Sowmya Krishnamurthy

New York

Music Journalist at Freelance

Music and pop culture journalist. Author Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion. Next: Roc-A-Fella Records: An American Rap Dynasty

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Articles

Kendrick Lamar is the New Face of Chanel

3 weeks ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

The Kendrick Lamar reign just won’t let up… In the past week, the rapper kicked off his Grand National tour and voiced a new Gatorade ad. All of this was just the runway for his next chapter: Chanel model. The “Not Like Us” rapper is the French fashion house’s newest brand ambassador. And we got photos to prove. it. “I visited the Chanel ateliers and saw the process of how something goes from design to execution.
Coachella: Does a Music Festival Need Music?

1 month ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Coachella is back. This past weekend, Coachella 2025 took over Indio, California with headline performances from Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone. And rapper Travis Scott took the stage as a special headliner. A huge, cross-genre music festival with countless artists performing. And I’ll be honest: I didn’t hear one thing about any of it (expect for this review from Pitchfork). What I did hear about was Kylie Jenner. There are countless headlines about the reality star taking over Coachella.
Don't Be Washed! Reinvent Yourself

1 month ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

A fun fact about me: I love self improvement. Books, podcasts, YouTube videos. Every day, I consume something that inspires me and upgrades my mindset. I know there’s a lot of woo woo out there, so I’ll let you do your own research and decide what works for you. Don’t come for me!I’m an avid listener of The Mel Robbins Podcast and I was shocked to see a familiar face this week on her show…Charlamagne Tha God. The Breakfast Club host spoke about his life and career and how therapy has helped him grow.
What's the Difference Between Music and "Noise"?

1 month ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

What’s your favorite background noise? Maybe you like to relax to nature sounds like birds chirping, calm ocean waves or crickets. Or, you prefer a wash of nondescript white noise; an ongoing whooosh. Personally, I like to put on The Office and have the sounds of a mid-sized paper supply company as my soundtrack while writing. The music industry is currently debating the value of “noise”— and more importantly, whether it should be monetized in the same way as traditional music.
The Music Business (Still) Has a Problem

1 month ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

The music business has a problem. A diversity problem. Despite that black square that you might have posted on Instagram for “Blackout Tuesday” back in 2020, the music industry has not increased its diversity. Over the past year, I’ve seen pretty much all of my female and POC colleagues get the boot across the game. And now, we have numbers to back it up. A new study called Inclusion in the Music Business from Dr. Stacy L.
Yes. Your Career is Vanishing

1 month ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Millennials. We went to the record store every Tuesday to buy CDs. We watched TRL and 106 & Park. We read physical magazines like The Source, Rolling Stone and Vibe. We lived pop culture and wanted to be a part of it. That was the dream. Many of us are approaching—or have already reached—20 years in the game. We started as unpaid interns and assistants. We endured abuse, harassment and low pay under the guise of “put your head down, and do the work.” Hustle culture was the motto.
Stop Paying Attention to Kanye

1 month ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

That's enough Mr. West, please no more today…Back when Graduation dropped in 2007, this was a funny lyric that pretty much encapsulated our collective sentiments about Kanye West. Yes, the talented rapper/producer/fashion designer was a provocateur that would go off on rants and rages from time to time (Remember “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people”?), but his creative output was different and exciting. In other words, he could be a lot but damn it, he made hit records.
What Happens to Biggie Smalls?

2 months ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

"The greatest rapper of all time died on March 9." Every year, I share this lyric on social media to honor the anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s passing. It’s typically a day of celebration; a chance to revisit his classic albums like Ready to Die and Life After Death or attend Biggie tribute parties. I've gone to Biggie-inspired dinners (Welch’s grape juice makes an interesting marinade) and even been at the Empire State Building when it lit up in his honor.
I'm (Also) Breaking Up with Drake

2 months ago | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Back in 2015, Pitchfork ran an op-ed titled "I’m Breaking Up With Drake." In it, Meaghan Garvey boldly declared, “If Drake is the voice of our generation, we are all fucking doomed.” Naturally, the backlash was swift and vicious—Drake’s fans came out in droves, spewing the kind of toxic misogyny Garvey herself had called out in the first place. But here we are, ten years later, and her words? They couldn’t be truer.
Corporate loyalty doesn't pay

Sep 23, 2024 | sowmyak.substack.com | Sowmya Krishnamurthy

In The Office, boss Michael Scott always says that his employees are his family. “The people that you work with are, when you get down to it, your very best friends.” It’s a heartwarming thought— one that works great on a TV comedy. Many bosses and companies have tried to push this idea that your job is an emotional anchor in your life, something you need to care about more than a paycheck. In reality, corporate loyalty is not real. Or at the very least, it doesn’t pay.

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Sowmya Krishnamurthy @SowmyaK

14 May 25

I always called it HBO Max 🫠

Variety @Variety

HBO Max Lives! Max to Change Its Name Back After Two Years https://t.co/JPHZB9DeUe

Sowmya Krishnamurthy @SowmyaK

13 May 25

If you're following the Diddy trial, please follow credible journalists and actual news sources. There's a lot of misinformation, conspiracy theories and random people editorializing on social media without any fact-checking or sensitivity

Sowmya Krishnamurthy @SowmyaK

13 May 25

Imagine complaining to your professor that the work is "too hard" 🫠

Steve McGuire @sfmcguire79

An NYU professor AI-proofed his assignments. The students complained they were too hard and that “he was interfering with their ‘learning styles.’” https://t.co/44yIp7j8v4