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Persuading immigrant parents to forgo education for the arts is difficult, and breaking into pop as an Indian-American teen is almost unheard of.

Aaryan Shah defied the odds. The born-and-raised Los Angeles artist dropped out of high school at 15, captivating listeners with his brooding take on R&B. However, with an onslaught of attention came a wave of racist vitriol. To shield himself, Shah wore a mask—not only to cultivate mystery but to protect his identity from critics. “People just weren’t ready for a brown artist,” he says. “The same music did better when people didn’t have my face attached to it.” After three years of releasing music from behind the mask, Shah revealed his true self in 2021, empowered by a fanbase that supported his evolution prior to his mainstream success. “At least if you don’t like me now, that’s fair. You’re making that judgment based on who I actually am.”

Shah has since sold out shows across the country — Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Dallas — and even internationally in London, with demand only growing. Now, he’s gearing up for a tour in support of his new album Do You See the Birds, Too? — his first project in the wake of a long-untreated bipolar diagnosis.

His fandom grows larger by the day, witnessing the birth of an underground superstar. He aims to build a legacy that encompasses Coachella and The GRAMMYs, inspiring a generation of South Asians in the process. Whether it takes 2 years or 10, the singer-songwriter is carving a path to greatness with every project, performance, and chapter. No mask, no shield — just Aaryan Shah, unapologetically himself. Take it or leave it.