From creating new songs to busting myths about female friendship, the rising all-girl band WiSH talks about navigating India’s music landscape. They say they want to pass on the message to dream big
(L-R) Suchita Shirke, Zoe Siddharth, Simran and Riya Duggal
Where are the all-girl bands in India? We might have indie bands like The Vinyl Records, and Tetseo Sisters, but it has been over two decades since India saw a girl group like Viva take mainstream music by storm. Now, a new band is claiming their place on the stage — Wish (known as W.i.S.H), a Gen Z girl-band comprising Riya Duggal, Simran Duggal, Zoe Siddharth, and Suchita Shirke. Influenced by everything from Bollywood to BTS, their focus is on honest storytelling and creative freedom.
“We’re not just representing our music,” starts Simran. “We’re also dancers, performers, and fashion lovers — Zoe paints, and we all bring something personal to the table. It’s not pressure; it’s who we are. We’ve been preparing for this our whole lives.”
Before you wonder how they arrived at the band’s name, Wish is an acronym for ‘World Inka Stage Hai’. They made their debut in March 2024 with the single, Lazeez. “Each of us had doubts before the band,” admits Riya, Simran’s sister, before adding, “But the moment we came together, we knew something special was happening. We’ve not looked back since.”
While the group draws inspiration from global icons like Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls, and BTS, they are equally rooted in Indian music. “There was Viva before us; they paved the way,” says Siddharth. “Artistes like Sunidhi Chauhan are huge inspirations. Performing with her felt unreal.” The band performed Crazy Kiya Re with Chauhan at YouTube FanFest 2024 in Mumbai.
Being a girl band in 2025 offers the chance to have your voice heard and tell the world who you are. But Wish says that even today, they deal with age-old misconceptions. “People think we don’t eat or that we’re being forced to do this,” laughs Shirke. “We eat a lot — this is our second lunch! We have full creative freedom. We write, we experiment, and we want everything we create — our music, videos, even social media — to feel real.”
Another myth they have to bust? “That girls in a group must be fighting,” says Riya sardonically. “We get along like sisters. We dance and sing together.” Shirke adds, “We even do our make-up together. If someone doesn’t have a lipstick, we just borrow it from each other.” It’s these small things, they say, that reflect the larger bond that holds them together. “There is strength in knowing someone’s always got your back,” smiles Riya.
The message they want to send out drives their music. “We want to say that it is possible to dream big. Do it, even if it’s scary,” says Siddharth.
Other all-girl music bands in India
. The Vinyl Records
. Ladies Compartment
. Meraki
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