Mia Takarab’s J-pop journey is now on the world stage

From Adelaide to Tokyo, then Melbourne, the different experiences of three cities and the combination of two cultures have shaped musician Mia Takarab's artistry. At just 20 years old, this global J-pop artist has stepped onto the international music stage. Her journey is not just about music; it is also a story of finding her identity and embracing everything.

Mia, the child of an Indian mother raised in a Sikh family and a Japanese father, was born in Adelaide, Australia. She spent a large part of her childhood between Australia and Tokyo. She later settled in Melbourne. Growing up between two cultures was not always easy. Sometimes it felt like she could not fully adapt to any one identity. However, with time, that dilemma changed with the power of self-identity.

Mia realized that she did not have to choose a specific identity, Japanese or Indian. Rather, she could embrace all of her identities. That realization is now one of the foundations of her music.

Growing up in Japan, Mia had the opportunity to speak Japanese at home, eat traditional food, and be exposed to Japanese music and culture. On the other hand, her Indian roots with her Sikh family have made her deeply emotional with India. The Australian environment has added Western pop influences to her music.

The recipes from her two families are also very precious to Mia. For her, these are not just recipes; they are living memories of her roots and traditions.

The musician says that this multicultural identity is now the strength of her career. She is creating her own unique identity by mixing different cultures and musical genres. Her first single, ‘Heartless’, which features two-time Grammy nominee Steve Aoki, has already received over a million streams on Spotify. The song debuted at number 31 on Billboard and has also achieved the highest save rate in the world in India.

Mia has turned her differences into a force for creativity, not letting them become an obstacle. After experiencing Adelaide, Tokyo and Melbourne, his journey now takes him to the world music stage. And the main message of that journey is that one can find one's own place by embracing all of one's identities.