For siblings Siddhant and Shanaya, music is more than just a passion. Growing up in a family of musicians, the two were surrounded by melodies and rhythms from an early age. Shanaya began singing when she was very young, dabbling in piano and flute, while Siddhant picked up the drums before experimenting with electronic music in the eighth grade.
Earlier this year, the duo officially stepped into the music scene under the name Next Door Neighbours, debuting with “City of Lies” in May. Their second single, “Filters”, followed on August 8, offering what listeners have described as a “fresh electronic pop sound with a nostalgic edge.”
Finding their sound
Siddhant was already producing music as a hobby by the time Shanaya began taking music seriously. Their first collaboration happened when Siddhant was 18 and Shanaya was just 12. “Neither of us were ready to release music at the time, so it took a backseat for a while,” Shanaya recalls. That changed when she began writing lyrics, leading to their decision to reunite creatively and launch “City of Lies”.
With only two songs out, the pair says it’s too early to define their style completely. “We’re in an experimental electronic pop phase right now,” Siddhant explains. “But we want to explore different genres while keeping a distinct character that listeners can instantly recognise as a Next Door Neighbours song.”
Musical influences
Their shared taste in music stems from years of listening to the same tracks at home. “I grew up listening to what Siddhant would play,” Shanaya says. “We often exchange music recommendations even now.”
While electronic music is central to their current sound, their influences are far broader. The siblings grew up on classics loved by their parents and grandparents, later exploring heavy metal, hard rock, jazz, classical, rap, indie, and more. “We plan to incorporate all of these styles into our music at some point,” Siddhant notes.
Sibling dynamics
Working together as siblings brings both comfort and challenges. “Being siblings helps because we know each other so well,” Siddhant says. “We can be honest without worrying about offending each other.” But the casual nature of working with family can sometimes lead to a lack of structure, so they set goals and deadlines to stay on track.
Their roles are well defined: Shanaya is the lyricist and vocalist, while Siddhant handles production. They both contribute to each other’s areas and share social media responsibilities though Shanaya admits she does more of the content creation. “We’re musicians through and through, so the content side of things doesn’t come naturally to us,” she says. “We mainly use reels to share our music.”
The age gap between them means they sometimes see things differently. “We definitely disagree a lot,” Siddhant admits. “But it’s normal. We argue, then we joke about it later.”
Balancing music with Life
Coordinating their work has become more complicated lately. Siddhant recently moved abroad while Shanaya began college. “The time difference makes it harder to work together consistently,” Shanaya says. Still, they make time for their passion. Their biggest motivator? The thrill of creation. “Whenever we come up with something that works, it’s an amazing feeling,” Siddhant says.
They credit their mother as a constant source of encouragement. “She keeps us on track and shares our music with literally everyone she knows,” Shanaya quips.
Looking ahead
The duo is currently working on several new tracks, with plans to release them in the near future. Collaborations are also on their wishlist. “It would be a dream to work with Nucleya or Ritviz,” Siddhant says. “I discovered Nucleya back in 2015, just as I was starting to get a grip on music production.”
While they envision Next Door Neighbours as a long-term project, both are open to branching out individually in the future. “We’ll always make music together, but we might explore different things alongside it,” Siddhant says.
Advice for aspiring artists
Their biggest takeaway from their journey so far? Don’t wait for perfection. “Start now,” Siddhant urges. “We buried a lot of projects because we thought they weren’t perfect. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be. You just have to put yourself out there.”
For Next Door Neighbours, that leap into the unknown has already paid off. With two singles under their belt, an ever-evolving sound, and a shared determination to keep experimenting, Siddhant and Shanaya are building something that feels both fresh and timeless, and they’re doing it together.
