In an exclusive conversation with Asian Voice, award-winning Australian playback singer Dhee reflected on the deeply personal journey behind her latest independent Tamil pop single, “Vari Vari”.
Known globally for viral hits such as Rowdy Baby and Enjoy Enjaami, the 27-year-old singer spoke candidly about heartbreak, belonging, and the emotional themes shaping her evolving artistry.
A song rooted in love and longing
Describing “Vari Vari” as an earnest love song, Dhee explained that the track explores unconditional love in all its forms like romantic, spiritual and personal.
“Vari Vari is about love that could be towards your partner, towards your child, towards God, towards my audience, towards yourself,” she said. “It’s kind of a search for yourself, a search for that love.”
What began as a creative project soon became unexpectedly intertwined with her own emotional experiences. During the making of the song, Dhee went through what she described as a painful and life-altering period marked by heartbreak and longing.
“I had something happen in my life which was kind of a very shocking new thing,” she revealed. “I felt a lot of longing and a lot of heartbreak as well.”
The singer admitted that the song gradually transformed into a source of comfort and healing. “It became very personal, it’s quite parallel to my life, for sure,” she added.
Living Everywhere, Yet Nowhere
Having grown up between Australia, Sri Lanka and Chennai, Dhee also reflected on the challenges of living across multiple cultures and constantly being on the move.
While her global upbringing has shaped her perspective and creativity, it has also left her searching for a sense of permanence.
“I do feel like I’m everywhere but nowhere at the same time,” she said. “I have learned to feel at home in places that isn’t home.”
For the past two years, Dhee explained, she has lived what she describes as a nomad lifestyle, travelling continuously between countries and projects. Though she finds joy in the experience, she acknowledged that the constant movement can be emotionally overwhelming.
“I think I’m searching for a sense of permanence,” she admitted. “Settling down in one place. That’s what I’m currently searching for.”
At the same time, the artist sees this uncertainty as an opportunity for self-discovery. She noted that constantly adapting to new places has helped her better understand herself and her identity.
Storytelling through her music
Despite the social and cultural themes explored in some of her previous collaborative works, Dhee emphasised that her song writing is never driven by obligation or outside pressure. Instead, she creates from emotional necessity and personal honesty.
“I’ve only ever spoken about things that felt natural to talk about,” she explained. “I need to represent myself honestly, and hopefully someone else will see themselves in that.”
When asked to define her artistic identity, Dhee said storytelling remains the connecting thread across all her music. “I love telling stories,” she said. “If there’s one thing all my songs have in common, it’s usually an element of storytelling.”
Looking ahead, Dhee plans to complete her debut studio album following the release of “Vari Vari” and hopes to take her new independent music on an international tour. Beyond career ambitions, however, the singer says her deeper search continues.
“I think my ultimate search would be something like enlightenment,” she reflected.
