New Jersey-based pop singer Carishma came on the pop music scene two years ago with her first single “Glow in the Dark.” While very much an 8/10 track as far as pop tracks go, it didn’t get picked up by radio and was a non-hit, despite being produced by celebrated hitmaker Rodney Jerkins (Jennifer Lopez, Brandy, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, and so on). However, it did land her on MTV for a split-second — and then made us optimistic about her ability to compete with the likes of Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. But that’s before she tried to cash in on her ally status. Here’s everything you need to know about the wannabe pop star.
She Sang The Infamous “Worst Gay Anthem You Will Ever Hear”
In June, Gawker’s Rich Juzwiak ridiculed Carishma for her song, “Like a Rainbow.” He wrote, “It makes “Born This Way” sound subtle, like early James Baldwin. It makes the Sex and the City style handbagging of gay men seem like ascending to a Louis Vuitton-upholstered throne. It kind of made me a little homophobic for three and a half minutes?”
Think that’s harsh? Well, the chorus does sing for itself:
It never woulda worked, baby
And if you didn’t know,
Let me be the first to tell you you’re, gay
Baby, like a rainbow
There’s nothing wrong with a boy who wants to be
With other boys that’s fine with me
I’m sure some guy will make you real, real happy someday
Baby, ‘cause you’re gay, you’re gay like a rainbow
Oof.
…and Then She Scrubbed it from The Web
But try and click on the video now and you’ll see a “This video does not exist” message. Hold the phone! We know the song was made. Her personal website still claims the following:
Carishma is currently gearing up to release a new track, “Like A Rainbow” — a song inspired by her close friends in the gay community and the struggles they have faced coming out to their families. Wanting to show her support, Carishma wrote the song with songwriter Claude Kelly (Bruno Mars, Jessie J), and created the concept for its video in which she marshals members of a “gay army” to fight for their rights. Carishma is donating 100 percent of the artist proceeds from the sale of “Like A Rainbow” to the Ali Forney Center — a non-profit organization that provides shelter and services to homeless LGBT youth in New York City. Carishma is also a supporter of LGBT watchdog group GLAAD and has posed for a portrait for California’s NoH8 Campaign.
A Google search for “Like a Rainbow” doesn’t turn up much either. Looks like Carishma’s team may have scrubbed the song off the Internet. What a shame. Alas, Carishma, the Net never forgets!
She Does a “Really Good” Indian Accent
Because she’s Indian. Duh. At least that’s what she told Music Cheat Sheet in a video interview. Groan. Also, if you watch the interview carefully, at 1:15, she declares she loves her name because it “means ‘miracle’ in Indian.”
Le sigh.
Earth to Carishma: Indian is a nationality not a language.
Her Mom Was a Bollywood Singer
Zeenat Aman? Rekha? Jaya Bachchan? Carishma wishes she descended from such Bollywood royalty. But that doesn’t stop her from stating in almost every single interview that her mother was a Bollywood singer. Here’s what she told Seventeen magazine last year:
My mom appeared in several Bollywood films before I was born. What I remember most was when I was growing up, she was a recording artist. She made an album and also worked as a news anchor for a prominent Indian network. My mom is beautiful and creative, and I’ve always thought of her as an amazing dancer and singer. She came up with these beautiful melodies. We would be in the car and these great melodies would just come into her head and she would record them. She did all these things related to performing that were really inspiring to me and I’m sure that I get my love of performing from her.
Kind of smacks of Tina Sugandh’s suspect claim to fame as an “Indian International Pop Star”, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, none of Carishma’s interviews seem to give more information about her mother’s mysterious Bollywood career. Which movies, Carishma? And what album? Tell us mooooooooore.
Uhh, Her Wikipedia Page Was Also Deleted For Being Sketchy
Kind of a shame, though, for a pop singer to watch her career crash and burn before it even has a chance to take flight, isn’t it?
Kishwer Vikaas is a co-founder and editor of The Aerogram. Find her on Twitter at @Phillygrrl or email her at editors@theaerogram.com. Rohin Guha is a contributing editor at The Aerogram. Follow him on Twitter @ohrohin. Find The Aerogram on Twitter @theaerogram.
