The New Angelic Voice Taking Over TikTok : Paravi Das

Whenever I see Paravi come up on my For You Page on TikTok, she blesses my ears with her soulful and nostalgic voice. The way the notes just flow so naturally and how she’s so confident when it comes to whatever genre is trending at the time. Paravi, otherwise known by her TikTok (pxrxvi), has reached the heart of more than 782.3K people globally! Her covers of popular hit songs can be found on TikTok or on her Youtube channel (pxrxvi) as well. Her mashup of Electric Love (ELCTRC LUV) and Godspeed is something sent from the heaven’s above and is literal music to your ears. She’s one of TikTok’s rising stars and she’s a phenomenal singer so check her out!

Here’s a little bit about her! Paravi Das (pronounced Par-OH-vee) is a 19 year old everything. Singer, artist, actress, TikTok creator, friend, the-color-yellow-lover, Musical Theater major, Indian- American, UCLA student, Harry Styles stan, social media aficionado whatever she loves, she IS. And despite all the things she loves, her driving force is representation. As a little girl looking at her television set, she could never confidently expect someone who looked like her to dance across the screen. She could never confidently expect someone who looked like her to make the music she was listening to on her second-hand iPod. She could never confidently expect that anyone in American entertainment would look like her. Her stages and screens could never be treated as mirrors growing up. And she expects to destroy that glass ceiling. That’s her motivation. So that no little brown girl ever has to grow up believing they will always be chained to a supporting role, to a background character. So that no little brown girl decides they aren’t good enough for the spotlight.

Interview with Paravi Das

1.) When did you start singing? What’s your earliest memory of you singing?

I like to say I’ve been singing since before I could talk. I grew up around music, and have been singing since around age 3. I was trained in classical Indian voice growing up, and didn’t really sing in English in school until 7th grade choir.

2.) What are some of your favorite music genres? What’s a comfort song?

My favorite music genres are pop and indie music, but I really listen to a range from classical choir like Eric Whitacre to early 2000’s pop like Avril Lavigne. My comfort song is definitely “Marry You” by Bruno Mars. It never fails to put a smile on my face.

3.) How was the journey starting your TikTok? What are some things that you love about it?

I started TikTok in February of 2019, the first video I posted got 100k views or so, which was a comedy skit about choosing colleges (I was a senior in high school at the time). I basically dipped from the app until August of 2019, when I posted a video singing some harmonies with friends that completely blew up, and is now at 12 million views on the app. I again took a break due to moving into college at UCLA, and honestly didn’t really touch the app again till quarantine. Everything about my life has been turned upside down since March 2020.

I love the sense of connection I feel with the people who follow me, just interacting with these new friends, as I like to call them, in the comment sections, on live streams, etc. make my day. Plus, I’ve met some of my best friends through the app. When you find a community you click with, it’s really something beautiful. I’m so grateful for what TikTok has allowed me to pursue, and the people it’s allowed me to meet.

4.) What’s next for Paravi in 2021? What are some goals and aspirations?

While I’m a Musical Theater emphasis at UCLA, 2021 is going to be all about developing myself as a recording artist. I’ve been doing songwriting sessions, teaching myself production, piano, and plenty of other things. I’ve just been working round the clock to practice, practice, practice until I’m ready to release something I’m proud of. New music might be on the way very soon…

5.) What’s your favorite Bollywood movie?

Definitely a huge fan of the Dhoom movies. Grew up watching them and still can’t do the dances.

6.) What are some things that motivate you? Who inspires you?

My family is everything to me. My parents have worked so incredibly hard to make sure my brother and I have more opportunities that we can count. As immigrants, they sacrificed everything to make sure we had what they couldn’t, and I am forever indebted to them. I work tirelessly to make sure that I make my parents proud, and I really hope I’ve been doing just that. My brother is another one of my inspirations. Like I said, my parents were immigrants, so my brother really had to go through everything in America for the first time. He paved the way for me to follow, so I owe everything I have been able to do to him.

7.) If you could do a duet with anyone, who would it be?

This list is long, but Harry Styles or Shawn Mendes have always been the dream.

8.) Do your parents support your singing, and have they always been supportive?

My parents are incredibly supportive, I don’t think anyone has ever believed in me as much as they do. They’ve always been the best parents anyone could ever ask for, and I’m so grateful for all that they are.