Rapper-singer Rebel, aka Daifi Lamare, may have gained nationwide recognition stalwartBut this fiercely independent artist from Meghalaya says she is focused on building a legacy that extends far beyond a breakout moment. Ahead of her performance at BUDX NBA House, the 24-year-old hip-hop artiste from Nangbah, West Jaintia Hills spoke exclusively to India Today about performing for unpredictable crowds, balancing commercial and independent music, and how she believes India’s music scene is just starting to realize its global potential.

Known for her genre-bending soundscapes, introspective lyricism and atmospheric tracks like Move, Sorry, Midas and Lost, Rebel has steadily carved a niche for herself in India’s independent music circuit. However, stalwart introduced her to an entirely new audience, transforming her from an underground favorite to a fast-rising national voice.

fame after dhurandhar

The magnetic artist admitted that life has changed a lot after this stalwartEspecially because she always saw herself as an artist catering to a specific audience. He said, “I never thought I’d be one to make music for mass consumption because I’m on the niche side of things.”

Nevertheless, accepting the project was not an immediate decision. Wable explained that artistic integrity remains at the center of the choices he makes, even when bigger opportunities arise. “A lot of people value their art more than anything else. There are artists who may have grown up doing certain things, but they don’t do them because it doesn’t align with their artistic values. I’m one of them,” she laughed, before elaborating on why that is. stalwart Finally convinced him.

He recalled, “When the offer came, I didn’t say yes immediately. But I loved the script and when I saw the work on it, I immediately thought it was a great thing for the country.” “Once I understood it, I definitely got into it.”

Despite widespread visibility, Rebel insisted that she did not see Dhurandhar as the turning point of her career. Instead, she sees it as an important chapter in a much longer creative journey. “It was a great moment, and I was part of a very beautiful thing, but there’s still a lot more to do,” she said with measured frankness, “If you’re dependent on other things to do well in order for you to do well, it becomes difficult to make a long-term impact.”

He added, “There’s still a lot of growing to do.” “It’s nice when things take off immediately, but it’s important to build your own from there. Otherwise, you’ll only be remembered for one thing.”

What’s next for Rebel?

She will be performing with several renowned artistes in Delhi on May 9-10, Rebal said, adding that the experience feels more exciting than overwhelming. “It’s very exciting. It’s a great experience and, you know, I’m excited to see the diversity in the crowd,” he said, adding that his preparation process remains largely unchanged despite the scale of the event.

Interestingly, Rebel also admitted that she rarely connects with her old work as she is constantly focused on the upcoming work creatively. “I’m always a fan of the next thing I release,” she said. “Once I’m done with music, I get bored of it, and then the next thing becomes my favorite.”

So, what’s next for Rebel? “Next thing,” she confirmed excitedly, already walking away. “I’m already in the process of releasing new music,” he shared. praying mantisTheir upcoming EP, set for release on May 7th, is expected to further explore their moody sonic identity while combining commercial accessibility with deeply personal storytelling.

Speaking about the project, Rebel hinted at an ambitious vision behind his upcoming work. “It’s a bridge between many things,” she explained. “I have a lot of personal work because I signed to a label and I have my album and EP coming out.” The confident artiste added, “I believe this work will go down in history, if not now, then in the future. I believe people will look back at it and appreciate it. I don’t want instant appreciation. I believe it will be good.”

As well as independent releases, Rebel also revealed that she is carefully selecting commercial projects that truly match her artistic sensibilities. She said, “A lot of offers (for films) come, but I choose them carefully because I want to like the script. I want to like what I am being a part of.”

Balancing your North-East identity and women in music

As one of the emerging voices of Northeast India gaining wider recognition, when Rebel was asked if she felt a sense of responsibility representing Meghalaya and the rich musical culture of the region, she replied thoughtfully. She prefers to let the work speak for itself rather than consciously carrying the burden. “If I think about too many things, I forget what’s important,” she explained. “What’s important to me is making my music. When it reaches people, everything else falls into place.”

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She further added, “If I make good music, and it is understood well, then the place where I come from automatically gets recognition. Even for my country, for my state, once I do good work, the place where I come from also eventually gets the same recognition.”

She took a similar grassroots approach when discussing the slow but visible growth of women and the industry in India’s independent music scene. She said confidently, “Everyone has to blame someone, and I don’t think there’s a need to do that. Women can make their own path and make their own music.”

Offering a broad overview of India’s position in the global music scene, he pointed out, “India is still leading the way in music globally. Other countries have already had global successes. India is just getting started, and it’s a very important time for the industry.”

According to Rabal, the current generation of musicians may ultimately shape India’s global musical identity. “Many of the people present today are going to become big global names in the future,” he said in an optimistic tone. “It’s important for women to participate. It may not seem very promising right now, but the more the better because someone is definitely going to make it.”

K-pop collab?

The rapper was recently seen at the HYBE India pop-up in Guwahati with CEO Damian Wuchang Lee. When asked about this, she remained coy about any potential collaborations involving the label, but indicated excitement about the company’s growing presence in the Indian market. “I can’t say much about (the potential collaboration), but I’m definitely excited for them,” she said with a smile. “I think they’re going to do well.” When asked to reveal any collaboration talks with HYBE, he signed off by saying “We’ll see.”

Rebel’s new music is set to be released on May 7th.