W.i.S.H.

Last updated

W.i.S.H.
W.i.s.h. official-20250814-0001.jpg
W.i.S.H. in July 2025
From Left to Right: Suchi, Zo, Sim and Ri
Background information
Origin Mumbai, India
Genres I-pop [1] • Pop • Disco
Years active2024–present
LabelsBay Music House [2]
Sony Music India
Members
  • Ri
  • Sim
  • Zo
  • Suchi
Website Official website

W.i.S.H. is an Indian girl group. Managed by Bay Music House, the group is composed of four members: Ri, Sim, Zo and Suchi. [3] [4] They made their debut on 1 March 2024, with single "Lazeez". The single is a part of the band's debut eight-track album Sweetburn. [5] The group incorporates a mix of English and Hindi lyrics, blending international pop music with elements of Indian musical traditions. [6]

Contents

Name

W.i.S.H. is an acronym for the phrase "World Inka Stage Hai" (Hindi : वर्ल्ड इनका स्टेज है, lit.  'The world is their stage'). [7] The name is also a play on the word Wish.

History

Pre-Debut activities

In early 2024, music composer Mikey McCleary announced the formation of the all-girl I-pop group W.i.S.H. in collaboration with Sony Music India. McCleary stated that the project was conceived to bridge the gap between mainstream Bollywood music and India’s independent music scene. [8]

Mikey McCleary the the group's main producer, recently moved to India to found the project. Mikey McCleary.jpg
Mikey McCleary the the group's main producer, recently moved to India to found the project.

Ri and Sim, who are sisters, previously performed together as the pop duo Simetri. They placed in the Top 24 of a nationwide competition for English-language artists and performed at the 2023 edition of Lollapalooza India. Ri is the leader of W.i.S.H. [9]

Zo, was previously part of the musical duo Zoe & Urgen, with whom she released original music. She also appeared on the reality television series The Stage. [10]

Suchi, previously worked in a production-house desk role and had participated in her school choir before pursuing a career in music. [11]

McCleary contacted the members individually over a period of time, beginning with Ri, followed by Sim, Suchi, and Zo. Some were approached through prior professional associations, while others were invited after their performances or online content were noted by the production team. [12]

March 2024—December 2024: Debut with Lazeez, Galti, Therapy, Headrush, Boom Boom

Music composer Mikey McCleary launched the all-girl I-pop group W.i.S.H. in collaboration with Sony Music India. [13] McCleary aims to fill the gap between the mainstream Bollywood music and Indie music. [14] [15]

On March 1, 2024, W.i.S.H. debuted by performing and releasing their first single, "Lazeez," which translates to "delicious" in Urdu. The song features vibrant visuals in which the group is symbolically portrayed as food items, representing their appeal in a playful and metaphorical way. "Lazeez" includes a catchy beat, choreography, and a blend of Indian and Western musical elements. The track incorporates both Hindi and English lyrics, contributing to its broader cultural reach. The fashion and style in the music video also reflect a combination of Indian and Western influences, complementing the song's contemporary sound and global appeal.

In an attempt to portray different emotions and diverse style, McCleary has taken inspiration from international icons like Michael Jackson and Ariana Grande, as well as Indian stalwarts like A. R. Rahman and Sunidhi Chauhan. [6] Suchi also takes inspiration from Fifth Harmony. [16]

On September 23, 2024, the International Cricket Council (ICC) released the official theme song for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. [17] The tournament's theme song, "Whatever It Takes," was written by W.i.S.H. [18]

A revamped rendition of the classic song Boom Boom, which was first performed by Nazia Hassan in 1982, was published by W.i.S.H. on December 13, 2024. The new version, was produced by Mikey McCleary and Parth Parekh. [19] The group's performance at YouTube Fanfest India 2024 stands out as their most memorable moment, according to Zoe Siddharth. Future collaborations with musicians like Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Jungkook, Karan Aujla and Diljit Dosanjh are among the group's goals. [20]

Mumbai, the city in the state of Maharashtra where the group was created and currently resides. Vidhan Bhavan aerial view.jpg
Mumbai, the city in the state of Maharashtra where the group was created and currently resides.

2025—present: Bolo Bolo, Sweetburn

W.i.S.H. collaborated with rapper Panther from MTV Hustle for their track Bolo Bolo, which was an Afro-Desi fusion. In the Indian pop music scene, it was praised as one of the most surprising and impactful crossover of 2025. Mikey McCleary also made an appearance in the music video. [21]

On August 10, 2025, W.i.S.H. released their first full album titled Sweetburn.

In August 2025, W.i.S.H. were announced as the face of cosmetics brand Maybelline due to its expansion and launch in India. In the same month, the group released a conceptual music video for the track "Ishaare" from the album "Sweetburn".

Members

Training

Band member Suchita Shirke explained in an interview with India Today on 1 May 2025, W.i.S.H doesn't adhere to a rigid K-pop-style diet regimen or have members who serve as leader, visuals, etc. According to Zoe Siddharth, unlike South Korea, which has a K-pop infrastructure with production going on for decades, India lacks a boot camp training system. W.i.S.H. is trying to lay the groundwork for a similar system to flourish in India. Unable to follow the K-pop approach, the band is trying to create their own way. [22]

Artistry

Influences

They draw musical influences from international artists like Michael Jackson and Ariana Grande, as well as Indian musicians such as A. R. Rahman and Sunidhi Chauhan. [23] Their producer, Mikey McCleary, has cited these artists as inspirations, and group member. Suchi has also mentioned admiration for Fifth Harmony. [16] Their music blends international pop elements with Indian characteristics, shaping their unique sound within the I-pop genre.

In an interview with India Today on 21 May 2025, South Korean singer, songwriter, rapper, composer, and dancer Kino, who was a member of the boy band Pentagon, stated that he would like to work with W.i.S.H. [24]

Discography

Albums

Singles

YearTitleRelease DateRef.Album
2024Lazeez1 March 2024 [7] Sweetburn
Galti11 April 2024 [26]
Therapy7 June 2024 [15]
Headrush24 July 2024 [27]
Whatever It Takes23 September 2024 [17] Non-album single
Boom Boom13 December 2024 [28] Non-album single
2025Bolo Bolo11 July 2025 [29] Sweetburn

References

  1. ↑ Gogoi, Monami (April 8, 2024). "India's newest girl group W.i.S.H wants to disrupt K-pop market. They're I-pop ambassadors". ThePrint. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Roach, Brenessa (July 23, 2024). "W.i.S.H: Indian Pop Girl Group Unveils Formation Story, New Hit "Therapy" & Ambitious Future Plans. [Exclusive Interview]". Behind The Beat. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Mikey McCleary's project W.I.S.H set to bring new pop star energy to India". The Times of India. February 29, 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ Bobby, Harpal (March 22, 2024). "W.i.S.H.: The Indian girl group aiming to take over the world". BBC News . Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  5. ↑ Kulkarni, Srushti (February 29, 2024). "Mikey McCleary introduces all-girl Indian-pop band, W.I.S.H, with the release of their debut music video today". Indulgexpress. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Bijolia, Disha (March 1, 2024). "Careful What You W.i.S.H. For: Get To Know The Newest Homegrown Girl Group". Homegrown. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "'Careful what you W.i.S.H. for' says India's first girl group in two decades!". ThePrint. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Mikey McCleary's project W.I.S.H set to bring new pop star energy to India". The Times of India. February 29, 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  9. ↑ Britto, David (September 24, 2019). "Meet Nexa Music Top 24 Artist: Simetri". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  10. ↑ Britto, David (October 7, 2021). "See Zoe Siddharth Pick Herself Up in New Video For 'Chasing'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ "W.I.S.H — here's the rise of India's first all-GenZ girl band after 22 years - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. April 20, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ Gogoi, Monami (April 8, 2024). "India's newest girl group W.i.S.H wants to disrupt K-pop market. They're I-pop ambassadors". ThePrint. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Mikey McCleary's project W.I.S.H set to bring new pop star energy to India". The Times of India. February 29, 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ Keswani, Pallavi (March 19, 2024). "Mikey McCleary and his new girl group W.i.S.H. have ambitious plans for Indian pop music". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Rajeev, Vibha (July 1, 2024). "WiSH going places with third single". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Keswani, Pallavi (March 19, 2024). "Mikey McCleary and his new girl group W.i.S.H. have ambitious plans for Indian pop music". The Hindu . Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "'Whatever It Takes' - Official ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 event song launched". www.icc-cricket.com. September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ Chhabria, Vinay (September 24, 2024). "Who is W.i.S.H.? 5 interesting facts about the Indian girl band in 2024 Women's T20 World Cup song". Sportskeeda. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Indian pop girl group W.i.S.H. revives Nazia Hassan's Boom Boom with contemporary twist". The Telegraph. December 16, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  20. ↑ Narain, Yatamanyu (December 18, 2024). "W.i.S.H. Talks Live Performances, Rituals And Breaking Barriers: 'We Bring Girl Power To The Stage' | Exclusive". News18. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  21. ↑ "The power collab you didn't see coming: W.i.S.H. & Panther Say "Bolo Bolo"". radioandmusic.com. July 14, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  22. ↑ Bandyopadhyay, Zinia (May 1, 2025). "Exclusive: Girl group W.i.S.H wants to collaborate with Jungkook, Dua Lipa". India Today. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  23. ↑ Britto, David (September 24, 2019). "Meet Nexa Music Top 24 Artist: Simetri". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  24. ↑ Bandyopadhyay, Zinia (May 21, 2025). "Ex-Pentagon member Kino wants to collaborate with W.i.S.H. Girl band reacts | Exclusive". India Today. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  25. ↑ "W.i.S.H Drops Debut Album Sweetburn, Blending Desi Glam with Global Pop Sounds | Deets Inside" . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  26. ↑ Mazumdar, Ratnalekha (May 2, 2024). "The new all-girl music band W.iS.H is all set to breathe a lease of life into the indie pop music movement in India" . Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  27. ↑ PR, ANI (July 29, 2024). "Headrush by W.i.S.H. is a pair of rose tinted glasses you never want to take off!". ThePrint. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Indian Pop girl group W.i.S.H. revives the classic track 'Boom Boom' with a contemporary twist". radioandmusic.com. December 16, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  29. ↑ Mishra, Khushi (July 11, 2025). "When Girl Power Meets Street Swagger: W.i.S.H. x Panther's "Bolo Bolo" Is Here". filmibeat.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
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