during this time?

Definitely, my parents really enjoy music. They really love jazz. And my dad loves all kinds of music, so he was very happy. And so was my mom, she was very encouraging of me wanting to be creative.

When did it start to make sense for you to put pen to paper and write lyrics and make music?

I probably started writing when I was around 17. I was writing every day, just trying to get better. As I got better at it, it became more of an outlet and less of a learning thing. If something were to happen and I was feeling really emotional, I wrote a song about it. And it felt somewhat like a release.

Do you have a favourite songwriter or a favourite artist that you kind of draw from in order to get that motion going for yourself?

My favourite is probably Jeff Buckley, but I like a lot of other artists. I like Elliot Smith, Lana Del Rey. One of my favourite artists right now is ROLE MODEL and Fontaines D.C..

It’s been about a year now since you released your debut single with ease. Tell me about the year that’s gone past, and everything that has happened since you released the song.

If I think too much about it, then it can get to my head both in a good way and a bad way. But I just try to keep doing what I'm doing, and focus on what’s ahead but it’s very exciting how it came about, because it was my first time posting [the song] on Tik Tok. And then when it got to 20k likes I was so excited. When that happened, I was like, oh my gosh, I'm literally so viral right now.

From that moment on, you've kind of organically built up a really loyal fan base. Why do you think people feel super drawn to your music?

My audience is made up of young girls, teenage girls, and because I'm a teenage girl, it's very easy for me to then connect with them. I don't have to do anything different to have them relate to me. It's very easy for me to reach them because it's all just me.

Definitely, you don't have to put on a front or anything, or you don't have to pretend to be someone. Last year, you dropped two EPs. What can you share about being able to put those first two bodies of work together?

With those EPs, I just wanted to put something out. I really liked i can, and then when I posted a video playing beautiful boy, it went viral. And I was like, oh, I guess I have to put this one on the EP as well. And then I put with ease on it, because it was my first single, and I just put an extra song, because I thought all EPs have to have four songs. And then, for the better off EP, it was a little bit more methodical. I was still choosing my favorite songs that I'd already written, I didn't write any new songs for the EP.

We’re leading up to your third EP wraith coming out this year, how does this project differ from the last two? What kind of stories are being told, or were there any differences in the process of putting it together?

So with this EP we started with nothing. I wrote about 20 songs, and with my producer, we chose the ones that we think are the best fit, but also then expanded on my sound and tried to establish my sound. The past two EPs were like finding my sound, and then this one is like establishing my sound. It was a lot more methodical and thought through even with the visuals and all that stuff.

Yeah, 100%. And I think now that you've said that, you can actually hear the level of maturity and growth. Once the EP is released to the world, what’s next for you?

I have my big Australian tour, which starts next week, and then I have my US tour, which starts in July. So basically, after the EP, I'll be touring, and I plan on touring for a while, probably until the end of next year. I’m just hoping to keep the momentum running, especially with touring and live shows, because I feel like live shows are the best way to make solid fans and really grab people. And I’ve been writing for my next project since February. I've just been writing to have the most I can in my bank. So that's all I have really planned.

That’s really exciting. And then to close, what is the overarching goal? What do you want people to know about Esha Tewari?

I think my overall goal is to be able to make music forever, and be able to live off of music until I'm old, and able to also create until I'm old and grow with my music. I know my own goals are just to be the best I can possibly be. I have very high standards for myself and I want people to know that I'm here to stay, and I'm gonna just  keep growing. I want to keep growing as a person, as an artist. I want to reach more people and I want to take over the world.

Esha Tewari’s forthcoming EP wraith releases on May 1st. Pre-save the project here.