“I love you. I love you too. I’m not the same. Down Time. Knowing You. They Don’t Know. Getting Stronger. Mmmm. Faith. Secret Lover. I’m a Fighter. Forever Love. Can We Go Back. Mango Tree. Love 2 Love.”
Know some of these tracks? Some of us grew up with them, maybe hearing them through the static of the radio on slow Sunday mornings, or playing softly from the stereo in the backseat as our parents drove us to church or family gatherings. Maybe it was your older sibling blasting her songs while getting ready for school, or the music videos that once dominated our TV screens. However it reached you, one thing’s for sure. At some point, you’ve felt Aaradhna’s music. The voice that poured out of Porirua carried farther than anyone could have imagined. A voice that spoke to the depths of our experiences. A voice that became the soundtrack to our youth. For many of us, hearing her music again now feels like returning to a place we forgot we missed. Nostalgic, soulful, timeless. It’s the kind of sound that brings back memories of where we were when we first heard her, and who we were becoming. That artist is Porirua’s finest. Aaradhna. The one whose music connected generations, whose melodies threaded through households, communities, and hearts. She became the voice that represented what it felt like to love, to hurt, to grow, to heal, and to simply exist as ourselves. The kind of artist who made it cool to feel something real.
Her impact has never gone unnoticed. She’s the artist people reference when they say, “My inner ten-year-old is healed because I watched Aaradhna live.” Or when they share, “My life is complete now that I’ve seen Aaradhna perform live.” Those aren’t just comments, they’re testaments. Testaments to the power of her music and the energy she brings. Aaradhna doesn’t just perform, she transcends. Her art has reached people through sound, soul, and sincerity. This year marks a special return. For the first time in nearly a decade, Aaradhna made her way back to the United States to perform again. In October and November 2025, she blessed cities like Las Vegas, Irvine, San Jose, and Tacoma. Everywhere she went, the love was electric. Fans lined up, voices cracked with emotion, and people showed up with the kind of excitement that only an artist like Aaradhna could evoke. Across every stop, the reaction was the same. Healing. Joy. Pure admiration. Who would have thought that an artist from Porirua, Wellington, would become such a global voice for our people and beyond? Aaradhna, you are that girl.
If you don’t know who Aaradhna is, are you lost? Just kidding, fam. But really, this is a name you should know. Aaradhna Patel is an artist born and raised in Porirua, Wellington, Aotearoa. She is proudly Samoan and Indian. Her father, Jayanti Patel, is from Navsari, Gujarat, India, and her late mother, Sia’a Patel, is Samoan from the villages of PapaSataua, Falealupo-uta, and Auala. Aaradhna is the eldest of five siblings, a role that shaped her deeply. From the beginning, music was already written in her story. Her debut album I Love You entered the Top 20 RIANZ charts and found its way into major films, including Sione’s Wedding with the top-five single “They Don’t Know,” featuring New Zealand hip-hop star Savage. Her song “Faith” was featured in It’s a Free World, and she even collaborated with Australian DJ and producer Paul Mac on the club-inspired track “Love Declaration,” which charted in Australia and appeared on Mac’s album Panic Room.
Growing Into Music
When we sat down with Aaradhna, she spoke with a calm confidence, like someone who has spent her life learning, growing, and creating from a place of authenticity. When asked what first drew her into music, she didn’t hesitate. “I grew up into it,” she said. She shared with PMN+ that music was woven into her upbringing through both her parents. Her mother, who is Samoan, would bring her and her siblings to church, where she performed songs she had written herself. Her father, who is Indian, often sang at Diwali festivals and family gatherings. “Mum would make us come to church and make sure we were there,” Aaradhna recalled with a warm giggle and smile. “And my dad, he’d sing at the festivals and birthdays, and we’d always watch him.” It was more than just music. It was family. It was culture. It was faith and community intertwined. Aaradhna’s earliest memories are rooted in rhythm, harmony, and storytelling. She grew up surrounded by sound, by voices that carried messages, prayers, and love. Music wasn’t something she decided to do. It was already a part of who she was.
Her Inspirations
When asked about the artists who inspired her growing up, Aaradhna lights up. “It would have to be Sam Cooke as my number one,” she says. “Back in the day, I used to wait for my dad to pick me up from the library, and while waiting, I’d read about different artists. Sam Cooke caught my attention. I was really intrigued by the music he made.” There’s a sparkle in her eyes when she talks about him, the kind that only true admiration can bring. “His voice was just one of a kind,” she continues. “The way he told stories through music, the way he sang with emotion, it stayed with me.” She also credits Michael Jackson, SWV, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Shuggie Otis, and all the ’90s R&B she grew up on. “I could name artists for days,” she laughs, “but those ones really shaped how I felt about music.” Listening to her list her inspirations, you start to realize how her music became what it is. A blend of soul, storytelling, and sincerity. You can hear the echoes of Sam Cooke’s warmth, the smoothness of 90s R&B, and the vulnerability that is uniquely hers.
The Creative Process
Aaradhna’s creativity comes alive in her hometown, where she’s built a space she lovingly calls her cave. “That’s my little world,” she says. “I’ve got a whole setup in there. I taught myself how to use Pro Tools and everything because I used to get frustrated waiting on someone else to record me.” There’s something powerful about hearing her talk about her self-taught journey. “Ideas come to me at any time,” she explains. “Sometimes late at night. I’m a big night owl, so I’ll just go in there at midnight and start creating.” In that solitude, she layers sounds, lyrics, and emotions together. “I’m not a pro instrumentalist,” she admits, “but I can hear the sounds in my head. I’ll try to play those sounds out on the keyboard or guitar. I hear the music first, and then I bring it to life.” She describes the process as deeply personal. “It’s a whole thing. I layer everything. You can hear most of what I played on Mango Tree. I do my best to incorporate the sounds of both my cultures,” she says. “Like in Mango Tree, I added the sound of the fala and the Indian flute, the bansuri. I wanted to bring those worlds together, to represent both sides of who I am.” Her words are soft but firm when she adds, “Even if it doesn’t have those sounds, my upbringing alone brings the culture through. It’s who I am. It’s in everything I create. You’ll always hear that.”
Career Highlights
When asked about some of her proudest moments, Aaradhna pauses thoughtfully before smiling. “Performing at the Apollo Theatre,” she says. “That was a dream.” Her voice softened as she reflected on the moment. “To be in that space, knowing that people like Sam Cooke had performed there, it was overwhelming,” she shared with a bright smile. Everyone she had ever looked up to had graced that very stage. She expressed to PMN+ that feeling that energy and history, and knowing she was standing in the same place as the greats, left her in awe the entire time. It’s clear that moment wasn’t just another show for her. It was a culmination of years of dedication, reflection, and connection to the artists who paved the way.
The Message
As our conversation wrapped up, Aaradhna took a moment to express her gratitude. “To everyone who has supported me from day one and is still here, thank you. It’s been a long time, and I really appreciate the love and support.” She took a deep breath and smiled, the kind of smile that says everything without words. “Shouout to my siblings, my brothers and sisters, my dad, and my mom in heaven. I love you, Mom,” she said softly, her voice carrying both strength and tenderness. That’s who Aaradhna is. Humble. Grounded. Grateful. A woman who knows where she came from and honors it in every note she sings. She continues to carry her story, her heritage, and her heart into her art, reminding us that music has a way of connecting us back to ourselves and to each other. From Porirua to the world, Aaradhna remains a force of soul and authenticity. She is the voice that shaped an era and continues to echo through generations. She is, and always will be, that girl.
Photo Credits: Oli Netzler
