K-pop has crossed borders to become the dream of youth all over the world. And here is a protagonist who actually turned that dream into reality: Sriya, the main dancer and lead vocalist of the girl group BLACKSWAN, and the first-ever Indian idol in K-pop history.
Sriya proudly entered the K-pop scene after beating fierce competition with an audition ratio of 4,000 to 1. Her dream of becoming an idol began after chance brought her to an EXO performance, and even when schools closed during the pandemic, she never stopped.
She practiced dancing alone on her rooftop and picked up Korean by watching K-dramas. Her audition video, filmed on urban streets in India and inside yoga studios, earned her a spot on her very first flight—landing her directly on Korean soil.
Her flexibility and expressiveness, honed through childhood training in the traditional Indian dance form Odissi and yoga, naturally evolved into her signature powerful dance lines. Her debut story was even adapted into a Google commercial, inspiring countless viewers.
We met with Sriya at the Herald Square in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, as she appeared as a guest on Herald Muse’s confession talk show, “No Tension Podcast.”
Editor’s Note: The following is the complete interview script.
Q. I heard you are the first Indian idol in K-pop history. Looking back on your journey since making your official debut by beating fierce 4,000-to-1 odds, what is your most memorable moment?
▶ After debuting, I performed at the Hockey World Cup stage. The audience size back then was massive. It was extra memorable and deeply meaningful because it was my first performance in India, as well as my first time performing in front of my family.
Since then, I really wanted to stand on the “Waterbomb” stage. As time passed and I achieved my dreams one by one, the moment I finally stood at Waterbomb—which I had wanted so badly—became my most memorable experience to date, especially due to its incredible energy. Seeing the audience come together like they were all partying, enjoying themselves freely without any line between the stage and the crowd, made me feel a real sense of warmth.
Q. You nurtured your dream of becoming a K-pop artist by watching EXO and BTS music videos. Back when you were building your foundation through Hindustani classical music and Odissi traditional dance, what aspect of K-pop performance appealed to you the most?
▶ I think the biggest charm of K-pop is that multiple people are moving toward a single dream together. Seeing those people match their breathing perfectly while singing and executing clean, detailed choreography was deeply impressive. Among them, I particularly love the performances for EXO’s “Growl” and BTS’s “N.O.” Watching those stages, I wondered, “How can they dance like that while singing?” It hit me as a complete revelation.
On the other hand, traditional Indian dance has a very different feel. When performing traditional Indian dance, the main focus is on controlling your movements while concentrating on facial expressions. It was amazing to see how K-pop lets you tell “the story of my life” through dance.
Q. When academies closed due to the pandemic, you converted your rooftop into a practice room, teaching yourself dance and filming videos to chase your dream. During that intense preparation process, what was the biggest driving force that sustained you?
▶ Back then, during the pandemic, several things kept me going. When I needed strength, I listened to K-pop, and when I was sad, I listened to Indian music. I think I found peace of mind by mixing the two. Also, because I love nature, I found comfort in watching small trees grow. Listening to music while gazing at the stars in the night sky felt like a healing experience for my soul.
Q. Since your debut, have you had any memorable moments with your fellow members while adjusting to life in unfamiliar Korea? Also, are there any Korean habits you’ve picked up that make you feel fully adjusted now?
▶ When I first came to Korea, everything was unfamiliar and difficult. But I tried not to dwell on those thoughts, and from then on, I just did whatever I wanted without worrying. There was a time when I was overflowing with confidence about understanding Korean to some extent. Once, a situation arose where I had to interpret what Koreans were saying for my members. So I confidently stepped up, saying, “I’ll do it! I can do it!” I don‘t remember the exact words, but I confidently translated what I had understood in my own way—only to realize later that it meant something completely different.
Now, on the contrary, people often tell me that I seem like a local Korean. They say my pronunciation and intonation are natural enough to match native speakers. Also, my palate has become completely Koreanized. I really love gukbap (soup with rice), and since I regularly enjoy gamjatang (pork bone soup) or spicy dwaeji-gukbap (pork soup), people often ask in surprise, “Are you really a foreigner?”
Q. Since BLACKSWAN is a multinational group composed entirely of foreign members, your teamwork must be unique. What do you think is BLACKSWAN’s distinct communication method or chemistry that has allowed members with different languages and cultures to solidify into one team?
▶ Since the members come from various countries, our cultures are all different. That’s why whenever an issue arises, we communicate by sitting down together and talking it out. We share our thoughts honestly with one another, but without harboring resentment. First, we accept the other person as they are, and then we look at where we don‘t align by explaining things like, “In my country’s culture, it‘s like this.” After that, we work together to figure out how to resolve the issue.
Q. As BLACKSWAN’s main dancer and lead vocalist, you firmly anchor the stage. Compared to your debut days, in what area do you feel you have grown the most as an artist?
▶ Before my debut, I didn‘t feel a huge amount of pressure. But after debuting, the situation changed. That’s because I came to realize the weight of being a complete professional artist.
I felt that I had to perform exceptionally well every time and show a different side of myself every day. Likewise, my worries about making the stage entertaining and the pressure to showcase my unique charm grew just as much. Amid that pressure, I now try to approach the stage with the confidence that “all eyes should be on me.” Focusing solely on that moment rather than dwelling on the pressure is probably where I‘ve grown the most.
Q. I saw you participating in recent trending challenges on BLACKSWAN’s official accounts. Is there an artist you’d like to film a challenge with using a BLACKSWAN song, or a musician you’d love to collaborate with?
▶ If possible, I’d love to work with every artist. Among them, I really adore Chungha sunbaenim (senior). I think she is so cool and captivating as an artist. Also, I thought Taemin sunbaenim looked like a living painting when he dances. If an opportunity to collaborate with artists like them ever comes, it would be a tremendous honor. In fact, I might even cry because I wouldn‘t be able to believe I was standing next to them.
Q. Since BLACKSWAN’s “I Like It Hot” release in May 2025, the group has been on a break. Are you currently preparing for a new album?
▶ We are currently preparing for it. Beyond just the music, we’ve also prepared a variety of fun content that fans will love, so please show a lot of interest and look forward to it.
Q. Besides being on stage, are there any new fields you would like to challenge yourself in or things you want to try in the future?
▶ Since I have a lot of hobbies, my dreams change often. I’d love to try acting, and I also want to participate directly in producing and songwriting.
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with sports—specifically soccer. I grew to love it after being introduced to soccer for the first time upon coming to Korea. Right now, I’m playing in a team called ”Funny Kick,“ which I was connected to through an acquaintance who used to be a soccer player before quitting due to an injury. In the future, I’m thinking I’d like to take sports a bit more seriously beyond just a hobby.
Q. What goals do you hope to achieve as BLACKSWAN, and do you have a message for your global fandom, “LUMINA”?
▶ As BLACKSWAN, I want to keep releasing good music, and I hope our music provides healing and happiness to someone out there. Naturally, I also want to stand on many bigger stages.
“LUMINA” are the people I cherish and love most in the world. You cheer for us and help us more passionately than anyone, so I‘m always grateful just for you being by our side. Please continue to show us a lot of interest and love with that same warm heart. We, BLACKSWAN, will work even harder to repay you with great songs and content. As much as LUMINA loves us, we love you so very much, too.
Q. How do you feel about appearing on Herald Muse’s YouTube content No Tension Podcast, and could you pick one highlight for viewers to look out for?
▶ It was a delightful time because I could share my story in a comfortable atmosphere. I’d say the highlight to look out for in this video is “Biryani.” As I talked about India with the main MC, Jinhyeon, a lot of old memories came flooding back, making me feel nostalgic. Through this video, I was grateful for the opportunity to show global fans just how diverse India’s food and languages are.
The multinational confession talk show ‘No Tension Podcast’ releases new episodes every Thursday at 8 p.m. KST on the ‘Herald Muse’ YouTube channel.
Reported by Herald Muse Intern Writer Kim Da-young
Photos taken by Herald Muse Photo Journalist Min Kyung-bin
Reviewed and Edited by Herald Muse Editor-in-Chief Kim Hae-yeon
kimdayoung@heraldcorp.com
